Awards Include Moores Professorships and Individual Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Research

Congratulations to the nine College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics faculty members and one graduate student who were recognized for excellence in the areas of teaching, research, service and scholarship. These exceptional faculty members will be honored at the virtual 2021 Faculty Excellence Awards celebration on May 7.

The awards are among the highest honors bestowed by the University of Houston.

“I am extremely proud of the faculty members and graduate student receiving these awards. They are the embodiment of the College’s mission of teaching, mentoring, research and service,” said Dan E. Wells, NSM dean.

Moores Professorships

Zhigang Deng, Computer Science, and Matthew Nicol, Mathematics
This five-year, renewable professorship is given to faculty in recognition of outstanding teaching, research and service. NSM received two of the three Moores Professorships awarded in 2021.

Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity – Associate Professor

Yingcai Zheng, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
This award recognizes faculty who have established a growing record of outstanding research, scholarship, and creative contributions, and who are emerging leaders in their field.

Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity – Assistant Professor

Andrew Renshaw, Physics, and Judy Wu, Chemistry
This award recognizes faculty who have demonstrated great potential in research, scholarship, and creative endeavors by virtue of the exceptional quality of their early contributions. NSM swept this award category.

Teaching Excellence Awards

Teaching Excellence – Provost Core

Lisa Farmer, Biology & Biochemistry
This award is given to faculty who have demonstrated outstanding teaching in undergraduate core curriculum courses.

Teaching Excellence – Distinguished Leadership in Teaching Excellence

Rebecca Forrest, Physics
This award is given in recognition of faculty who have made sustained and significant contributions to education within the context of their responsibilities as a full-time faculty member.

Teaching Excellence – Graduate Teaching Assistant

Shelby Johnston, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
This award is given to graduate students who have demonstrated excellence in teaching.

Teaching Excellence – Instructor/Clinical

Ana Medrano, Biology & Biochemistry
This award is given in recognition of outstanding teaching by faculty instructors, clinical faculty, research faculty, artist affiliates, and lecturers.

Teaching Excellence – Community Engagement

Nouhad Rizk, Computer Science
This award is given in recognition of full-time faculty who involve students in service to the community through service learning activities or community engagement projects.

- Kathy Major, College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics