Arts and Sciences Faculty Honored at Annual Investiture Ceremony

Faculty who are newly appointed or reappointed to endowed chairs, professorships or fellowships and their generous benefactors were recognized with one of the highest honors in academia and presented with commemorative bronze medallions.

November 17, 2025 By Lillian Haynes ’26

A maroon program booklet titled ‘Investiture Ceremony, November 13, 2025’ rests on a table covered with rows of polished wooden award boxes featuring gold emblems. — The College of Arts and Sciences is proud to join the ranks of other prestigious universities around the world by hosting an investiture ceremony to celebrate and formally acknowledge its faculty members who elevate the college and their fields of study. | Image: Chris Jarvis

Close-up of award items displayed on a table: on the left, a gold medallion with the Texas A&M seal in a wooden case; on the right, clear glass discs with engraved logos resting on blue boxes. — Each bronze medallion or crystal paperweight is embossed with the name of the endowed chair, professorship or fellowship and is presented in recognition of faculty contributions to world-class research, teaching and scholarship. | Image: Chris Jarvis

In celebration of Texas A&M University’s dedication to academic excellence, the College of Arts and Sciences hosted its third annual investiture ceremony Nov. 13 in the Memorial Student Center to honor distinguished faculty members who hold endowed chairs, professorships and fellowships.

Those recognized include 26 who were newly appointed to endowed positions, 16 who were recently reappointed, and 69 who currently hold one of these donor-funded roles. In recognition of their achievements and scholarship, faculty were awarded bronze medallions or crystal paperweights inscribed with the name of their endowment to represent their contributions to academia.

The investiture ceremony, which comes from the Latin phrase “dress in robe,” has existed since the Middle Ages and symbolizes the quest for knowledge.”

“The conferral of endowed chairs and professorships truly represents the classical meaning of investiture — recognizing excellence and leadership within our academic community,” Interim Dean Simon North said at the event. “Tonight, I am proud to stand among such an extraordinary group of scholars. I would also like to recognize another very special group — our generous donors, whose vision and philanthropy made these endowments possible. While endowed chairs and professorships honor our faculty, these positions are also lasting tributes to our donors’ commitment to the College of Arts and Sciences and Texas A&M University.”

View more images from the event.

The complete list of faculty members honored along with their endowed appointment is as follows:

Newly Appointed Endowed Faculty Chairs

Dr. José Bermúdez, Department of Philosophy
CHARLES H. GREGORY ’64 CHAIR IN ARTS & SCIENCES

Dr. Mary Campbell, Department of Sociology
SUSANNE M. AND MELBERN G. GLASSCOCK ’59 ENDOWED CHAIR IN ARTS & SCIENCES

Dr. Gregory Daddis, Department of History
MELBERN G. GLASSCOCK ’59 CHAIR IN AMERICAN HISTORY

Dr. Jennifer Dulin, Department of Biology
WESLEY JAY THOMPSON CHAIR IN NEUROBIOLOGY FUND

Dr. Peter Kuchment, Department of Mathematics
ARTHUR GEORGE AND MARY EMOLENE OWEN CHAIR

Dr. Rupak Mahapatra, Department of Physics and Astronomy
MITCHELL-HEEP CHAIR IN EXPERIMENTAL HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS

Dr. Shahar Mendelson, Department of Mathematics
THOMAS W. POWELL ’62 CHAIR III FOR SCIENCE

Dr. Jennifer Mercieca, Department of Communication and Journalism
CLAUDE H. EVERETT, JR. ’47 ENDOWED CHAIR IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. Alexei Safonov, Department of Physics and Astronomy
MITCHELL-HEEP CHAIR IN EXPERIMENTAL HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS

Dr. Louis Strigari, Department of Physics and Astronomy
MITCHELL/HEEP/MUNNERLYN ENDOWED CHAIR IN OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY

Dr. Sherilyn Williams-Stroud, Department of Geology and Geophysics
DAN A. HUGHES ’51 CHAIR IN GEOSCIENCES

Dr. Sarah Zubairy, Department of Economics
LUTHER H. SOULES III ’61 ENDOWED CHAIR FOR GLOBAL MACROECONOMICS THEORY AND POLICY

Three individuals standing in front of a maroon Texas A&M banner; the person in the center wears a gold medallion on a black ribbon, while another holds a wooden award box. — Dr. Jennifer Mercieca, a professor in the Department of Communication & Journalism and newly appointed holder of the Claude H. Everett, Jr. ’47 Endowed Chair in Liberal Arts, was one of 42 members of the College of Arts and Sciences honored at an investiture ceremony. From left are Dr. Cynthia Werner, senior executive associate dean and professor of anthropology, Mercieca and Dr. Simon North, interim dean and the John W. Bevan Professor of Chemistry. | Image: Matt Baughman

