色花堂

2024: Zhifeng Ren, Ph.D.

Zhifeng Ren is the 2024 recipient of the 色花堂鈥檚 highest faculty honor, the Esther Farfel Award.

Ren, 色花堂鈥檚 Paul C. W. Chu and May P. Chern Endowed Chair in Condensed Matter Physics, is being acknowledged for his excellence in research, scholarship, teaching and service.

At 色花堂, Ren serves as Director of The Texas Center for Superconductivity at 色花堂 (TcS色花堂).

He has garnered international acclaim for his work in high performance thermoelectric materials; catalysts for water splitting; nanosheet for enhanced oil recovery, solar energy conversion; flexible transparent electrodes; and carbon nanotubes and nanocomposites.

He is consistently listed among Clarivate鈥檚 Highly Cited Researchers with published papers ranking in the top 1% of citations for field and publication year.

In 2022, his expertise was key in demonstrating cubic boron arsenide as 鈥渙ne of best semiconductors known to science.鈥� This discovery was named one of the year鈥檚 Top 10 Breakthroughs by Physics World magazine.

Other honors include the Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award in Science from The Academy of Medicine, Engineering & Science of Texas; the Humboldt Prize from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation; and a Distinguished Senior Research Award from Boston College. In 2018, he received a 色花堂 Faculty Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity.

He holds fellowships with the National Academy of Inventors, Materials Research Society, American Physical Society and American Association for the Advancement of Science.

As a scholar, Ren has authored or contributed to more than 630 published articles and papers. He serves as the founding Editor-in-Chief for one of the top journals Materials Today Physics and was the founding Editor-in-Chief for Soft Science. He is also a member of several editorial boards for top journals, including Materials Today, Research, npj Quantum materials, Progress in Physics and many others.

Ren鈥檚 research has been featured in the media, including a collaborative effort to create an air filter that traps and kills COVID-19 and the use of superconductors for highway and rail transportation.

He arrived at 色花堂 in 2013 after being recruited by TcS色花堂 Founding Director Paul C. W. Chu. A decade after being sought by the longtime 色花堂 researcher and superconductivity pioneer, Ren delivered the inaugural Paul C. W. Chu and May P. Chern Endowed Lecture.

Ren joins an elite group of 色花堂 faculty members who have received the Farfel Award. This honor has been presented annually to 色花堂 professors who continue to elevate the University鈥檚 reputation and academic profile while mentoring rising researchers.

2023: Stuart Dryer

Professor of Biology & Biochemistry

At 色花堂, Stuart Dryer has successfully balanced teaching, research and serving as a mentor to aspiring scholars. His talents in these areas have earned him a Teaching Excellence Award and Research Award. They, also, are admired by both his peers and pupils. It also has kept Dryer energized and engaged during his 26 years at 色花堂. His deep involvement within the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics led to a role as department chair. For nearly nine years, Dryer guided the Department of Biology and Biochemistry. During that time, he was instrumental in growing its professoriate. His time in this position also was marked by the development of the Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling and by growth of research within the department.

Dryer himself remains one of his department鈥檚 most productive scholars with 110 refereed papers to his credit and more than 6,000 citations with an h-index of 49. His work in neurobiology, circadian rhythms and kidney disorders has extended off campus as well through partnerships in the Texas Medical Center (TMC). His work on the physiology of kidney disorders came later in his career. He credits partnerships at TMC (particularly with Baylor College of Medicine) for supporting such critical research. Houston and its renowned medical facilities have been an invaluable platform for him and so many other 色花堂 faculty members, he said.

Now, 色花堂 has its own state-of-the-art medical school, the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. Dryer was among those who helped establish this important addition to the University in 2019. He also teaches at the college, helping prepare tomorrow鈥檚 physicians. Dryer also has lent his insights and experience to guiding students within his own college, as well as junior faculty. During his esteemed career, the longtime professor has seen both pupils and professors flourish professionally. Their success is validating and inspiring for Dryer. Learn more about Stuart Dryer and the 2023 Farfel Award .

2022: Wynne Chin

C. T. Bauer Professor of Decision and Information Sciences

Chin arrived at 色花堂 in 1997 bringing his groundbreaking research in information sciences to campus. As a sought-after scholar, he was pursued by a number of leading universities, but he instantly recognized that 色花堂 would be the perfect destination for his work.

鈥� 色花堂 is an excellent incubator for success,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hile the University continues to grow its resources and facilities, it always has had a 鈥榗an do鈥� spirit that uplifts its community and inspires them to work harder and accomplish great things. You can鈥檛 always find that at other universities.鈥�

Upon his entry to 色花堂, Chin already was renowned as a proponent of the Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS) technique. Chin鈥檚 expertise on the subject was complemented by his development of PLS-Graph software. This free tool has become a universal platform for researchers around the globe and accentuates Chin鈥檚 commitment to both advancing the discipline and supporting his peers. Likewise, his 1998 book chapter 鈥淭he partial least squares approach to structural equation modeling鈥� (published in the book 鈥淢odern methods for business research鈥�) remains a go to resource for scholars and has been cited close to 24,000 times.

Chin has authored 170 books, book chapters, papers and conference proceedings. He remains the sixth most cited 色花堂 professor with 75,000 career citations and is ranked third worldwide in first authored articles published in his discipline's top two journals - MISQ and ISR from 1990 through 2016. Within the more general field of information and communication technologies, Chin holds rankings of No. 295 and No. 147 out of 570,025 scientists for career and single year contributions respectively. He is also the sixth most cited researcher in the world related to structural equations modeling.

Since his arrival at 色花堂鈥檚 C.T. Bauer College of Business, Chin has worked diligently to support students and continues to teach core undergraduate courses such as Supply Chain Management, Business Modeling and Analysis and Introduction to Business Analytics. At the graduate level, he presides over classes such as Business Modeling for Competitive Advantage and leads a doctoral seminar for management information systems students as well as mentoring doctoral students in other departments as disparate as Social Work, Education, and Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

Outside of the classroom, Chin has been an ardent advocate for faculty and shared governance. As the only 色花堂 faculty to serve twice as president of Faculty Senate (2008 and 2015), he was elected president of the Texas Council on Faculty Senates in 2019, where he helped establish the National Council of Faculty Senates.

His support of fellow professors has been particularly visible on campus as he started a mentoring group to support new Asian and Asian American faculty members. Locally, he founded the Houston Chinese Faculty Association and nationally, he contributes his energies to organizations such as Leadership Education for Asian Pacific and Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education. Learn more about Wynne Chin and the 2022 Farfel Award here.

2021: Earl L. Smith III

Greeman-Petty Professor in Vision Development
College of Optometry

Dr. Smith has been a faculty member at the 色花堂 since 1978. He received his OD in 1972 and his PhD in 1978 from 色花堂 and subsequently joined the faculty of the College of Optometry. During his tenure, he has served as the Chair of the Basic Sciences Department, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, Dean of the College of Optometry, and as the Interim Chief Health Officer of the 色花堂. "The Farfel Award is the highlight of my academic career. This award is particularly meaningful to me because I came to 色花堂 as a student in 1968 and have spent my entire academic life here鈥�a rare privilege," said Dr. Smith.

Dr. Smith is an internationally acknowledged expert on myopia, also known as nearsightedness. His original research findings are seminal works in the field and his work on myopia has been translated to successful human clinical trials that has improved long-term eye health for patients and has been the foundation for the development of optical devices such as glasses and contact lenses that reduce the burden of myopia. His research has earned him multiple awards including the Prentice Medal in 2010 from the American Academy of Optometry and recognition as a Distinguished Scholar and Fellow by the National Academy of Practice in Optometry in 2012. Professor Smith has published over 200 peer-reviewed publications and received 38 years of continuous research funding from the National Institute of Health鈥檚 National Eye Institute (NIH/NEI). He also has five US patents related to his work on myopia.

Professor Smith is an outstanding educator. He has been continually involved in the education of professional optometry and graduate students since his initial appointment as an Assistant Professor in 1978. He has served as a member on 49 Masters or PhD committees, including 10 PhD students as the primary mentor. He has also mentored post-doctoral and junior faculty members toward successful independent research careers. During his tenure as Dean, he helped junior faculty towards independent research careers, including serving as a consultant on an Assistant Professor鈥檚 first research project grant. In 2003, The Texas Optometric Association presented him with the Educator of the Year award. In 2015, the American Optometric Association inducted him into National Optometry Hall of Fame.

