April 19, 2007
2007 Distinguished, University Professors named
Six Iowa State University faculty members have been awarded the
titles of Distinguished Professor or University Professor. They will be
honored at the university convocation and awards ceremony Sept. 10.
Award recipients
The new Distinguished and University Professors are:
- Frederick X. Gibbons, Distinguished Professor in Liberal Arts and
Sciences. The psychology professor's approximately 165 scholarly
publications constitute some of the most influential contributions to
social and health psychology research and have made him one of the most
cited scholars in psychology textbooks. Gibbons also has been recognized
for excellent teaching in a large introductory course and a rigorous
graduate core course in social psychology.
- Alan Goldman, Distinguished Professor in Liberal Arts and
Sciences. Goldman is a professor of physics and astronomy and division
director at Ames Laboratory. He has achieved international acclaim for
prize-winning research, including work on quasicrystals, high
temperature superconductors, heavy fermion compounds and magnetic X-ray
scattering. Since 1994, he has been instrumental in establishing and
running a beam line at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National
Laboratory, Illinois.
- Arun K. Somani, Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in
Engineering. Somani is the Jerry R. Junkins Chair Professor and Chair of
Electrical and Computer Engineering. Somani is among top researchers in
the world in fault-tolerant aspects of modern computing. A major focus
of his research is developing computer and networking systems that
"know" when there is a fault and are capable of continuing to function
by overcoming the fault in some way. Somani, who has won teaching
awards, is active in mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.
- Richard C. Larock, Distinguished Professor in Liberal Arts and
Sciences. Larock is an internationally recognized expert in
organometallic chemistry, particularly involving the element
palladium. He developed a palladium catalysis reaction, which has broad
applications in both medicine and the effort to replace petroleum-based
rubbers and plastics with plant oil-based composites. He has published
more than 300 papers and book chapters -- 124 in the last five years
alone. He consistently maintains the largest research group in the
chemistry department.
- Michael Mendelson, University Professor of English. Mendelson was a
leader in developing ISUComm, the communications-across-the-curriculum
initiative for all ISU undergraduates. He has helped develop and
implement learning communities, and integrate communications studies
into learning communities focused on other disciplines. Mendelson also
spearheaded planning for a Ph.D. program in rhetoric and professional
communication, a program now recognized as a leader in its field. He is
known for his collaborative, inclusive style.
- Charles (Brad) Shrader, University Professor of management. One of
the most respected faculty members in the College of Business, Shrader
was instrumental in shaping the structure and curriculum of the MBA
program. He has taught undergraduate and graduate core and elective
courses, including daytime, Des Moines night and Saturday MBA
courses. He was the inaugural ISU recipient of the Phillip G. Hubbard
Award for Outstanding Education in 2002. His research focuses on ethics
and team-based learning.
About the awards
The title of Distinguished Professor, first awarded in 1956, is the
highest academic honor bestowed by Iowa State. It recognizes faculty
members for exemplary performance in at least two of the following
areas: teaching and advising; research, scholarship, or artistic
creativity; and extension, university service or professional
practice. Each recipient receives a $3,000 increase in base salary.
The title of University Professor recognizes faculty members who have
had a significant impact on their departments and the university during
their Iowa State careers. Each recipient receives a $2,500 increase in
base salary.