Newly Appointed Endowed Faculty Professorships

Dr. Andrew Barr, Department of Economics
AL CHALK ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP IN ECONOMICS

Dr. Jessica Bernard, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
ELLA MCFADDEN PROFESSORSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. Daniel Conway, Department of Philosophy
THOMAS F. MAYO PROFESSORSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. Sherecce Fields, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
SUSANNE M. AND MELBERN G. GLASSCOCK ’59 ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP I

Dr. Wencai Liu, Department of Mathematics
ARTHUR G. & MARY E. OWEN ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP I

Dr. Linda Radzik, Department of Philosophy
SUSANNE M. AND MELBERN G. GLASSCOCK ’59 ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP II

Dr. Roger Reese, Department of History
RALPH R. THOMAS CLASS OF 1921 ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. Jyotsna Vaid, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
SAMUEL RHEA GAMMON ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

Three individuals in business attire standing and conversing at a formal event; one holds a drink, another has a wine glass, and a third appears to hold a small item. The background shows a banquet-style room with round tables and seated guests. — Dr. Wencai Liu (center), a professor in the Department of Mathematics, is the newly appointed holder of the Arthur & Mary E. Owen Endowed Professorship I. He is pictured with Dr. Peter Howard, department head and professor of mathematics (left) and Dr. Shahar Mendelson (right), the newly appointed Thomas W. Powell ’62 Chair III for Science. | Image: Chris Jarvis

Newly Appointed Endowed Faculty Fellowships

Dr. Anirban Bhattacharya, Department of Statistics
PATRICIA R. SMITH & DR. WILLIAM B. SMITH FACULTY FELLOWSHIP FOR STATISTICS

Dr. Regina Mills, Department of English
ELTON LEWIS FACULTY FELLOWSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. Huiyan Sang, Department of Statistics
DR. RAYMOND J. CARROLL AND DR. MARCIA G. ORY ENDOWED FACULTY FELLOWSHIPS IN STATISTICS

Dr. Zina Trost, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
RAY A. ROTHROCK ’77 FACULTY RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

Dr. Xin Yan, Department of Chemistry
RAY. A ROTHROCK ’77 FACULTY RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

Dr. Xianyang Zhang, Department of Statistics
REGINA AND NORMAN CARROLL FACULTY FELLOWSHIP IN STATISTICS

Six individuals standing on a stage in front of a maroon Texas A&M College of Arts banner; the person in the center holds a clear glass award. — Dr. Zina Trost, an associate professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, was appointed to the Ray A. Rothrock ’77 Faculty Research Fellowship at the Nov. 13 investiture ceremony. From left (with Trost holding her award) are undergraduate students who work in Trost’s research lab: Misha Shah, Emma Tillery, Rachel Smet and Lydia Kang. Ami Lisenbee (far right) is the clinical coordinator for Trost’s spinal cord injury virtual walking clinical trials. | Image: Matt Baughman

Reappointed Endowed Faculty Chairs

Dr. Ping Chang, Department of Oceanography
LOUIS & ELIZABETH SCHERCK CHAIR IN OCEANOGRAPHY

Dr. Richard Gomer, Department of Biology
THOMAS W. POWELL ’62 CHAIR I FOR SCIENCE

Dr. Ethan Grossman, Department of Geology and Geophysics
MICHEL T. HALBOUTY ’30 CHAIR OF GEOLOGY

Dr. Paul Hardin, Department of Biology
JOHN W. (BILL) LYONS, JR. ’59 CHAIR IN BIOLOGY

Dr. Bani Mallick, Department of Statistics
SUSAN M. ARSEVEN ’74 CHAIR IN DATA SCIENCE AND COMPUTATIONAL STATISTICS

Dr. Casey Papovich, Department of Physics and Astronomy
MARSHA L. ’69 & RALPH F. SCHILLING ’68 CHAIR IN EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS

Dr. Daniel Singleton, Department of Chemistry
C.J. DAVIDSON CHAIR IN SCIENCE

Dr. Brani Vidakovic, Department of Statistics
H.O. HARTLEY CHAIR IN STATISTICS

Dr. Michael Waters, Department of Anthropology
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF THE FIRST AMERICANS CHAIR IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. Ping Yang, Department of Atmospheric Sciences
DAVID BULLOCK HARRIS CHAIR IN GEOSCIENCES

Dr. Hong-cai “Joe” Zhou, Department of Chemistry
ROBERT A. WELCH FOUNDATION CHAIR IN CHEMISTRY