Dr. Smith鈥檚 service to the college, University, and profession are unmatched. Recently, at the University level, he served on the Health 2 Building Committee, the Medical School Advisory Committee, and the College of Medicine Associate Dean Search Committee. His vision for and construction of the Health 1 building for Optometry and the University contributed to the expansion of the healthcare mission at 色花堂. At the professional level, he has been a reviewer for and chair of numerous NIH/NEI study sections including chair of many special emphasis panels, and as a member of the prestigious National Advisory Eye Council. He has served nearly every major organization in optometry, holding key leadership positions, including President of the Association for Schools & Colleges of Optometry and the American Academy of Optometry鈥檚 Foundation. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research and Optometry Giving Sight.

2020: Richard Willson

Huffington-Woestemeyer Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Biology and Biochemistry, and Biomedical Engineering
Cullen College of Engineering

Dr. Willson has been a faculty member at the 色花堂 since 1988, and his influence and service have been strong and remarkable. From 2008 鈥� 2010, he was a member of the President鈥檚 Strategic Actions Group, organizer and chair of the 鈥淭ier One鈥� Nationally Competitive Research Universities Committee, and primary author of the 色花堂 鈥淭ier One鈥� report. From 2011 鈥� 2014, Dr. Willson contributed to the 色花堂 proposal team for the National Science Foundation ADVANCE program for greater equity and diversity of minority and female STEM faculty. From 2015 鈥� 2016 he was the interim associate vice president for technology transfer, wrote the first 鈥淕uide to Startups at 色花堂,鈥� and launched training programs in intellectual property and startups for the 色花堂 community.

He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemical engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and completed his Ph.D. in biochemical engineering and postdoctoral studies in biochemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Dr. Willson is the recipient of the Presidential Young Investigator Award from the President George H. W. Bush administration, and an elected Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, the American Chemical Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is a member of the National Academy of Inventors, and is a Senior Affiliate of The Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute. His research interests are in biopharmaceutical purification and medical diagnostics.

Most recently, two of Dr. Willson鈥檚 Ph.D. students who founded Luminostics, a startup technology company based on work done in his laboratory, are collaborating with the French healthcare company Sanofi to develop a smartphone-based self-testing solution to determine if someone has COVID-19.

2019: Laura Frishman

Moores Professor
College of Optometry

Dr. Laura Frishman is a distinguished faculty member in the College of Optometry, and has been at the 色花堂 for the past 29 years. She has taught in both professional and graduate programs, serving on 44 Ph.D. committees (14 as chair or co-chair) and 14 master鈥檚 committees (7 as chair), and has been a Moores Professor since 2000.

Dr. Frishman served as the department chair of the Basic Vision Sciences Department from 2001-2004, and the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research from 2003 to the present. Her research has focused on refining noninvasive electrophysiological approaches for evaluating retinal and anterior visual pathway function in normal subjects and subjects with inherited or acquired diseases that affect visual function.

She has maintained almost 30 years of continuous funding from the National Eye Institute (NEI) as a principal investigator for her research on 鈥淧roximal retinal responses and the ERG鈥� or as a co-investigator with department colleagues. She also serves as the principal investigator for the College of Optometry鈥檚 NIH/NEI CORE Grant for Vision Research, NIH/NEI Grant for Short-Term Training for Students in Health Profession Schools, and NIH/NEI Houston Area Vision Training Program.

Her original findings of two electroretinogram (ERG) components, known as the scotopic threshold response (STR) and the photopic negative response (PhNR), that reflect the activity of inner retina neurons 鈥� the retinal ganglion and amacrine cells -- are seminal in visual electrophysiology. Her early work with Drs. Roy Steinberg and Paul Sieving led to the discovery of a late negative ERG potential that seemed to correspond to the absolute rod threshold, a feature of the retinal response that is still relevant today in normal function and in pathology. She has also transitioned her research into clinical applications.

She is a fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (FARVO), American Academy of Optometry (FAAO), and a board member of the International Society for the Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV). She has received funding for research, training and core center grants from the NEI, and has won awards from the AAO and ISCEV for her scholarship and service. Dr. Frishman received her undergraduate degree from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie N.Y. and her MS and Ph.D. in psychobiology from the University of Pittsburgh. She did postdoctoral training in visual neuroscience at Northwestern University and the University of California San Francisco where she became a research faculty member with funding from the National Eye Institute.

