Campus Faculty Recognitions and Awards : Riccio College of Engineering : UMass Amherst

UMass Distinguished Professors

Awarded to full professors who have conducted outstanding research, teaching, and/or public service contributions that are widely recognized; an extraordinary level of productivity and impact in his/her field of study that goes well beyond the existing high expectations for full professors on campus; a level of productivity and impact that has been demonstrated for an extended period of time; pre-eminence in his/her field of study; recognition by professional organizations for outstanding contributions to the field (e.g., receipt of national awards); and other qualities exhibiting excellence.

Timothy Anderson Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering [Emeritus]
Erin Baker Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Lixin Gao Electrical and Computer Engineering
Weibo Gong Electrical and Computer Engineering
Dimitrios Maroudas Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Michael Malone Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Peter Monson Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering [Emeritus]
Jonathan Rothstein Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
S. Thai Thayumanavan Biomedical Engineering
H. Henning Winter Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Nick Wu, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Provost Professors

The title of "Provost Professor" recognizes exceptional achievement in research or creative activity, and in teaching. This campus-level faculty honorific is designated for tenure-system faculty who hold the rank of professor and are not already in a named or distinguished professorship. This title is permanent, except if a new and permanent titled professorship is awarded (such as Distinguished Professor).

Casey Brown Civil and Environmental Engineering
Wei Fan Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Shelly Peyton Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
David Schmidt Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Distinguished Teaching Award (DTA)

The Distinguished Teaching Award honors exemplary teaching at the highest institutional level. Coordinated by the Center for Teaching & Learning.

2023-2024: David Schmidt, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2022–2023: Caitlyn Butler, Civil and Environmental Engineering
2019–2020: Tilman Wolf, Electrical and Computer Engineering
2016–2017: Jeffrey Davis, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
2015–2016: David McLaughlin, Electric and Computer Engineering
2014–2015: William Leonard, Electric and Computer Engineering
2006-2007: Dennis Goeckel, Electrical and Computer Engineering
2005-2006: Neal Anderson, Electrical and Computer Engineering
1995-1996: Michael Malone, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award

The Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award is bestowed by the Graduate School to recognize faculty members for the indispensable work they perform in guiding graduate students to academic and professional success.

2022: Jessica Schiffman, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
2017: Tilman Wolf, Electrical and Computer Engineering
2014: Erin Baker, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series & Chancellor’s Medal

The lecture series honors individual faculty members and their achievements and celebrates the values of academic excellence that we share as a community. Each honoree is presented with the Chancellor’s Medal, the highest recognition bestowed upon faculty by the campus. The Chancellor's Medal was previously conferred as Outstanding Accomplishments in Research and Creativity.

2025: Qiangfei Xia, Electrical and Computer Engineering
2022: Erin Baker Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2022: Wayne Burleson, Electrical and Computer Engineering
2017: Donald Fisher, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2017: David Reckhow, Civil and Environmental Engineering

UMass Amherst Spotlight Scholars

The UMass Amherst Spotlight Scholars initiative shines a light on faculty working for positive social change through research, scholarship, and creative activity.

2026: Jun Yao, Electrical and Computer Engineering
2024: Ashish Kulkarni, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
2023: Caitlyn Butler, Civil and Environmental Engineering
2022: Shelly Peyton, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Armstrong Fund for Science Award

2025: Jessica Boakye, Civil and Environmental Engineering
2025: Egemen Okte, Civil and Environmental Engineering
2024: Jimi Oke, Civil and Environmental Engineering
2024: Eleni Christofa, Civil and Environmental Engineering
2023: Cathal Kearney, Biomedical Engineering
2023: Govind Srimathveeravalli, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2020: Jun Yao, Electrical and Computer Engineering
2018: Shannon Roberts, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2017: Ian Grosse, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering
2015: Sarah Perry, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
2014: Jessica Schiffman, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
2014: Shelly Peyton, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
2012 Matthew Lackner, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2012 James Manwell, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2012: Sergio Brena, Civil and Environmental Engineering
2011: Yahya Modarres-Sadeghi, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2011: David Schmidt, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

ADVANCE Faculty Peer Mentor Awards

This award recognizes the vital role faculty play in mentoring their colleagues. The awards are administered by UMass ADVANCE in conjunction with the individual schools and colleges.

2025-26: Jonathan Rothstein, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2024-25: Frank Sup, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2023-24: Chaitra Gopalappa, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2022-23: Don J. DeGroot, Civil and Environmental Engineering
2021-22: Jessica Schiffman, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
2020-21: Michael Knodler, Civil and Environmental Engineering
2019-20: Caitlyn Butler, Civil and Environmental Engineering

UMass ADVANCE Equitable Practices in Collaboration (EPiC) Award

2024-25: Holyoke Community Energy Project, team member Erin Baker in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2022-23: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Artificial Intelligence Team, team members Anna LaChance, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Nick Tooker, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Commitment to Diversity Award

2025: Fatima Anwar - Electrical & Computer Engineering