University Distinguished Professor

About the Award

The designation of “University Distinguished Professor” is the highest honor bestowed on faculty at Baylor University. Faculty holding this title are recognized for their advancement of Baylor’s mission through outstanding achievement in scholarship and/or creative activity, as evidenced by exceptional national and international recognition in their respective disciplines or at the intersection of multiple disciplines. 

Nominations Process 

A faculty member may be nominated for appointment as a university distinguished professor by her or his dean. The dean may receive suggestions for such a nomination from any party as he or she desires and may collaborate with appropriate individuals (e.g., a nominee’s department chair) in assembling a nomination dossier.  A dean who wishes to make such a nomination will submit a nomination dossier to the provost by December 1 of an even-numbered year. The nomination dossier will include the following materials: 

1. The nominee’s curriculum vitae and a memorandum from the nominee in which she or he agrees to be considered for the appointment;
2. A letter from the department chair (or dean in schools or colleges that are not divided into departments) addressing all of the selection criteria listed above;
3. Letters from at least six external reviewers from top-tier institutions as defined within the nominee’s field of expertise, and each from a different institution (at the level of Professor or above, or equivalent positions in the case of research institutes or laboratories), evaluating the applicant’s qualifications.  The reviewers are to have received the candidate’s curriculum vitae, selected publications for review (i.e., journal articles, books, other creative materials), and an explanation of the criteria (listed above) for this rank at Baylor University;
4. A letter from the dean addressing the applicant’s qualifications for the position.  (Note:  If the dean in a school or college that is not divided into departments provides the letter listed in item #2 above, he or she will not provide an additional letter.) 

Previous Awardees

• 2023- Mikeal Parsons
• 2024- Michael VanNieuwenhze
• 2025- John L. Wood