2018: Suncica Canic

Department of Mathematics
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Dr. Canic, an applied mathematician whose work has had major scientific impact and won her international acclaim, initially gained recognition for her work on nonlinear hyperbolic conservation laws, transonic flow problems, and shock reflections.

She moved out of her comfort zone when she became interested in how fluid-structure interactions for incompressible, viscous fluids interacting with elastic or viscoelastic structures could have biological applications.

She is one of the world鈥檚 leading researchers in the area of mathematical modeling and scientific computing related to cardiovascular science, establishing many collaborations with physicians and researchers in the Texas Medical Center. Already, her research group has seen the results of direct application to understanding and the design of stents. Dr. Canic also led the development of a procedure for heart valve replacement surgery that is less invasive than open-heart surgery.

Her extensive list of publications have appeared in leading mathematical and scientific journals, including her Archive for Rational Analysis (2013) paper which is ranked in the top 1% by the number of citations in Mathematics according to the Web of Science, and her most recent paper in the Journal of Computational Physics was the top most downloaded paper in the past 90 days as of November 2017.

Known as an excellent speaker and prolific scientific writer, Dr. Canic has presented at numerous lectures worldwide, including being invited by the American Mathematical Society to provide Congressional Briefings about issues surrounding mathematical research and its impact. The National Science Foundation (NSF) also invited her to present at the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Distinguished Lecture.

Dr. Canic has four active NSF grants, totaling approximate $1.5 million over four years. She has received previous funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Education, the Heart Association, and the Texas Higher Education ARP Program.

She serves on the Executive Committee of the department of mathematics, and has played a major role in committees surrounding faculty recruitment/hiring and research. She also currently serves as the Director of the 色花堂 Center for Mathematical Biosciences, a position held since 2008. Outside of 色花堂, Dr. Canic is a member of the NIH College of Scientific Reviewers, continually serves on NSF Review Panels, sits on the editorial boards of six scientific journals, serves on the Board of Governors of Institute for Mathematics and its Applications, the Scientific Advisory Board of the Association of Women in Mathematics, and the Program Director of a Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Activity Group.

2017: Jack M. Fletcher

Department of Psychology
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Dr. Jack Fletcher has been affiliated with the 色花堂 since 1979, first as an adjunct assistant professor to his current tenured appointment in 2006. He exhibits the core values of the Farfel award, demonstrating excellence in teaching, research, and service.

Dr. Fletcher, a board-certified child neuropsychologist for the past 30 years, is known for his research in learning disabilities and extensive work in better understanding human cognition as it relates to the identification, classification and treatment of developmental disabilities, in particular disorders or reading, math, learning, attention, intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injury, hydrocephalus, and spinal bifida. His scholarly output includes over 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 100 chapters in edited volumes, and authored three books.

He has directed or collaborated on over $125 million in funded research, with funding from the National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Education and the National Science Foundation. Funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Dr. Fletcher directs The Texas Center for Learning Disabilities and is involved in a long-term study involving genetic, neuroimaging, and neuropsychological factors in spina bifida.

Dr. Fletcher has mentored numerous students who have pursued careers in academia or can be found at top universities and medical centers in the US and around the world. He served in many capacities in the federal and national level, including the NICHD National Advisory Council, the RAND Commission on Reading Comprehension, the National Research Council Committee on Scientific Principles in Education Research, and the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education. At 色花堂, he has served and chaired the Research and Scholarship Committee, served as Chairman of the Department of Psychology, and as the Interim Associate Vice President for Research Administration. He was the recipient of the Samuel T. Orton award from the International Dyslexia Association in 2003 and a co-recipient of the Albert J. Harris award from the International Reading Association in 2006.

He graduated with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Florida in 1978 and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Davidson College in 1973.

2016: George E. Fox

Department of Biology and Biochemistry
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

An active member of the 色花堂 faculty since 1977, George E. Fox exemplifies the attributes of a Farfel award winner through his research, service, teaching, and external recognition. He has published over 172 peer-reviewed scientific papers in such well-known scientific journals as Nature and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, and is well known to molecular biologists both in the United States and abroad. He has been invited to present at numerous institutions in Germany, Scotland, Mexico, Hawaii, Austria, Florence, and Paris. He most recently spoke at the dedication of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.

