The University of Louisiana at Lafayette honored faculty, researchers and mentors whose work is advancing discovery and innovation during its Research Recognition Ceremony.
“These recognitions speak to the strength of our research enterprise and our trajectory as a top-tier research university,” said Dr. Kumer Das, interim vice president for Research and Innovation. “What we are celebrating is not just achievement, but impact — the kind of work that advances knowledge, strengthens partnerships and serves our state and beyond.”
The ceremony was held March 13 at the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise Center on the UL Lafayette campus. The list of honorees follows.
Research Excellence Award
Recognizing those who have demonstrated exceptional scholarship in their respective academic colleges.
Mr. Corey Saft — College of the Arts
Dr. Gary Wagner — B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration
Dr. Sebnem Cilesiz — College of Education & Human Development
Dr. Vijaya Gopu — College of Engineering
Dr. Michele Feist — College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Frances Stueben — College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Dr. Nicholas Kooyers — Ray P. Authement College of Sciences
Rising Star Award
Recognizing junior faculty members showing great promise in scholarship in their respective colleges.
Dr. Chee Hyeon Choi — College of the Arts
Dr. Alec Slepchuk — B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration
Dr. MinSeok Choi — College of Education & Human Development
Dr. Sen Liu — College of Engineering
Dr. Taylor Clement — College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Jennifer Sittig — College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Dr. Min Shi — Ray P. Authement College of Sciences
Outstanding Doctoral Student Mentor
Recognizing those who have shown exceptional productivity in the support of the education of doctoral students in their respective colleges.
Dr. Dianne Olivier — College of Education & Human Development
Dr. Terrence Chambers — College of Engineering
Dr. Jamie Azios — College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Deedra Harrington — College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Dr. Mark Genung — Ray P. Authement College of Sciences
Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor
Recognizing those who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to undergraduate students and their advancement as undergraduate researchers.
Dr. Abby South — College of the Arts
Dr. Colleen Wolverton — B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration
Dr. Aimee Gros — College of Education & Human Development
Dr. Songyang Zhang — College of Engineering
Dr. Mark LaCour — College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Sharonda Johnson — College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Dr. Jorge Villa — Ray P. Authement College of Sciences
Outstanding Achievement in Externally Funded Research
Recognizing those who have been awarded externally sponsored projects in an amount of $1 million or more during the Fiscal Year 2024.
Dr. Kumer Das
Ms. Kara Farmer-Primeaux
Dr. Beth Stauffer
Dr. Emad Habib
Dr. Henry Chu
Dr. Jeremy Smedley
Dr. Dana Hasselschwert
Achievement in Externally Funded Research
Recognizing those who have been awarded externally sponsored projects in an amount of $500,000 to $1 million during the Fiscal Year 2024
Dr. Terrence Chambers
Dr. Peng Yin
Dr. Kim Warren
Dr. Vijaya Gopu
Dr. Mark Zappi
Dr. Ling Fei
Dr. Stephen Barnes
Outstanding Achievement in Innovation
Recognizing those actively involved in advancing the University’s innovations through granted patents during the Fiscal Year 2024.
Dr. Farzad Ferdowsi
Dr. Jacob King
Dr. Radhey Srivastava
Dr. Xiali Hei
Dr. Mark Zappi
Mr. William Holmes
Dr. Rafael Hernandez
Dr. William Chirdon
Mid-Career Faculty Fellow
Recognizing those who have completed the Mid-Career Faculty Fellow Award program.
Dr. Benjamin Yates — College of the Arts
Ms. Ashlie Boelkins — College of the Arts
Dr. Sarfraz Khan — B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration
Dr. Javier Portillo — B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration
Dr. Heather Stone — College of Education & Human Development
Dr. Jeremy Foreman — College of Education & Human Development
Dr. Yin Feng — College of Engineering
Dr. Mehdi Mokhtari — College of Engineering
Dr. Holly Damico — College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Elizabeth Bobo — College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Scott Sittig — College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Dr. Sonya Hsu — Ray P. Authement College of Sciences
Dr. Yi-Hong Wang — Ray P. Authement College of Sciences