University Distinguished Professors

The title of University Distinguished Professor (UDP) is the highest academic honor bestowed upon a faculty member at North Dakota State University. This prestigious designation recognizes individuals who exemplify the very best of NDSU’s mission as the state’s land-grant, R1 university, embodying a legacy of excellence that extends beyond their own disciplines and into the broader academic community.

University Distinguished Professors have an exceptional record of achievement, demonstrating sustained, high-quality contributions across research and creative activity, teaching and service, in alignment with their faculty role. More than a recognition of past accomplishments, this distinction signifies an expectation of continued intellectual leadership, mentorship and transformative impact. Beyond scholarly excellence, a UDP upholds the highest standards of integrity, character and institutional leadership, influencing not only their field but also shaping the future of the university and the broader society it serves.

Program Details

When the President of the University informs the Provost that funds are available to confer the title of University Distinguished Professor (UDP), the Provost initiates the nomination process.
The nomination period typically opens in February, with initial reviews conducted at the college level. Exact dates are set by the Provost and communicated to the university community.
Faculty members must be nominated by a colleague, department chair, or head within their college. Each college follows an internal review process, either through an established faculty awards committee or an ad hoc committee responsible for evaluating candidates and making recommendations to the Dean. The committee will write a letter justifying their recommendation(s) to the Dean.
Nomination materials for the college review must include:
- A nomination letter (maximum of two pages) from a colleague, department chair, or head, summarizing the candidate’s qualifications and alignment with the UDP criteria.
- The candidate’s current curriculum vitae.
Deans may nominate up to two (2) candidates from their College review/recommendation process by submitting a letter of support/justification along with the college nomination materials and committee letter to the Provost. Nominations remain active only for the year in which they are submitted. If not selected, candidates may be renominated in subsequent years.
While Deans seek input from the committee, all nominations must remain strictly confidential between the recommending individual, the college committee, the nominating Dean, the Provost, and the President. The Provost ensures all nominations meet UDP criteria before advancing them to the President for consideration; nominations that do not fully meet the criteria will be returned to the Dean.
The Provost convenes and chairs a selection committee to evaluate nominees. This committee includes one (1) current University Distinguished Professor selected by the Provost in consultation with the President, one (1) tenured full professor, one (1) tenured associate professor, and one (1) non-voting representative from the NDSU Foundation selected by the Provost based on recommendations of the Deans.
In early April, the Provost presents the committee’s recommendations to the President, who makes the final selection.
If new University Distinguished Professors are selected, they will be formally announced during the fall State of the University address.

Each nomination will be evaluated based on the nominee’s academic record, which must reflect outstanding and sustained contributions in research/creative activity, instruction, and service. Candidates must demonstrate a significant impact beyond their individual program, exemplifying excellence in all three areas.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees must be full professors with tenure who have at least 10 years of service at North Dakota State University (NDSU).
Candidates with an exceptional record of achievement across research/creative activity, teaching, and service, with a demonstrated impact beyond their immediate discipline, will be considered for further review.

Evaluation Areas

Research/Creative Activity
- Candidates must demonstrate national and/or international impact that exceeds the expectations for promotion to full professor.
- Their work should influence and extend beyond their individual research area or creative discipline, contributing meaningfully to the advancement of knowledge, innovation, or artistic achievement.
Teaching
- Candidates must have a demonstrated impact on undergraduate and graduate education, evidenced by:
  - Teaching awards
  - Pedagogical publications or presentations
  - Sustained excellence in instruction, advising, and curriculum development
  - Mentorship of students that exceeds standard expectations for promotion
  - Leadership in curriculum innovation and program success
- In alignment with NDSU’s Promotion and Tenure criteria, excellence in instruction may also encompass formal extension education efforts. This includes:
  - Demonstrated impact on behavior change in learners
  - Implementation of science-based curricula by youth or adult audiences
  - Other high-impact programming and engagement beyond traditional classroom settings
Service
- Candidates must exhibit significant contributions at the department, college, university, national, and—when relevant—international levels, through:
  - Sustained mentorship of faculty and students
  - Meaningful participation in campus-wide initiatives
  - Leadership roles in national and international professional organizations
  - Successful collaborative endeavors that have advanced their field and institution
Leadership and Integrity
- Candidates must have a proven track record of mentoring rising faculty members, contributing to the development of future academic leaders.
- They must exemplify the highest standards of character, academic integrity, and university leadership, serving as a model for faculty excellence

