The University of Iowa Office of the Provost, in partnership with the UI colleges and with the support of the collegiate deans, is launching a new initiative to celebrate exceptional faculty.  The prestigious new UI Distinguished Professorship program will recognize tenured scholars of national and international distinction who are enhancing economic development and well-being within the state of Iowa and beyond through their teaching, research, and/or scholarship.  Awardees will receive $100,000 to support professional activities over five years.

Nominations for the first round of awards are being accepted through April 15.

“It is so important that we celebrate and reward faculty excellence, and that we continue to build a culture of appreciation on our campus,” says Montserrat Fuentes, executive vice president and provost. “Faculty are the key to student success, research, scholarship, and everything we do here, and I am committed to creating an environment where they can accomplish their best work and be recognized for it. As with the recent change in the promotional raise policy, my hope is that this initiative will help us support and retain our excellent faculty while also bolstering our ability to recruit in a competitive environment.”

All full-time, tenured associate and full professors are eligible for nomination. Awardees will hold the title of Distinguished University (Associate) Professor for the duration of their faculty appointment at Iowa, and during the initial five years of the appointment they will receive $100,000 (in $20,000 annual increments) to support research, teaching, and scholarship activities. In addition, they will receive a one-time permanent increase of $6,000 to their base salary.

“These distinguished professorships represent a fantastic opportunity for faculty and an important faculty-retention initiative,” says Sandra Daack-Hirsch, president of UI Faculty Senate, associate professor in the College of Nursing, and director of the nursing PhD program. “My colleagues in the Faculty Senate and I are very excited to see this moving forward.”

“My fellow collegiate deans and I are very pleased to partner with the Office of the Provost to make this opportunity possible,” says Dan Clay, dean of the College of Education. “It’s an important new tool to help us give our top faculty the recognition they deserve.”

Nominations will be submitted by collegiate deans, and eligible faculty who are interested should contact their leadership. Those nominated will have demonstrated outstanding achievements in their field; the promise of future research, teaching, or scholarly innovations; and have a record of interdisciplinary activities in their professional work. Nominations of females, underrepresented minorities, and members of other historically underrepresented groups in their discipline are encouraged.

Nominations will be reviewed by a committee comprised of three tenured, full professors; the president of the Faculty Senate or their designee; and the associate provost for faculty. The selection committee will make recommendations for final approval by the executive vice president and provost. Up to three professorships will be awarded each year.

Awardees will be recognized at a ceremony in fall 2020.

More information is available on the Office of the Provost website.