Faculty recognized for excellence in teaching, research, service

Thirteen faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences have been awarded named professorships by University of Delaware President Dennis Assanis and Provost Laura Carlson.

The appointments represent a significant honor at the University of Delaware, made in recognition of a sustained record of excellence in teaching, research and service.

“These faculty, whose dedication to our students, to their scholarship and to their colleagues, are exceptional. It is so rewarding to see their accomplishments recognized in this way,” said Debbie Hess Norris, interim dean and Unidel Henry Francis du Pont Chair of Art Conservation.

The professors represent six academic departments. All of the appointments are effective Sept. 1, 2024, with the exception of William Matthaeus, whose appointment was effective July 1.

In the Department of Biological Sciences, Melinda Duncan was named the Trustees Distinguished Professor, and Salil Lachke is the Alumni Distinguished Professor of Biology.

In the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jodi Hadden-Perilla was appointed the C. Eugene Bennett Early Career Chair of Chemistry, and Tatyana Polenova is the C. Eugene Bennett Chair of Chemistry.

In the Department of History, Interim Chair Owen White is the new H. Fletcher Brown Chair of Humanities.

Two appointments have been announced in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Rachael Hutchinson is the Elia Ahuja Professor of Foreign Language and Literatures (Classics) and Alexander Selimov has been named Elias Ahuja Chair of Spanish and Latin American Studies.

The Department of Mathematical Sciences has two appointments: Jingmei Qiu is the new Unidel Professor of Mathematical Sciences and Ivan Todorov is now the Carl J. Rees Chair of Mathematical Sciences.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy has four new named professors: John Gizis is the Annie Jump Cannon Professor of Physics and Astronomy; William Matthaeus is the Martin A. Pomerantz Chair of Physics and Astronomy; Marianna Safronova is the Unidel Professor of Physics and Astronomy; and Krzysztof Szalewicz was named the Richard B. Murray Professor of Physics and Astronomy.