Celebration Honors Scholarship, Research Excellence

More than 200 University of Maryland researchers and scholars were honored Thursday at the inaugural Maryland Research Excellence Celebration.

Co-hosted by Senior Vice President and Provost Mary Ann Rankin and Vice President for Research Laurie E. Locascio, the program held at the Hotel at the University of Maryland recognized the distinct, high-impact accomplishments of the campus' scholarship and research community.

The guests of honor were nominated by their college and school deans for demonstrably elevating the visibility and reputation of the university through transformative findings, achievements with evident societal impact, recognition by national or international groups, high-impact publications and significant external research funding.

Each college or school dean nominated outstanding scholars and researchers who have demonstrably elevated the visibility and reputation of the University of Maryland through their work in 2018, including one faculty member who best exemplifies research excellence. Front row, from left: Professor Linda Steiner (JOUR), Professor Rajshree Agarwal (BMGT), Professor Gregg Vanderheiden (INFO), Assistant Professor Marccus Hendricks (ARCH), Professor Ralph Dubayah (BSOS), and Professor Ellen Fabian (EDUC). Back row, from left: Professor Amy Sapkota (SPH), Vice President for Research Laurie E. Locascio, President Wallace D. Loh, Senior Vice President and Provost Mary Ann Rankin, and Associate Professor Liangbing Hu (ENGR). Not pictured: Distinguished University Professor Emeritus David Driskell (ARHU), Distinguished University Professor Christopher Monroe (CMNS), Professor Utpal Pal (AGNR), and Professor Peter Reuter (SPP).

“The creativity and ingenuity of our faculty have propelled our university’s profile as a preeminent institution for research and scholarship,” Locascio said.

The Division of Research also announced the winners of its 5th Annual Research Communicator Impact Award, created in 2015 to recognize faculty members who proactively communicate their scholarship and research findings or opinions on research issues with the greater public.

From left, Senior Vice President and Provost Mary Ann Rankin, Associate Professor Sahar Khamis (ARHU), (Research Communicator Impact Award winner in op-ed category), Associate Professor Patrick Warfield, (ARHU) (winner of the award's new media category), Vice President for Research Laurie E. Locascio, and President Wallace D. Loh. Not pictured: Assistant Professor Lilliana Mason (BSOS) (winner in the faculty-cited-in-media category).