The University of Iowa Distinguished Chair award is having a positive impact on some of the university's most accomplished faculty members by providing them with the freedom to advance teaching, research, and public service in new and innovative ways.

Named a distinguished chair in 2021, Michelle Scherer is one of the scholars benefiting from the university’s efforts to support faculty excellence. Scherer, a professor of civil and environmental engineering who is highly regarded for her research in environmental chemistry, says the award has opened many new possibilities for her on campus.