University Scholars Program
Faculty excellence is the cornerstone of any university of high quality. There is no more important task at the University of Illinois than attracting and retaining the very best teachers and scholars. The University Scholars Program recognizes outstanding members of the faculty and provides each with a funding allocation to enhance their scholarly activities.
University Scholars awards are not made for a specific project or proposal; rather, they represent recognition of the recipient’s excellence and the University’s commitment to foster outstanding people and their work. Therefore, the awards are made through nominations, not by application.
As of 2013, each award consists of an allocation of $15,000 per year for a period of three years. Recipients may use the funds at their discretion to enhance their scholarly work through travel, equipment, research assistants, scholarly materials or other uses that support their university-related teaching or research. University Scholars funds cannot be used toward the recipients’ base salary but can be used to support a summer salary of up to two-ninths of base salary.
Eligibility to the University Scholar Program is limited to members of the University of Illinois faculty, as defined in the University Statutes, i.e., members of the academic staff who are tenured or receiving credit toward tenure.
Each university will determine its selection criteria and process. Prior to the end of the academic year, they will submit the selection results to the President. Formal announcements of new University Scholars will generally be timed to coincide with the beginning of the academic year following selection.
University Scholars from 1985 to current year
2024 University Scholars
Heather Bailey
History, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Springfield
Kenneth Brezinsky
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Chicago
Pai-Yen Chen
Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Chicago
Zeynep Madak-Erdogan
Food Science and Nutrition, College of ACES, Urbana-Champaign
Pauline Maki
Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Chicago
Robert M. Morrissey
History, College of LAS, Urbana-Champaign
Nadine Naber
Gender and Women’s Studies/Global Asian Studies, College of LAS, Chicago
Yasen M. Peyankov
Theatre, School of Theatre and Music, College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts, Chicago
Joaquin Rodriguez Lopez
Chemistry, College of LAS, Urbana-Champaign
Mark L. Schlossman
Physics, College of LAS, Chicago
Jacob S. Sherkow
College of Law, Urbana-Champaign
Hanghang Tong
Computer Science, Grainger College of Engineering, Urbana-Champaign
updated October 2024