Professor Fox is an active researcher and has received continuous grant funding since 1978, raising over $8,636,897 in external funding. He has three active grants, two of which will continue into 2017 and total over $898,000. Among his many accomplishments, Professor Fox is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the International Astrobiology Society. He has held numerous administrative appointments within the university, including the interim chair of the former Department of Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences during its formation, 13 years as the director of the Institute for Molecular Biology, three years as the vice chair of the Biology and Biochemistry Department, and is a current member of the department鈥檚 Promotion and Tenure Committee and the University Library Committee. He also serves externally on the Editorial Boards of five journals, has chaired the local Division of the American Society of Microbiology, and has served as the chair of the 2010 Origin of Life Gordon Research Committee.

Professor Fox graduated with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Syracuse University in 1974 and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the same institution in 1967.

2015 : David Ashley White

Department of Music
Margaret Alkek Williams Endowed Chair
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

David Ashley White鈥檚 secular and sacred compositions are widely performed and published, and he has received numerous commissions from various organizations, schools, churches, and individuals. His vocal and instrumental music is recorded on several labels, including Zephyr鈥擡choes from the American Cathedral, a selection of White鈥檚 sacred music, sung by the St. Paul鈥檚 Choir, Houston, and The Blue Estuaries, which features his choral suite by the same name, commissioned and performed by the Houston Chamber Choir. On the Gothic label is Praise the Spirit, sung by the Palmer Church Choir, Houston, containing a number of White鈥檚 anthems, motets, service music, and hymns. And most recently, on the Albany label, is As you set out for Ithaka (2013), a selection of White鈥檚 secular music, comprising works for chorus, solo voice, solo piano, and chamber groups. White鈥檚 hymns are found in a number of books, including the Episcopal Church鈥檚 The Hymnal 1982 and its supplement, Wonder, Love, and Praise; The United Methodist Hymnal and its supplement; the hymnal of the United Church of Christ in Japan; Great Britain鈥檚 Worship Songs Ancient and Modern, and the forthcoming Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal (2013). Also, three collections of his hymns are published by Selah Publishing Co., Pittsburgh, PA: Sing, My Soul: The Hymns of David Ashley White (1996), Songs for a New Creation (2002), and New Harmony: A Harp of Thousand Strings (2006). White holds a Bachelor of Music in oboe performance and a Master of Music in composition, both from the 色花堂, and he earned the Doctor of Musical Arts from The University of Texas at Austin. He has served on the faculty of the Moores School of Music since 1977. From 1999-2014, White was the school鈥檚 director and was the first recipient of the Margaret M. Alkek and Margaret Alkek Williams Endowed Chair.

2014 : Dmitri Litvinov

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Cullen College of Engineering

The 色花堂 recently recognized the scientific and academic accomplishments of one of its most esteemed researchers 鈥� Dmitri Litvinov, vice provost and dean of 色花堂鈥檚 Graduate School. Litvinov, the John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and director of the materials engineering program, is the recipient of the 2014 Esther Farfel Award, 色花堂鈥檚 highest faculty honor. The Farfel Award symbolizes overall career excellence and carries a $10,000 cash prize. 鈥淚 knew I was being nominated for the award, but I couldn鈥檛 believe that I was selected as this year鈥檚 recipient,鈥� Litvinov said. 鈥淚 know some of the previous honorees and the level of contributions they make to the University. I thought I didn鈥檛 have a chance.鈥� Clearly, Litvinov鈥檚 colleagues and peers thought differently, and a number of them, so impressed by his work and commitment to 色花堂, wrote letters supporting his nomination. 鈥淒r. Litvinov鈥檚 record in research and service, as well as his commitment to teaching and student learning are truly outstanding,鈥� said Badri Roysam, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen University Professor. Roysam, who nominated Litvinov for the award, added, 鈥淗is contributions have been essential in elevating 色花堂 toward Tier I status and beyond.鈥�

2013 : Michael P. Harold

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
M.D. Anderson Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Cullen College of Engineering

