2022-2023 University Scholars

The University Scholars Awards, presented annually, honor and recognize distinguished UVM faculty members for sustained excellence in research, creative and scholarly activities. The award is co-sponsored by the Provost and the Graduate College. The award recipients are selected by a faculty committee based upon nominations submitted by UVM colleagues. 

University Scholars Awards will be available in two categories: 1) Social Sciences, Humanities and Creative Arts, and 2) Basic and Applied Sciences (including Biological, Medical and Physical Sciences). Each of the awards will carry an award of $2,500 to be used at the discretion of the recipient to promote their scholarly activities. Names are displayed on a plaque on the third floor of the Waterman building.

--> See below for links to lecture recordings. 

Nomination Guidelines

Basic and Applied Sciences

Anne E. Dixon, B.M., B.Ch.

Professor, Department of Medicine

Anne Dixon is the Director of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Director of the Vermont Lung Center and a Professor of Medicine. She is originally from England and moved to the United States after completing her undergraduate studies at Cambridge University and medical school at Oxford University. She completed residency training in Internal Medicine at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and a Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle before joining the faculty at the University of Vermont in 2001. Her research career has focused on clinical and translational studies to understand mechanisms linking obesity and asthma, and she has led basic, translational and clinical trials on this topic. Dr. Dixon has over 100 publications and has led a number of international workshops and symposia. She was the editor of the first book published on obesity and lung disease and is currently working on the second edition of this book. She has been recognized for this work with an American Thoracic Society Achievement Award and honored by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America New England Chapter with a “Champion” award for her contributions. In addition to her research contributions, she recently served on the Expert Panel updating the national asthma guidelines for National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Professor Dixon chairs the Scientific Advisory Committee for the American Lung Association and the American Board of Internal Medicine Pulmonary Board Certification Exam Committee.

Professor Dixon's inaugural lecture, "Fat and flow: elucidating the link between obesity and asthma” was held on January 31, 2023.  Watch the recorded lecture here.

(Photo by Jeff Clarke)

Beverley C. Wemple, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Geography & Geosciences
Faculty Fellow, Gund Institute for Environment

Beverly Wemple is Professor in the Department of Geography & Geosciences. Professor Wemple completed her B.A. at the University of Richmond and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at Oregon State University. Having been a Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Wemple has national and international prominence in her field. A highly sought-after speaker, her research focuses on the dynamics of hydrologic and geomorphic processes in upland, forested watersheds. This work examines the influence of land use practices on geophysical processes with a particular interest in using basic theoretical tools and simulation modeling, in conjunction with empirical field studies, to understand how management of the mountain landscape alters the processes of runoff generation and sediment production in steep, headwater catchments. Dr. Wemple's teaching reflects her interests in both physical geography and in geographic techniques, and she has more than 40 refereed publications and over $6M in funding as PI or MPI. She came to UVM as assistant professor in 1999 and has mentored 50 graduate students and 5 postdocs, as well as 23 undergraduate students. In addition to the UVM community, she serves local and national communities with extensive provision, talks, consultation and technical expertise on research in the areas of floodplains, forest erosion and climate change effects across multiple landscapes and terrains. Dr. Wemple is an outstanding scholar, a highly respected teacher, and an exemplary university citizen who is dedicated to community-building within her department, her college, and across campus.

Professor Wemple's inaugural lecture, "Building Resilience to Extreme Events: Lessons from rivers, roads, and rural communities" was held on Thursday, October 27, 2022. Watch the recorded lecture here

(Photo by Sally McCay)

