Distinguished Scholar Award
We honor our dedicated scholars and creators
The Distinguished Scholar Award honors senior scholars and artists with a long and distinguished record of publications, exhibits and/or creative activities while a member of the UNI faculty and whose professional reputation is national (and international where appropriate).
Nominees must be a late-career tenured Regular Member of the Graduate Faculty with at least five years of full-time UNI service at the time of nomination. A faculty member may receive the Distinguished Scholar Award only once.
Required Actions
- Nominations must originate from the Department Faculty and official nomination letter(s) as PDF must be submitted to Graduate Studies by email to gradcollege@uni.edu
- Graduate Studies will inform nominees of selection and will requests materials.
Due Dates
- Friday, November 3, 2025: Nominations are due by 4:30 p.m.
- Monday, February 6, 2026: Nominee’s submission of digital materials by 4:30 p.m.
How to submit your required materials
- Submit documents as PDF files ONLY to gradcollege@uni.edu.
- Include your full last name, first name initial and the award title in the folder (Example: DOE, J. Distinguished Award)
- Include cover sheet with signatures, CV, and narrative - “The narrative is a brief written statement (1-2 pages) describing the nominee’s key activities, projects, achievements, recognition, or contributions related to the award criteria"
- One "Support letter" (separate from the nomination letter or email) must be written on official letterhead and signed by the individual providing the support. This letter should be sent directly to: gradcollege@uni.edu.
Previous Recipients - Distinguished Scholar Award
- Andrey N. Petrov (2024-2025)
- Catherine DeSoto (2023-2024)
- Thomas Hockey (2022-2023)
- Christian W. Ogbondah (2021-2022)
- Grant Tracey (2020-2021)
- Michael Waggoner (2019-2020)
- Daniel Power (2018-2019)
- Nageswara Rao Posinasetti (2017-2018)
- David Surdam (2016-2017)
- Audrey Rule (2015-2016)
- Robert Washut (2014-2015)
- Melissa Beall (2013-2014)
- Katherine Van Wormer (2012-2013)
- Roy Behrens (2009-2010)
- Otto MacLin (2008-2009)
- Carl Thurman (2007-2008)
- John W. Johnson (2006-2007)
- Kenneth R. Atkinson (2005-2006)
- Sue Joseph (2004-2005)
- Richard Utz (2003-2004)
- Joseph Smaldino (2001-2002)
- Syed Kirmani (1999-2000)
- David Buch (1998-1999)
- Shivesh Thakur (1997-1998)
- Albert Gilgen (1996-1997)
- Virginia Berg (1995-1996)
- Barbara Lounsberry (1994-1995)
- Gregory Stefanich (1993-1994)
- Allen Jedlicka (1992-1993)
- Nixon Wilson (1991-1992)
- Donald Whitnah (1990-1991)
- Robert Gish (1990-1991)
- Glenda Riley (1989-1990)
- Chandrasekhar Das (1989-1990)
- Robley Wilson (1988-1989)
- Clemens Bartollas (1988-1989)
- Hyo Myung (1986-1987)
- Jerome Klinkowitz (1984-1985)
- Gordon Harrington (1984-1985)
- Hyo Myung (1983-1984)