Dr. Muhammad Suhail Zubairy, Department of Physics and Astronomy
MUNNERLYN-HEEP ENDOWED CHAIR IN QUANTUM OPTICS

Four individuals standing on a stage in front of a maroon Texas A&M banner; one person wears a gold medallion on a ribbon, and the group is dressed in business and semi-formal attire. — Dr. Michael Waters, University Distinguished Professor and Regents Professor in the Department of Anthropology, was reappointed to the Center for the First Americans Chair in Liberal Arts. From left are: Dr. Jessi Halligan, associate professor and holder of the Center for the Study of the First Americans Endowed Professorship; Waters; Dr. Kurt Rademaker, associate professor of anthropology with the Center for the Study of the First Americans; and Stacie Williams, administrative associate with the Center for the Study of the First Americans. | Image: Matt Baughman

Reappointed Endowed Faculty Professorships

Dr. Mark Everett, Department of Geology and Geophysics
HOWARD KARREN ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP IN GEOLOGY/GEOPHYSICS

Dr. Li Gan, Department of Economics
CLIFFORD A. TAYLOR, JR. ’49 PROFESSORSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. Julie Newman, Department of Geology and Geophysics
RAY C. FISH PROFESSORSHIP IN GEOLOGY

Dr. Shelley Wachsmann, Department of Anthropology
MEADOWS PROFESSORSHIP IN BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY

Three individuals standing in front of a maroon Texas A&M banner; the person in the center wears a gold medallion on a ribbon, and another holds a wooden award box. — From left: Dr. Cynthia Werner, senior executive associate dean and professor of anthropology; Dr. Mark Everett, who was reappointed to the Howard Karren Endowed Professorship in Geology/Geophysics; and Dr. Simon North, interim dean and the John W. Bevan Professor of Chemistry. | Image: Matt Baughman

Current Chair Appointments:

Dr. Lane Baker, Department of Chemistry
DR. CARL D. MCAFEE ’90 ENDOWED CHAIR IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

Dr. Tadhg Begley, Department of Chemistry
ROBERT A. WELCH-BARTON ENDOWED CHAIR IN CHEMISTRY

Dr. Alexey Belyanin, Department of Physics & Astronomy
ED RACHAL FOUNDATION ENDOWED CHAIR IN SCIENCE

Dr. Troy Bickham, Department of History
SUSANNE M. AND MELBORN G. GLASSCOCK DIRECTOR’S CHAIR

Dr. Kevin Burgess, Department of Chemistry
GRADIPORE CHAIR IN CHEMISTRY

Dr. Deborah Carlson, Department of Anthropology
GEORGE O. YAMINI FAMILY CHAIR IN NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY

Dr. Ray Carroll, Department of Statistics
JILL AND STEWART HARLIN ’83 CHAIR IN STATISTICS

Dr. Kevin Crisman, Department of Anthropology
GEORGE T. & GLADYS H. ABELL CHAIR IN NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY ENDOWMENT

Dr. Marcetta Darensbourg, Department of Chemistry
C. J. DAVIDSON CHAIR IN SCIENCE

Dr. Steve DiMarco, Department of Oceanography
WILLIAM R. BRYANT OCEANOGRAPHY CHAIR FOR TEACHING, RESEARCH AND MENTORING EXCELLENCE

Dr. Bhaskar Dutta, Department of Physics & Astronomy
MITCHELL/HEEP CHAIR IN HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS

Dr. Yalchin Efendiev, Department of Mathematics
RICHARD E. EWING - EXXONMOBIL CHAIR IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE

Dr. Marian Eide, Department of English
MURRAY AND CELESTE FASKEN ENDOWED CHAIR

Dr. Tatiana Erukhimova, Department of Physics & Astronomy
MARSHA L. ’69 & RALPH F. SCHILLING ’68 CHAIR FOR PHYSICS OUTREACH

Dr. Margaret Ezell, Department of English
JOHN H. AND SARA H. LINDSEY CHAIR IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. Alison Fout, Department of Chemistry
C. J. DAVIDSON CHAIR IN SCIENCE

Dr. François Gabbaï, Department of Chemistry
A.E. MARTELL ENDOWED CHAIR

Dr. John Gladysz, Department of Chemistry
DOW CHAIR IN CHEMICAL INVENTION

Dr. Jean-Luc Guermond, Department of Mathematics
RICHARD E. EWING - EXXONMOBIL CHAIR IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE

Dr. Valen Johnson, Department of Statistics
GEORGE P. MITCHELL ’40 CHAIR IN STATISTICS