Social Sciences, Humanities, and Creative Arts

Emily Bernard, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of English

Emily Bernard is the Julian Lindsay Green & Gold Professor of English and Andrew Carnegie Fellow. Her books include Black is the Body: Stories from My Grandmother’s Time, My Mother's Time, and Mine, which was named one of the best books of 2019 by Kirkus Reviews and National Public Radio. Selected by Maureen Corrigan as one of “10 Unputdownable Reads” of 2019, Black is the Body won the 2020 Los Angeles Times Christopher Isherwood Prize for autobiographical prose. Bernard’s previous books include: Remember Me to Harlem: The Letters of Langston Hughes and Carl Van Vechten, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year; Some of My Best Friends: Writings on Interracial Friendship, which was chosen by the New York Public Library as a Book for the Teen Age; and, with Deborah Willis, Michelle Obama: The First Lady in Photographs, which received a 2010 NAACP Image Award. Her writing has appeared in: Harper’s, TLS, The New Republic, The New Yorker, O the Oprah Magazine, Image, Best American Essays, Best African American Essays, and Best of Creative Nonfiction. Professor Bernard serves as a contributing editor at The Yale Review, The American Scholar, and Image: Art, Faith, Mystery. She has received fellowships from the Alphonse A. Fletcher Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the MacDowell Colony, the Vermont Arts Council, and the W. E. B. DuBois Institute at Harvard University. Bernard was the inaugural James Weldon Johnson Senior Research Fellow in African American Studies at Yale University. A 2020 Andrew Carnegie Fellow, Bernard is an elected member of the Society of American Historians. Professor Bernard serves on the boards of the Vermont Arts Council, the Aspen Words Creative Council, and Austen Riggs Center.

Professor Bernard’s inaugural lecture, “Lucille: A Life Story,” was held on Monday, April 17, 2023.  Watch the recorded lecture here.

(Photo by Abigail Johnston)

Jan Fook, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair, Department of Social Work

Jan Fook is Professor and Chair of the Department of Social Work. She received her MSW from the University of Sydney, Australia, and her Ph.D. from the University of Southampton in the UK. She is an elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (UK) and has held nine international professorial appointments, including at the University of Southampton and the University of London, UK. Among her past appointments have been professorial posts in both social work and in education. Dr. Fook has travelled extensively, delivering lectures and workshops across Europe, Asia, and North America. She is most well known for her work on critical social work, practice research, interprofessional working, and critical reflection. She was formerly Director of the Center for Professional Development at La Trobe University in Australia, Head of the Division of Social Work Studies at the University of Southampton, Director of the School of Social Work at Dalhousie University in Canada, and Director of the Interprofessional Institute at the South West Academic Network (London, UK). Immediately before coming to Vermont, she was Consultant in Continuing Education to the South West London Teaching Partnership. Dr. Fook has published 18 books as author or editor and over 100 book chapters and journal articles. Her most recent books include Practicing Critical Reflection in Social Care Organizations (Routledge, ed. 2022) and Learning Critical Reflection: Experiences of transformative learning (with Laura Beres. Routledge, ed. 2020). A fourth edition of Social Work: A Critical Approach to Practice (Sage) is forthcoming. She is currently working on Academic Practice and Transformative Social Work (Columbia University Press).

Professor Fook's inaugural lecture, " An accidental academic career?: finding and sustaining meaning" was held on December 8, 2022. Watch the recorded lecture here.

(Photo by Bailey Beltramo)

Prior University Scholars

Prior University Scholars

2021-2022

  • Beth Kirkpatrick, Larner College of Medicine
  • Donna Rizzo, College of Engineering and Mathematical Science
  • Kimberly Vannest, College of Education and Social Services

2020-2021

  • Joseph Acquisto, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Gregory L. Holmes, Larner College of Medicine
  • Gary S. Stein, Larner College of Medicine
  • Asim Zia, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

2019-2020

  • Mary Cushman, Larner College of Medicine
  • Peter Sheridan Dodds, College of Engineering and Mathematical Science
  • Adrian Ivakhiv, Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources
  • Valerie Rohy, College of Arts and Sciences

2018-2019

  • Sean Field, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Yvonne Janssen-Heininger, Larner College of Medicine
  • Junru Wu, College of Arts and Sciences

2017-2018

  • Jane Kolodinsky, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
  • Kelly J. Rohan, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Jianke Yang, College of Engineering and Mathematical Science