to attend fall and/or spring commencement and be recognized (when possible).
to continue with leadership in service to the university above and beyond the expectations of tenured professors
to continue with excellence in teaching and research above and beyond the expectations of tenured professors
Provide NDSU visibility such as (but not limited to) using their expertise in the community, teaching 1^st year courses, public events/lectures, and outreach.

A salary supplement of $20,000 will be provided annually for as long as the faculty has the University Distinguished Professor title and remains a benefited tenured faculty member. In addition, each UDP will receive an annual operating budget of $5,000 to be used according to the established guidelines and policies of the university for operating budgets and with no carryover to another year. The UDP salary supplement and operating budget will begin at the start of the fiscal year.
A “University Distinguished Professor” has a title with a requirement to be reviewed for continuation every five years. The review will be conducted by the committee convened to review nominations (see above). The criteria for review will be consistent with those used for the selection of new UDPs.
Upon retirement, the salary supplement and the operating budget ends, and the title will become University Distinguished Professor Emerita/Emeritus.

Recipients

2025 Recipients

Thomas DeSutter

Distinguished Professor of Soil Science

DeSutter’s research in environmental soil science focuses on soil salinity, reclamation of disturbed lands, soil and water quality, and beneficial use of industrial byproducts in agriculture. DeSutter’s work has helped improve land management practices across the region and has guided soil remediation efforts in energy development areas. Since joining NDSU in 2006, he has earned numerous honors, including the Soil Science Society of America Fellow Award, the American Society of Agronomy Fellow Award and NDSU’s Eugene R. Dahl Excellence in Research Award. DeSutter is also a recipient of NDSU’s Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Lectureship and the Lund Excellence in Teaching Award. His leadership extends to statewide service, including appointment to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality Advisory Council.

Yeong Rhee

Distinguished Professor of Health, Nutrution, and Exercise Sciences

Rhee is a registered dietitian and widely respected scholar who has made major contributions in nutrition science, exercise and health promotion. Under her leadership, the department has expanded programs, increased research funding by more than 500 percent, and launched new graduate degrees, including the online Master of Science in Sport Management. Rhee’s teaching and leadership have been recognized through multiple university and national awards, including the NDSU Odney Award for Teaching Excellence and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Outstanding Dietetic Educator Award. She has guided faculty and students in earning national recognition, developed key partnerships, and advanced NDSU’s mission to improve health and well-being in North Dakota and beyond.

Michael D. Robinson

Distinguished Professor of Psychology

Robinson is one of NDSU’s most prolific and cited researchers. He joined NDSU in 2001 and is recognized internationally for his work in personality, emotion, and social cognition. Robinson has published more than 300 scholarly works, including books and journal articles, and has served as editor for leading psychology journals such as Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin and Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and other agencies, and his work has been featured in Forbes, Psychology Today, and other media outlets. Robinson’s mentorship of students has led many to successful academic careers, and his teaching excellence has earned him multiple college and university awards for research, mentoring, and scholarship.

Chanchai Tangpong

Distinguished Professor of Management and Marketing

Tangpong’s research focuses on strategic management, business negotiations, and supply chain collaboration. He has published widely in top-tier journals and received multiple Best Paper Awards from international organizations, including the Academy of Management and the Decision Sciences Institute. Tangpong is also recognized for his outstanding teaching and mentorship, having received the Eisele Teaching Fellowship for excellence in teaching and multiple Apple Polisher Awards from NDSU students. His leadership includes serving as department chair and contributing as associate editor for the Journal of Operations Management. He continues to bring international perspective and research innovation to NDSU’s business programs.

