CAS faculty earn distinguished titles
Distinguished professorships honor our premier faculty. Awards are made possible through the generosity of individual donors and private organizations that believe deeply in our mission of discovery, and in the lifelong impact a gifted professor or researcher can have on future generations.
Honorary titles provide recognition and the endowed funds provide outstanding and promising faculty with additional resources to pursue additional scholarly, research, and creative activities.
As of August 2016, awardees include:
Faculty of Distinction
Boeing Distinguished Professorship in Science/Math Education
Tom Dickinson
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Libby Knott
Department of Mathematics
Boeing Endowed Professorship in Advanced Materials Science
Kelvin Lynn
Department of Physics and Astronomy; School of Mechanical and Materials Science
Creighton Distinguished Professorship in Shock Physics
Yogendra Gupta
Department of Physics and Astronomy; Institute for Shock Physics
Lewis E. and Stella G. Buchanan Distinguished Professorship
Debbie Lee
Department of English
Herbert L. Eastlick Distinguished Professorship in Biological Sciences
Christine Portfors
School of Biological Sciences, Vancouver
Herbert L. Eastlick Distinguished Professorship in Health Research
Michael Skinner
School of Biological Sciences
Thomas S. Foley Distinguished Professorship in Government
Cornell Clayton
School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs
Travis Ridout
School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs
Honors College Distinguished Professorship
Brendan Walker
Department of Psychology
Claudius O. and Mary W. Johnson Distinguished Professorship in History
Laurie Mercier
Department of History, Vancouver
Claudius O. and Mary W. Johnson Distinguished Professorship in Political Science
Amy Mazur
School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs
Donald S. & Marianna Merritt Matteson Distinguished Professorship in Chemistry
James Brozik
Department of Chemistry
Marianna Merritt & Donald S. Matteson Distinguished Professorship in Foreign Languages & Cultures
Joan Grenier-Winther
Foreign Languages & Cultures, Vancouver
Edward R. Meyer Distinguished Professorship in Liberal Arts
Julie Kmec
Department of Sociology
Tahira Probst
Department of Psychology, Vancouver
Edward R. Meyer Distinguished Professorship in Sciences
Doerte Blume
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Asaph Cousins
School of Biological Sciences
Mark Kuzyk
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Sam Reed Distinguished Professorship in Civic Education and Public Civility
Carolyn Long
School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs, Vancouver
Westinghouse Distinguished Professorship in Materials Science and Engineering
Kerry Hipps
Department of Chemistry
Ralph G. Yount Distinguished Professorship in Sciences
Jeffery Jones
Department of Chemistry
Honors College Distinguished Professor
Brendan M. Walker, associate professor in the Department of Psychology, has been appointed Honors College Distinguished Professor for 2016–2018, based on his demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and service.
“Dr. Walker has made many important contributions to the Honors College through his outstanding teaching and as a research mentor for our students,” said Honors Dean M. Grant Norton. “The opportunities that he provides for undergraduates to work in his laboratory are amazing. I know he will continue to be a great supporter of our students in this new role.”
“Mentoring students from the Honors College has been, and continues to be, one of the highlights of my time at WSU,” Walker said. “I’m very excited about this opportunity to work more closely with the Honors College, and I look forward to the increased student and administrative interaction that this professorship will provide.”
The Honors Distinguished Professorship is “just one example of the many important collaborations we have with the Honors College,” said Daryll DeWald, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Our two colleges share many high-achieving undergraduates. Innovative researchers and teachers like Dr. Brendan Walker are critical in providing the education and opportunities that allow our students to succeed at the highest level.”
A member of WSU faculty since 2008, Walker maintains an active research program focused on the neural mechanisms underlying alcohol and drug abuse and on the development of pharmacotherapies for addiction.
He received a national Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, presented to him by President Obama at a White House ceremony in 2012. He is one of three WSU recipients of the award.
