Ten faculty honored with new named professorships

This fall, 10 additional faculty in the College of Engineering have been honored with a named professorship. An endowed professorship is the highest academic award and honor that the college can bestow on a faculty member. Named professorships are also an enduring tribute to the donors who establish them. The college now has 27 faculty who hold professorships.

Funds for the professorships are provided by private gifts to the University of Nebraska Foundation to support distinguished faculty in the College of Engineering. Professorships provide faculty with stipends and discretionary funds and enable the recipients to further develop their teaching and research interests.  

“Named professorships are also essential to attract and retain the best faculty,” said Lance C. Pérez, dean of the College of Engineering. “We are fortunate to have donors who understand the importance of high quality faculty to deliver on our teaching and research mission.”

The Fall 2022 class includes new professorships supported by the family of Ray Fauss, Wilmer J. and Sally L. Hergenrader, Richard L. McNeel, and Robert F. and Myrna L. Krohn. With the support of these generous donors and others, the college was able for the first time to award six outstanding associate or assistant professors with named professorships.

Fall 2022 New Professorships

• Bruce Dvorak, Ray Fauss Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Nathan Huynh, Keith W. Klassmeyer Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Mehmet Can Vuran, Dale M. Jensen Chair in Computing
• Jian Wang, Wilmer J. and Sally L. Hergenrader Chair of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
• Vitaly Alexandrov, Richard L. McNeel Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• Bai Cui, R. Vernon McBroom Associate Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
• Brittany Duncan, Ross McCollum Associate Professor of Computing
• Ryan Pedrigi, Robert F. and Myrna L. Krohn Assistant Professor of Biological Engineering
• Ruiguo Yang, Robert F. and Myrna L. Krohn Associate Professor of Biological Engineering
• David Yuill, Richard L. McNeel Associate Professor of Architectural Engineering and Construction

Continuing Professorships

• Shannon Bartelt-Hunt, Donald R. Voelte and Nancy A. Keegan Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Yuris Dzenis, R. Vernon McBroom College Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
• Shane Farritor, David B. and Nancy K. Lederer Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering 
• Natale Ianno, Lott Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Daniel Linzell, Leslie D. Martin Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering 
• Yongfeng Lu, Lott University Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Lance C. Pérez, Omar H. Heins Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Wei Qiao, Clyde Hyde Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Kamlakar P. Rajurkar, Distinguished College Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
• Ravi Saraf, Lowell E. and Betty L. Anderson Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• Mathias Schubert, J.A. Woollam Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Hamid Sharif, Charles J. Vranek College Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Jeffrey Shield, Robert W. Brightfelt Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
• Joseph Turner, Robert W. Brightfelt Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
• Hendrik Viljoen, College Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• Lily Wang, Charles W. and Margre H. Durham Distinguished Professor of Architectural Engineering and Construction
• Marilyn Wolf, Elmer E. Koch Professor of Computing