Chad Ulven

Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Ulven’s research in sustainable materials and polymer composites has earned international recognition. Over two decades at NDSU, he has led more than $45 million in funded projects and collaborated with more than 50 industry partners to develop biobased and advanced composite materials. Ulven is a two-time NDSU College of Engineering Researcher of the Year and recipient of the Faculty Lectureship and Gehrts Presidential Professorship. He has also been deeply involved in entrepreneurship, co-founding several technology companies and leading the $14 million NSF-funded Great Plains I-Corps Hub. As interim chair of mechanical engineering, he guided successful ABET accreditation renewal and curricular innovation that strengthened the department’s national reputation.

Jagdish Singh

Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Singh is a fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and the Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy. His pioneering research in advanced drug delivery systems targets treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and hypertension. Singh has received continuous federal funding from agencies including the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and National Science Foundation, and has published more than 230 peer-reviewed papers. Under his leadership, the department has become one of the top-ranked programs in the nation for NIH-funded pharmaceutical research. Singh established the Center for Biopharmaceutical Research and Production, securing $6.7 million in state and industry support and has guided dozens of graduate students who now contribute to biomedical research worldwide. His work continues to strengthen NDSU’s national reputation in health sciences and biotechnology.

2012 Recipient

Elias M. Elias

Distinguished Professor of Plant Sciences

Elias leads the NDSU durum wheat breeding and genetics program as the J.F. Carter Durum Wheat Breeding/Genetics Endowed Professor. The program develops varieties to maximize economic return for producers, while providing quality durum wheat for the pasta industry and export market. Internationally respected for his research, Elias was named 1999 Durum Man of the Year by the U.S. Durum Growers Association. He also received NDSU’s Larson/Yaggie Excellence in Research Award, Early Career in 2000 and the Waldron Award for Excellence in Research. Elias, who joined NDSU in 1990, earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Aleppo University in Syria and his master’s degree in plant pathology from Montana State University. He earned his doctorate in agronomy from NDSU.

2008 Recipients

Jo Ann Miller

Distinguished Professor of Music (Emeritus)

Miller joined NDSU’s faculty in 1989 as director of choral activities. She conducts the Concert Choir and University Chorus, and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting and literature courses. She also is the graduate coordinator for NDSU’s Master of Music and Doctor of Music Arts programs. Prior to coming to NDSU, Miller was on the music faculty at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse where she founded the La Crosse Chamber Chorale. She earned her bachelor’s degree from NDSU, master’s degree from the University of North Dakota and doctorate from the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music.

Larry Reynolds

Distinguished Professor of Animal Sciences

Reynolds joined NDSU in 1985. His research has focused on improving fertility (the ability to conceive and to maintain pregnancy) and pregnancy outcomes (i.e., preterm birth, low birth weights and postnatal health) in livestock. He has lectured throughout the world, including 16 Visiting Lectureships/Keynote Speakerships, and taught in more than 25 different undergraduate and graduate courses. Reynolds has received 43 federal grants, served on more than 70 federal grant review panels, and published more than 280 books, book chapters and journal articles including 42 invited reviews. He is ranked in the upper 2.0% of top-cited researchers in the world. His professional awards include the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Animal Physiology and Endocrinology Award, the ASAS Growth and Development Award, and at NDSU the Fred Waldron Excellence in Research Award (2021), the 51^st NDSU Faculty Lectureship (2009) and the Eugene R. Dahl Excellence in Research Award (2006). He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Arizona State University and a doctorate from Iowa State University.

2007 Recipients

Allan Ashworth

Distinguished Professor of Geosciences (Emeritus)

Ashworth, who joined NDSU in 1972, teaches and conducts research in paleontology and stratigraphy. He has made four research trips to Antarctica, and was recently notified by the New Zealand Geographic Board that a glacier on the icy continent has been named in his honor. Ashworth chairs the U.S. National Committee for the International Union for Quaternary Research. He earned his bachelor’s degree and doctorate from the University of Birmingham, England. His many honors include being named a James A. Meier Senior Professor, Mortar Board Preferred Professor, NDSU Faculty Lectureship and Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Professor.