2016-2017

  • Robert V. Bartlett, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Robert Pepperman Taylor, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Ira M. Bernstein, Larner College of Medicine
  • Jason H. T. Bates, College of Engineering and Mathematical Science

2015-2016

  • Tina Escaja, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Ray Vega, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Philip Ades, Larner College of Medicine
  • Marilyn Cipolla, Larner College of Medicine

2014-2015

  • Dennis P. Clougherty, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Sylvie Doublie, Larner College of Medicine
  • Lokangaka Losambe, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Thomas Streeter, College of Arts and Sciences

2013-2014

  • Michael Giangreco, College of Education and Social Services
  • Betsy Hoza, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Christopher Landry, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Curtis Ventriss, Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources

2012-2013

  • M. Cristina Mazzoni, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Mercedes Rincon, Larner College of Medicine
  • Stephanie Seguino, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Margaret A. Vizzard, Larner College of Medicine

2011 - 2012

  • Richard M. Foote, College of Engineering & Mathematics
  • Berta M. Geller, Larner College of Medicine
  • Jean R. Harvey-Berino, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
  • Gary E. Ward, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

2010 - 2011

  • Rex Forehand, College of Arts & Sciences
  • James Hudziak, Larner College of Medicine
  • Anthony S. Magistrale, College of Arts and Sciences
  • George Osol, Larner College of Medicine

2009 - 2010

  • Ralph C. Budd, Larner College of Medicine
  • John P. Burke, College of Arts and Sciences
  • William E. Mann, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Russell P. Tracy, Larner College of Medicine

2008 - 2009

  • Jeffrey Dinitz - Mathematics and Statistics
  • Marjorie Lipson - Elementary Education
  • Benjamin Littenberg - Medicine, Nursing
  • Robert H. Rodgers - Classical Languages and Literature

2007 - 2008

  • Robert J. Gordon - Anthropology
  • Charles G. Irvin - Medicine and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
  • Martin M. LeWinter - Medicine and Molecular Physiology and Biphysics
  • Stephanie H. McConaughy - Psychiatry and Psychology

2006 - 2007

  • Susan Crockenberg – Psychology
  • John Helzer – Psychiatry
  • Gary Mawe – Anatomy and Neurobiology
  • Ian Stokes – Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation

2005 - 2006

  • John MacKenzie Burke – Microbiology & Molecular Genetics
  • Nicholas J. Gotelli – Biology, Marsh Life Sciences
  • Carol T. Miller – Psychology, Dewey Hall
  • Robyn R. Warhol – English, Old Mill

2004 - 2005

  • Richard J. Albertini – Pathology, Medicine and MMG
  • Dwight E. Matthews – Medicine and Chemistry
  • Beth Mintz, Sociology, Benedict Bldg So. Prospect St.
  • David Scrase – German, Waterman Bldg.

2003 - 2004

  • Paula B. Tracy – Biochemistry, Health Science Complex
  • Robert J. Nash – Integrated Professional Studies
  • Dan S. Archdeacon – Mathematics & Statistics, Colchester Ave.
  • Patricia A. Prelock - Communication Sciences, 406 Pomeroy Hall

2002 - 2003

  • Charles J. Goodnight – Biology, Marsh Life Science
  • Rachel K. Johnson – Nutrition & Food Science, Terrill Hall
  • Joni K. Seager - Geography
  • Denise J. Youngblood – History, Wheeler House

2001 - 2002

  • Catherine W. Donnelly – Nut. & Food Sci., 200 Carrigan-
  • Donald H. DeHayes – SNR, 334 Aiken Center

2000 - 2001

  • Warren K. Bickel – Psychiatry & Psychology
  • Roger L. Cooke – Mathematics & Stats
  • Stephen J. Cutler – Sociology
  • Ronald Savitt – School of Business

1999 - 2000

  • Lynne A. Bond – Psychology
  • Edith D. Hendley – MPBP
  • Patrick Hutton – History
  • David M. Warshaw – MPBP

