Faculty excellence spotlighted at Honors Ceremony and Celebration

Purdue leaders recognized outstanding faculty members and announced the 2026 winners of the university’s Morrill, Trailblazer and Faculty Mentor awards during the Office of the Provost’s annual Faculty Honors Ceremony and Celebration on May 6.

The Morrill Award was presented to Deborah Knapp — Distinguished Professor of Comparative Oncology, the Dolores L. McCall Professor of Comparative Oncology and director of the Evan and Sue Ann Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center — and Wojciech Szpankowski, the Saul Rosen Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and professor of electrical and computer engineering. The award is the highest honor that Purdue confers on a faculty member and recognizes those who best exemplify the spirit of the land-grant university through excellence in teaching, research and engagement.

Kristine Marceau, associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science, and Brooke Macnamara, associate professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences, were named this year’s Trailblazer Award recipients. The award is presented to mid-career faculty whose pioneering or innovative research, scholarship or creative work has made a significant impact in the humanities, social sciences and information sciences disciplines.

The Faculty Mentor Award was presented to Jay Akridge, professor of agricultural economics and the Trustees Chair Professor of Teaching and Learning Excellence. The award recognizes associate or full professors who have invested in the success and well-being of Purdue faculty by demonstrating active and responsive mentorship.

The event also celebrated the five 2026 winners of the Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award — Purdue’s highest undergraduate teaching honor — presented to faculty members who go above and beyond to deliver students a world-class education.

• Mindy Anderson, clinical associate professor of basic medical sciences and assistant dean of the veterinary technology program

• Abrar Hammoud, associate professor of practice in the Department of Technology Leadership and Innovation

• David Nolte, the Edward M. Purcell Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy

• Jon Rienstra-Kiracofe, professor of practice in the James Tarpo Jr. and Margaret Tarpo Department of Chemistry and associate dean of the College of Science in Indianapolis

• Michael Zoltowski, the Thomas J. and Wendy Engibous Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and associate head of mentorship and recognition

Three faculty members were recognized for earning Purdue’s annual research awards that honor extraordinary contributions to the humanities and social sciences, pure and applied sciences and engineering, and the natural sciences.

• Lu Ann Aday Award — Laura Murray-Kolb, professor and head of the Department of Nutrition Science

• Herbert Newby McCoy Award — Songlin Fei, the Dean’s Chair in Remote Sensing, professor of forestry and natural resources, and the director of the Institute for Digital Forestry

• Arden L. Bement Jr. Award — Tongcang Li, professor of physics and astronomy and electrical and computer engineering

Those who received prestigious external awards were also acknowledged, along with Purdue’s newly promoted faculty members, approved in April by the Board of Trustees.