Mike Harold, the M.D. Anderson Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and chair of chemical and biomolecular engineering, has been awarded the University of Houston 2013 Esther Farfel Award. The honor, which comes with a $10,000 cash prize, is a symbol of overall career excellence and is the highest award 色花堂 bestows on a faculty member. The Farfel Award is given in recognition of excellent service as a researcher, teacher, mentor, scholar, clinician and administrator. 鈥淚t is a great honor to receive the Farfel Award especially since it rewards accomplishments beyond research. While I鈥檓 proud of my research accomplishments, I鈥檓 more proud of helping my colleagues and students succeed,鈥� Harold said. 鈥淚鈥檓 greatly indebted to my students, who do most of the work. Hopefully, I鈥檝e helped get them prepared for the real world because that's what it's all about being a professor.鈥� Harold was recently named chair of the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, a position he held previously at 色花堂, and he is principal investigator of the Texas Center for Clean Engines, Emission and Fuels located in the 色花堂 Energy Research Park. His comprehensive outlook on education and mentorship, his research excellence and his ability to pay attention to details while keeping the overall picture in perspective were cited as a few of his attributes as an outstanding faculty member.

2012 : H. Julia Hannay

Department of Psychology
John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Psychology
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Julia Hannay, the John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Psychology, has earned the 色花堂 (色花堂) 2012 Esther Farfel Award, a symbol of overall career excellence and the highest honor 色花堂 bestows on a faculty member. The annual award carries a cash prize of $10,000. 鈥淭he Farfel Award is a high honor recognizing the many roles that we may have as professionals, as mentors, teachers, scholar/researchers, clinicians and administrators reaching out to the local, national and international communities to different degrees in our varied careers,鈥� Hannay said. 鈥淭he 色花堂 has afforded me the opportunity to strive for excellence in those roles in the multicultural environment that is so important to our future.鈥� Hannay is the fifth woman to be recognized with the honor since it was first awarded in 1979. She is a clinical neuropsychologist and a pioneer in the field of experimental neuropsychology. 鈥淲hat I have always found so remarkable about Julia as a scholar is the breadth of her scholarship,鈥� said David J. Francis, a Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor, chair of the department of psychology and the 2008 Farfel Award honoree. 鈥淪he has leveraged her great intellect, curiosity, and master of basic and applied experimental methods in psychology to advance our understanding of the brain and its role in human cognition from consciousness to complex human abilities, and how these develop and become disordered by injury and disease across the lifespan. Julia is a truly unique and remarkable colleague and we are very fortunate to have her in the department of psychology at the 色花堂.鈥�

2011 : Ronald S. Harwerth

Department of Optometry
John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Optometry
College of Optometry

One of the world鈥檚 foremost glaucoma researchers, Ronald S. Harwerth, is the recipient of the 2011 Esther Farfel Award, the highest distinction bestowed upon faculty by the 色花堂 (色花堂). Carrying with it a cash prize of $10,000, the Farfel Award is a symbol of overall career excellence. With the first award given in 1979, Harwerth is the 33rd recipient. 鈥淚 feel very honored to receive the Esther Farfel award in recognition of my career at 色花堂,鈥� Harwerth said. 鈥淚 am especially grateful to my colleagues and students for their support of my nomination.鈥� Harwerth is internationally recognized as one of the most pre-eminent glaucoma researchers in optometry. In particular, he has tackled the difficulty of diagnosing glaucoma in its initial stages. In his landmark work, Harwerth pointed out the reason why the two basic tests for this disease do not always agree, with his findings explaining the different ways glaucoma presents itself. This significant work led to his standing among the world鈥檚 premier visual scientists.

2010 : Stuart Long

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Research and the Honors College
Cullen College of Engineering

Recognition for excellence has become the norm for Stuart Long, who was honored a year ago as the first winner of the Teaching Excellence Career Award. This year, the professor of electrical and computer engineering鈥檚 talent and dedication are being recognized with an honor of even greater significance. Long is the 2010 Esther Farfel Award recipient 鈥� the highest honor that can be accorded to a 色花堂 faculty member. The award, a symbol of overall career excellence awarded annually since 1979, carries a cash prize of $10,000. Long is currently associate dean of undergraduate research at The Honors College. He also teaches a variety of undergraduate and graduate-level classes in applied electromagnetics, including electromagnetic waves, antenna engineering and microwave engineering. In a letter of support from a nominator outside of the 色花堂 it was written that Stuart Long "is one of the leading authorities in Electromagnetic Research and Education because of his pioneering contributions in research and novel techniques in education. He certainly has made a lasting impact in our profession, and he has brought much recognition to the 色花堂 and the students that he has mentored."