Dr. Alexandre Kolomenski, Department of Physics & Astronomy
SCHUESSLER/MITCHELL/HEEP CHAIR IN EXPERIMENTAL OPTICAL AND BIOMEDICAL PHYSICS

Dr. Andreas Kronenberg, Department of Geology & Geophysics
MICHEL T. HALBOUTY ’30 CHAIR OF GEOLOGY

Dr. Wenshe Liu, Department of Chemistry
HARRY E. BOVAY, JR. ENDOWED CHAIR IN CHEMISTRY

Dr. Xiaohong Liu, Department of Geology & Geophysics
RETA HAYNES CHAIR IN GEOSCIENCES

Dr. Franco Marcantonio, Department of Geology & Geophysics
JANE AND R. KEN WILLIAMS ’45 CHAIR IN OCEAN DRILLING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION

Dr. Jennifer Marshall, Department of Physics & Astronomy
ARSEVEN/MITCHELL CHAIR IN ASTRONOMICAL STATISTICS

Dr. Martin Peterson, Department of Philosophy
SUE AND HARRY BOVAY JR. ENDOWED CHAIR FUND FOR THE HISTORY & ETHICS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING

Dr. Christopher Pope, Department of Physics & Astronomy
STEPHEN HAWKING CHAIR IN FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS

Dr. Frank Raushel, Department of Chemistry
THOMAS W. POWELL CHAIR II FOR SCIENCE

Dr. Marlan Scully, Department Physics & Astronomy
HERSHEL E. BURGESS ’29 CHAIR

Dr. Krista Smith, Department of Physics & Astronomy
MITCHELL/HEEP/MUNNERLYN ENDOWED CAREER ENHANCEMENT CHAIR IN PHYSICS

Dr. Karen Wooley, Department of Chemistry
W.T. DOHERTY-WELCH FOUNDATION CHAIR IN CHEMISTRY

Dr. Sherry Yennello, Department of Chemistry
CYCLOTRON INSTITUTE BRIGHT CHAIR IN NUCLEAR SCIENCE

Dr. Guoliang Yu, Department of Mathematics
THOMAS W. POWELL ’62 CHAIR IN MATHEMATICS

Dr. Hongbin Zhan, Department of Geology and Geophysics
DUDLEY J. HUGHES ’51 ENDOWED CHAIR IN GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS

Dr. Renyi Zhang, Department of Atmospheric Sciences
MR. AND MRS. JAMES R. WHATLEY ’47 CHAIR IN GEOSCIENCES

Two individuals standing close together in a brightly lit hallway during a formal event; one wears a dark suit and light blue shirt, and the other wears a royal blue blazer over a white top. People are gathered and conversing in the background — From left (from the Department of Physics and Astronomy) are Dr. Alexey Belyanin, professor, associate department head and holder of the Ed Rachal Foundation Endowed Chair in Science, and Dr. Tatiana Erukhimova, instructional professor and the Marsha L.’69 and Ralph F. Schilling ’68 Chair for Physics Outreach. | Image: Chris Jarvis

Current Professorship Appointments:

Dr. Glenn Agnolet, Department of Physics & Astronomy
NELSON M. DULLER PROFESSORSHIP IN EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS

Dr. Brian Anderson, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences
CHARLES PURYEAR PROFESSORSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. Winfred Arthur, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences
JOHN PAUL ABBOTT PROFESSORSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. James Batteas, Department of Chemistry
DR. WAYNE GOODMAN MEMORIAL PROFESSORSHIP IN CHEMISTRY

Dr. Piotr Bojakowski, Department of Anthropology
SARA W. & GEORGE O. YAMINI PROFESSORSHIP IN NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY

Dr. Christian Brannstrom, Department of Geology & Geophysics
DAVID BULLOCK HARRIS PROFESSORSHIP IN GEOSCIENCES

Dr. Xiaowei Chen, Department of Geology & Geophysics
ROBERT R. BERG PROFESSORSHIP IN GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS

Dr. Judith Chester, Department of Geology & Geophysics
MOLLIE B. AND RICHARD A. WILLIFORD PROFESSORSHIP IN PETROLEUM GEOLOGY

Dr. Darren DePoy, Department of Physics & Astronomy
RACHAL/MITCHELL/HEEP ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP IN PHYSICS

Dr. Christopher Dostal, Department of Anthropology
FREDERICK R. MAYER ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP IN NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY II

Dr. Catherine Eckel, Department of Economics
SARA & JOHN LINDSEY PROFESSORSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. Lorien Foote, Department of History
PATRICIA AND BOOKMAN PETERS PROFESSORSHIP IN HISTORY

