University Of Texas At Dallas To Honor 11 Faculty Members At Virtual Investiture Ceremony

Press release from University of Texas at Dallas:

June 18, 2021

Eleven of UT Dallas’ most influential faculty members will be honored for their accomplishments at a virtual investiture ceremony June 24.

The faculty members — from the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences; the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences; the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science; the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; and the Naveen Jindal School of Management — will be celebrated by their colleagues, mentors, students and families in a tradition dating back five centuries.

Endowed chairs and professorships are the highest academic award the University can bestow on a faculty member. These endowments provide funds to advance research and instructional programs.

The investiture ceremony also recognizes the generosity of the donors who established the endowments. UT Dallas has 138 chairs and professorships that recognize the scholarship and research of senior faculty members.

“Our efforts to attract and retain top faculty in a competitive academic environment are assisted greatly by generous donors who help to establish these endowed positions,” said Dr. Inga Musselman, UT Dallas provost, vice president for academic affairs and the Cecil H. Green Distinguished Chair of Academic Leadership. “We are proud of our outstanding faculty and their work to provide exceptional education and mentorship for our students.”

Dr. Kevin Hamlen, professor of computer science, spoke of his appreciation of the recognition he’ll receive at the ceremony.

“I’m honored to serve as the Louis Beecherl Jr. Distinguished Professor, conducting cybersecurity research that bolsters our preparedness against digital threats and helping students learn to use scientific, mathematical and formal reasoning to approach hard cybersecurity problems,” Hamlen said. “Louis Beecherl’s deep commitment to serving his community through his military service, family and faith is such an inspiration to me and my students.”

Dr. Murat Kantarcioglu, professor of computer science, will be invested as an Ashbel Smith Professor. He said he is “humbled with the recognition of my contributions to UT Dallas over the years.

“Without the support of my colleagues in the computer science department, I believe I would not be able to contribute as much to the University. I am grateful to them.”

List of Investees

Also appointed to endowed positions but unable to participate in the virtual ceremony:

* Deferred from 2019

This press release was produced by University of Texas at Dallas. The views expressed here are the author’s own.