1998 - 1999

  • Daniel W. Gade - Geography
  • Martin H. Krag – Orthopedic Rehab
  • William D. Lakin – Math & Stats.
  • Robert E. Manning – SNR

1997 - 1998

  • Charles J. Colbourn - Mathematics
  • Susan S. Wallace – MMG
  • Stephen T. Higgins – Psychiatry
  • Frank Manchel - English

1996 - 1997

  • Mark T. Nelson - Pharmacology
  • Kurt E. Oughstun – Elec. & Computer Eng
  • Howard Ball – Political Sci
  • Susan Brody Hasazi – Education

1995 - 1996

  • Kenneth I. Gross – Mathematics & Stats.
  • Joseph J. Schall – Biology
  • Mark E. Bouton – Psychology
  • Alan P. Wertheimer – Political Sci

1994 - 1995

  • John R. Hughes – Psychiatry
  • Robert C. Woodworth - Biochemistry
  • Bruce E. Compas - Psychology
  • Joan M. Smith - Sociology

1993 - 1994

  • Bruce S. Kapp – Psychology
  • George F. Pinder – Civil & Envi. Engrg.
  • Luther H. Martin – Religion
  • Mark A. Stoler – History

1992 - 1993

  • Kenneth I. Golden – Mathematics & Stats.
  • Robert J. Johnson – Orthopedic Rehab
  • Abbas Alnasrawi – Economics
  • Esther D. Rothblum – Psychology

1991 - 1992

  • Richard L. Anderson – Electrical Engineering
  • Judith L. Van Houten – Biology
  • Thomas M. Achenbach – Psychiatry
  • Chad D. Hansen - Philosophy

1990 - 1991

  • A. Paul Krapcho - Chemistry
  • Rodney L. Parsons – Anatomy & Neurobiology
  • Heinz L. Ansbacher- Psychology
  • William A. Haviland - Anthropology

1989 - 1990

  • Paula M. Fives-Taylor – MMG
  • Jerold F. Lucey – Pediatrics, MFU
  • Raymond T. Coward –Human Dev. & Family Studies
  • Samuel B. Hand - History

1988 - 1989

  • Kenneth G. Mann – Biochemistry
  • Malcolm H. Pope – Ortho & Rehab & Mechanical Engrg.
  • R. Paul Hilberg – Political Science
  • George A. Sher - Philosophy

1987 - 1988

  • Lyndon B. Carew – Animal Science
  • John J. McCormack – Pharmacology
  • C. Hackett Bushweller - Chemistry
  • R. Harry Orth - English

1986 - 1987

  • Richard Klein - Botany
  • Robert B. Low – Mole. Physiology & Biophysics
  • Martin E. Kuehne – Chemistry
  • George W. Albee - Psychology

1985 - 1986

  • Bernd Heinrich – Biology
  • Julian J. Jaffe - Pharmacology
  • Ted B. Flanagan – Chemistry
  • John Weiger – Romance Languages

1984 - 1985

  • James G. Welch – Animal Sciences
  • Norman Alpert – Physiology & Biophysics
  • Wesley L. Nyborg - Physics
  • Leonidas M. Jones - English

1983 - 1984

  • Richmond J. Bartlett – Plant & Soil Science
  • James E.Clapp, III - OBGYN
  • William E. Geiger, Jr. – Chemistry
  • Philip Kitcher - Philosophy

1982 - 1983

  • George M. Happ - Zoology
  • Thomas J. Moehring – MMG
  • Christopher W. Allen – Chemistry
  • Harold Leitenberg– Psychology

1981 - 1982

  • Robert C. Ullrich - Botany
  • Brooke T. Mossman – Pathology
  • David B. Brown - Chemistry
  • Robert V. Daniels - History

1980 - 1981

  • Alexander H. Duthie – Animal Sciences
  • Stanley Rush – Electrical Engineering
  • Wolfgang Mieder – German & Russian