Dr. Jim Grau, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences
MARY TUCKER CURRIE ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. Jesse Halligan, Department of Anthropology
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF THE FIRST AMERICANS PROFESSORSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. Sonia Hernandez, Department of History
GEORGE T. & GLADYS H. ABELL PROFESSORSHIP OF LIBERAL ARTS ENDOWMENT II

Dr. Nadia Kim, Department of Sociology
GEORGE SUMEY JR. PROFESSORSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. Hiroko Kitajima, Department of Geology & Geophysics
FRANCESCO PAOLO DI GANGI/HEEP ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP FUND

Dr. Andrew Klein, Department of Geography
EOG RESOURCES TEACHING PROFESSORSHIP

Dr. Joseph Landsberg, Department of Mathematics
ARTHUR G. & MARY E. OWEN ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP II

Dr. Quan Li, Department of Economics
CULLEN/MCFADDEN PROFESSORSHIP IN ECONOMICS

Dr. Oleg Ozerov, Department of Chemistry
EMILE AND MARTA SCHWEIKERT PROFESSORSHIP IN CHEMISTRY

Dr. Clare Palmer, Department of Philosophy
GEORGE T. AND GLADYS H. ABELL PROFESSORSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS III

Dr. Reagan Petrie, Department of Economics
GEORGE T. & GLADYS H. ABELL PROFESSORSHIP OF LIBERAL ARTS ENDOWMENT I

Dr. Cemal Pulak, Department of Anthropology
FREDERICK R. MAYER ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP IN NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY I

Dr. David Russell, Department of Chemistry
APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS/MDS SCIEX, INSTRUMENTS PROFESSORSHIP IN MASS SPECTROMETRY IN CHEMISTRY FUND

Dr. Courtney Schumacher, Department of Atmospheric Sciences
E.D. BROCKETT PROFESSORSHIP – GEOSCIENCES

Dr. Alexei Sokolov, Department of Physics & Astronomy
STEPHEN E. HARRIS PROFESSORSHIP IN QUANTUM OPTICS

Dr. Jin Zhang, Department of Geology & Geophysics
ROSIE M. AND MURRAY D. PAGE GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP

Two individuals at a formal event; one is seated wearing a navy polka-dot top with a name badge, and the other is leaning in wearing a blue suit with a patterned tie. The background shows other attendees mingling in a banquet-style setting. — Dr. Darren DePoy, associate dean for infrastructure in the College of Arts and Sciences and holder of the Rachal/Mitchell/Heep Professorship in Physics, with his wife Jennifer Marshall, associate professor and holder of the Arseven/Mitchell Chair in Astronomical Statistics. | Image: Chris Jarvis

Current Fellowship Appointments:

Dr. Carlos Balanos, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences
NAOMI LEWIS FACULTY FELLOWSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

Dr. Kevin Crisman, Department of Anthropology
NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY ENDOWED FACULTY FELLOWSHIP

Dr. Chris Dostal, Department of Anthropology
INA ENDOWED FACULTY FELLOWSHIP

Dr. Saranya Pullanchery, Department of Chemistry
DR. MATTHEW A. ’82 AND MRS. PATRICIA J. HARTHCOCK CHEMISTRY FACULTY FELLOWSHIP ENDOWMENT

A group of nine individuals standing together on a stage in front of a maroon Texas A&M banner, dressed in a mix of business and semi-formal attire. — With the College of Arts and Sciences (from left) are: Interim Dean Simon North, who holds the John W. Bevan Professor of Chemistry: Dedra Nevill, assistant dean of alumni and donor relations; Dr. Emily Pentzer, professor, associate dean for research and Presidential Impact Fellow in the Department of Chemistry; Dr. Stefanie Harris, professor in the Department of Global Languages & Cultures and associate dean for faculty affairs; Chief Administrative Officer Cheryl Hanks; Dr. Mark Zoran, professor of biology and former dean; Dr. Cynthia Werner, senior executive associate dean and professor of anthropology; Dr. Joanna Goodey Pellois, associate dean for faculty success and instructional professor of chemistry; Dr. Omar Rivera, associate professor of philosophy, associate dean for faculty initiatives, and director of Hispanic-Serving Institution Initiatives; and Pam Green, associate vice president for marketing and communications. | Image: Chris Jarvis

DONORS ARE THE DIFFERENCE

To learn more about funding endowed faculty chairs, professorships and fellowships in the College of Arts and Sciences, contact our development team. Endowed gifts strengthen the college’s academic excellence, promote innovation in research and teaching, and ensure that Texas A&M remains a leader in higher education for generations to come.