The hard work of University of Houston faculty extends outside of their respective labs and classrooms. At UH, professors mentor students, collaborate with peers, engage in groundbreaking research and contribute to community engagement initiatives.
Such efforts are recognized annually with UH’s Faculty Excellence Awards. These honors are presented to professors, lecturers and graduate students for outstanding work in research, teaching and service to UH and the community.
The latest Faculty Excellence Awards were presented on April 24 at the Hilton University of Houston with more than 30 faculty earning accolades.
“I can’t think of a place I’d rather be right now. Being in the same room with award-winning faculty is truly an honor!” said UH Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Diane Z. Chase during her opening remarks.
Chase addressed a room filled with awardees, deans, supporters and other members of the Cougar Community. Other dignitaries in attendance included UH President Renu Khator who reminded professors in attendance never to lose sight of their mission to “transform the lives” of their students.
Earning the night’s most prestigious honor, the Esther Farfel Award, was Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Psychology Elena Grigorenko. She is no stranger to earning awards for her publications and research on child and adolescent learning and developmental disorders. Still, she remained humbled by earning the University’s highest faculty honor.
In her acceptance speech, she credited those mentors who helped her achieve success in academia and science. Grigorenko also acknowledged that she now strives to inspire others to reach new heights as researchers.
Just as she once “stood on the shoulders” of those scholars who preceded her, Grigorenko now “surrenders her shoulders” to those who want to advance their own scholarly pursuits.
Other awardees included Vincent Tam, professor of pharmacy. He was among those faculty members acknowledged in the category Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity.
“It is an honor for me to be a part of this prestigious group of fellow colleagues that have been given the awards in the past,” he said. “It is a recognition by my peers, attesting to the value of my contributions to the University over the years.”
Fellow award recipient Miriam Afzal Manuel, clinical assistant professor of mathematics, earned an Instructor/Clinical Professor Award. At UH, she has collaborated with University and community partners to prepare future STEM educators. Her work with teachHouston has achieved success in area classrooms and earned significant funding to support various initiatives. Earning a Faculty Excellence Award, she said, validates a commitment to the craft of teaching. It also reflects the value and trust the University places in its faculty.
“Receiving the Faculty Excellence Award is a true honor,” she said. “For me, teaching is both a privilege and a responsibility, one I don’t take lightly. It means showing up with care, building trust, and creating spaces where students feel safe to learn, belong, and grow both academically and emotionally. I am also grateful to be part of a university that values and celebrates the transformative impact of teaching.”
Like Manuel, Patrick Peters has long focused on inspiring students to apply their knowledge and talents in the community. His leadership of the Graduate Design Build Studio and other projects earned him an award in the Community Engagement category.
“I am delighted and humbled by this recognition of our sustained community engagement work in the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, especially since it foregrounds the work’s impact not only on our communities but also on the lives of our students and former students as they become leaders in their profession,” said Peters, professor of architecture. “Their successes in practice and in life are validation of our shared success in the College.”
Faculty Excellence Award recipients are nominated annually by peers and earn cash awards, as well as commemorative trophies. In the case of the Farfel Award recipient, a bronze Cougar is awarded in addition to a monetary prize.
Emceeing the ceremony for the second consecutive year was Emmy-winning television and radio host Ernie Manouse. During the earliest moments of the ceremony, Manouse paid tribute to those with longstanding service to the institution. He called upon the faculty who have served between 20 and 50-plus years at UH. The University presently has three faculty members approaching the 60-year mark.
Farfel recipient Grigorenko celebrates a decade at UH this year. While she is still far from the half-century mark at UH, the distinguished professor said she is definitely here to stay.
“I have all I need here, at least for now,” she said prior to the ceremony. “There is no place I know of that can give me extra time. I am approached with interesting options on a regular basis, but I have not had any impetus to leave UH.”
A complete list of this year’s award recipients can be found the Faculty Excellence Awards website.