University to Honor 15 Faculty Members at Investiture Ceremony on March 18

Some of UT Dallas’ most accomplished faculty members will be recognized for their achievements this week during a ritual-steeped investiture ceremony.

At 3 p.m. March 18 in the Alexander Clark Center Auditorium, 15 scholars will participate in a formal procession that includes a review of career highlights and a response from the individuals being honored. 

Honorees and ceremonial participants don full academic regalia. Medallions symbolizing the level of the achievements are bestowed. Family members, students and colleagues are invited to attend the event to celebrate and support those to be invested.

The faculty members to be honored hold endowed chairs and professorships and include faculty from the Office of Undergraduate Education, the Erik Jonsson School of Computer Science and Engineering, the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, the School of Arts and Humanities, and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

The ceremony is also an expression of gratitude for the generosity of donors who established the endowed chairs and professorships.

“This event is intended to celebrate and publicly acknowledge the achievements of some of our most exceptional faculty,” said UT Dallas President David Daniel. “This recognition represents years — and in some cases — decades of assiduous research, mentoring and exploration. We are proud these professors have made UT Dallas their academic home.”

The endowed chairs and professorships are the highest academic awards that the University can bestow on a faculty member. They serve as enduring tributes to the donors who establish them. Funding generated by the establishment of a chair or professorship also plays a critical role in assisting faculty members to advance their instructional programs and research.

Investitures are one of the oldest traditions in academia, dating back more than 500 years. They originated in England as a way for universities to honor their most accomplished scholars. The last such ceremony at UT Dallas took place in fall 2012.

“The endowed chair is a great honor to receive,” said Dr. Dan Krawczyk, associate professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, who will be recognized at the March 18 ceremony. “Endowments are an inspiring symbol of the interest and support that UT Dallas receives from the philanthropic community. This honor will enable me to pursue new and innovative directions in research.”

Visit the Endowed Professorships and Chairs site to read biographies of those who hold endowed positions.

Spring 2014Investiture Honorees 

School of Arts and Humanities

Dr. Paul Fishwick, ATEC Distinguished University Chair 

School of Behavioraland Brain Sciences

Dr. James C. Bartlett, Ashbel Smith ProfessorDr. Michael Kilgard, Margaret Fonde Jonsson ProfessorDr. Daniel C. Krawczyk, Debbie and Jim Francis ChairDr. Aage Møller, Founders ProfessorDr. Bart Rypma, Meadows Foundation Chair 

Erik Jonsson School ofEngineering andComputer Science

Dr. Orlando Auciello, Distinguished Chair in EngineeringDr. James Coleman, Erik Jonsson Distinguished Chair and Chair in Electrical EngineeringDr. Yvo Desmedt, Distinguished Professor in Computer ScienceDr. Zygmunt Haas, Distinguished Chair in Computer ScienceDr. Moon Kim, Louis Beecherl Jr. Distinguished ProfessorDr. Stephen Levene, Cecil H. and Ida Green Professor in Systems Biology ScienceDr. Robert L. Rennaker II, Cecil H. and Ida Green Professor in Systems Biology Science 

School of NaturalScience and Mathematics

Dr. Stephen Spiro, C.L. and Amelia A. Lundell Professor of Life Sciences 

Office ofUndergraduate Education

Dr. Andrew Blanchard, Mary McDermott Cook Distinguished Chair for Undergraduate Education and Research