UTD - The University of Texas at Dallas
04/10/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/10/2026 07:35
Investiture Ceremony To Celebrate Stellar Faculty, Researchers
Investiture Ceremony To Celebrate Stellar Faculty, Researchers
By: Stephen Fontenot| April 10, 2026
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From left: Dr. David Hyndman, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Francis S. and Maurine G. Johnson Distinguished University Chair; Dr. Nicole De Nisco; and Dr. Inga H. Musselman, provost, vice president for academic affairs and the Cecil H. Green Distinguished Chair of Academic Leadership. De Nisco was honored as Fellow, Eugene McDermott Distinguished Professor during last year's investiture ceremony.
The University of Texas at Dallas will honor a new cohort of endowed chairs and professors at its 2026 investiture ceremony April 16 in the Edith O'Donnell Arts and Technology Building Lecture Hall.
If You Go
What: University Investiture Ceremony
When: 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16
Where: Edith O'Donnell Arts and Technology Building Lecture Hall
The event will recognize faculty members from five UT Dallas schools: the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology; the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences; the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences; the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science; and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
"This ceremony serves as a celebration of our university's stellar researchers, teachers and mentors," said Dr. Inga H. Musselman, provost, vice president for academic affairs and the Cecil H. Green Distinguished Chair of Academic Leadership. "It's also an opportunity to salute our donors, who enable us to bring excellent scholars to our campus and support their transformative research."
Endowed chairs and professorships are the highest academic award the University can bestow on a faculty member. Funded through philanthropic donations, the endowments fund initiatives that advance research and instructional programs.
The ceremony also recognizes donors whose support helped establish the endowed chairs and professorships. UT Dallas has more than 175 chairs and professorships, with several established by or honoring the University's founders and early leaders.
List of Honorees
Leadership
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Dr. William Nichols Mary McDermott Cook Chair for Undergraduate Education |
Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology
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Dr. Kevin Waite Fellow, Anne Stark Watson and Chester Watson History Distinguished Professor |
School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
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Dr. Anny Castilla-Earls Sara T. Martineau Endowed Professor at the Callier Center for Communication Disorders |
Dr. Kristen Kennedy Founders Professor |
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Dr. Benedict Kolber Dean Bert Moore Distinguished Professor |
Dr. Karen Rodrigue Ashbel Smith Professor |
School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
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Dr. Dohyeong Kim Robert E. Holmes Jr. Professor |
Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
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Dr. Leonidas Bleris Texas Instruments Bioengineering Chair |
Dr. Babu Chalamala Jonsson School Distinguished Chair |
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Dr. Feng Chen Fellow, Eugene McDermott Distinguished Professor |
Dr. Girgis Obaid Fellow, Texas Instruments Catalyst Professor |
School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
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Dr. Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki Drs. Basheer and Shakila Ahmed Distinguished Chair in Natural Sciences and Mathematics |
Also appointed to endowed positions but deferring to a future ceremony:
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Dr. Caroline Jones Fellow, Eugene McDermott Distinguished Professor |
Media Contact: Stephen Fontenot, UT Dallas, 972-883-4405, [email protected], or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, [email protected].
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