Neil Gudmestad

Distinguished Professor of Plant Pathology (Emeritus)

Gudmestad joined NDSU as a tenure-track assistant professor in 1985. He has served the pathology section of the Potato Association of America as chair, vice-chair and director. He also was on the editorial board of American Potato Journal and associate editor of Phytopathology. His many honors include the Research Scientist of the Year-Early Career from the N.D. Agricultural Experiment Station, the Red River Valley Potato Growers Association Meritorious Service Award, the National Potato Council Researcher of the Year, the Eugene R. Dahl Excellence in Research Award, and the Fred Waldron Excellence in Research Award. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Valley City State University and his master’s degree and doctorate from NDSU.

Tom Isern

Distinguished Professor of History and Religion

A specialist in the history of the Great Plains, Isern is the author or co-author of six books in the field, including “Dakota Circle: Excursions on the True Plains.” He is well known across North Dakota for his weekly feature on Prairie Public Radio, “Plains Folk,” devoted to the folklife of our region. He is the founding director of NDSU’s Center for Heritage Renewal. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Bethany College and his master’s degree and doctorate from Oklahoma State University. Isern joined NDSU in 1992, and his previous honors include the Outstanding Educator Award of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; the Peltier Award for Innovative Teaching; and the Fargo Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Professorship.

Kalpana Katti

Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering

Katti, who joined NDSU in 1997, has developed state-of-the-art advanced materials and tissue engineering laboratories to support research in nanotechnology and tissue engineering at NDSU. She also has spearheaded the effort to develop an interdisciplinary materials and nanotechnology doctoral program at NDSU. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Delhi, India, her master’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India, and her doctorate from the University of Washington, Seattle. Her other honors include the Peltier Award for Innovations in Teaching, College of Engineering Researcher of the Year, National Science Foundation CAREER Award and Federation of Societies of Coatings Technology Roon Award.

William Perrizo

Distinguished Professor of Computer Science (Emeritus, deceased)

Perrizo joined NDSU in 1973. His vita lists 45 journal papers, 146 refereed conference and symposium proceedings papers and four books and book chapters. He holds two patents. Perizzo was the team leader of the 2002 Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) Knowledge Discovery and Data (KDD) Mining Cup winning team for task two and the team leader of the 2006 ACM KDD Cup winning team for task three. He also received the 2007 Best Paper Award at the International Society of Computers and Their Applications Conference on Computers and Their Applications. Perrizo earned his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University, Minn., his master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and his doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

Mukund Sibi

Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Sibi, a recognized leader in the area of synthetic organic chemistry, came to NDSU in 1987. Sibi's vita lists 153 publications, eight patents and four book reviews. He was the invited speaker or gave the plenary lecture at 57 special symposiums, and he has given 157 invited seminar presentations. His many honors include the Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award for 2008, the James M. Meier Professorship, Dale Hogoboom Endowed Professor, Jordon A. Engberg Professorship and Waldron Award for Excellence in Research. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Bangalore University, India, and his doctorate from the City University of New York.

William Wilson

Distinguished Professor of Agribusiness and Applied Economics

Wilson, who was recognized as one of the top 10 agricultural economists by AgWeek, earned his bachelor’s degree from NDSU and his doctorate from the University of Manitoba. He joined NDSU in 1980, and has served as a board member for WCCO Belting, the Institute of Barley and Malt Sciences and the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. His vita lists 71 grants, 80 journal articles, one book, 13 book chapters and 198 miscellaneous publications. He has given numerous presentations, including 109 international, 82 national and 35 regional professional associations. Wilson’s other honors include the 2006 and 1998 Eugene R. Dahl Excellence in Research Award and Henry Schapper Fellowship.