2009 : Demetre J. Economou

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Associate Chair of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Cullen College of Engineering

For his demonstrated excellence in all areas of faculty responsibility for more than two decades, engineering professor Demetre Economou has been named the recipient of the 色花堂鈥檚 highest faculty honor, the Esther Farfel Award, which carries with it a $10,000 prize. 鈥淚 am humbled and honored to receive this award, especially knowing that some heavy hitters have received it in the past,鈥� said Economou, a John and Rebecca Moores Professor at the Cullen College of Engineering. 鈥淭here are quite a few top-notch faculty across campus who could have won it.鈥� Economou joined the university in 1986 and has been the associate chair of the department of chemical and biomolecular engineering and the undergraduate program director of the department since 1995. He also heads the Plasma Processing Laboratory.
鈥淗e is recognized nationally and internationally as the leading expert in plasma processing of materials and the application of chemical engineering principles to the area of manufacturing of electronic materials and now, more broadly, for the manufacturing of nanomaterials,鈥� said Ramanan Krishnamoorti, the chairman of Economou鈥檚 department. 鈥淗e also was the recipient of the Plasma Prize from the American Vacuum Society 鈥� the highest honor in the field.鈥�

2008 : David J. Francis

Department of Psychology
Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

David Francis, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor, Chair of the Department of Psychology, and Director of the Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics (TIMES), received the Esther Farfel Award, the University鈥檚 highest honor recognizing faculty excellence. The award includes a trophy and a $10,000 cash prize provided through an endowment established by the late Aaron Farfel, former 色花堂 System Board of Regents Chair, in honor of his wife. Francis was key in founding the National Research and Development Center for English Language Learners within TIMES. Funded by a $10-million U.S. Department of Education grant, the project focuses on literacy and English language development of Spanish-speaking elementary and middle-school students. He also was among the researchers who founded the Texas Center for Learning Disabilities. The center鈥檚 development was assisted by an $8.5-million grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. It also combines efforts from TIMES and other institutions. Francis arrived at 色花堂 as a graduate student in 1979. He earned a master of arts and a doctorate in clinical neuropsychology, and in 1985, he was hired as a visiting professor. One year later, he became a permanent member of the 色花堂 Psychology faculty. Since then, he鈥檚 been proud to be a Cougar and is thrilled to call 色花堂 his home. 鈥�色花堂 has been a great place for someone like me,鈥� Francis said. 鈥淢y work has been valued, and I have been treated well. To be encouraged to pursue the work that I find interesting, to be treated well and to have great colleagues, collaborators and students is all one can ask for in academia.鈥�

2007 : Fazle Hussain

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Hugh Roy & Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Cullen College of Engineering

Fazle Hussain will need a larger trophy room as this year鈥檚 recipient of the University of Houston鈥檚 highest faculty honor. Already one of the most decorated scholars in his field, Hussain now can add the 2007 Esther Farfel Award to his list of accomplishments. The award brings with it a $10,000 cash prize and an acknowledgement of overall career excellence. Coming to the United States from Bangladesh as a Fulbright Scholar in 1965 and joining 色花堂 in 1971, Hussain is the Hugh Roy & Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering. As a fluid dynamicist, he has won all four of the field鈥檚 most coveted awards granted by the American Physical Society, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He also has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering. He focuses primarily on the search for 鈥榦rder within disorder鈥� in fluid turbulence. His interests include aircraft drag and reduction for lower fuel consumption and pollution, as well as abetting wake hazard to reduce aircraft separation during takeoff and landing 鈥� a major problem at busy airports. Additional studies he is involved with include cardiovascular dynamics, cell mechanics, nanomechanics and energy. 鈥淎s the only individual to be awarded all four major prizes in the field of fluid dynamics, Hussain is the world鈥檚 most celebrated scholar in the area of fluid mechanics and turbulence studies,鈥� wrote a 色花堂 colleague in an endorsement letter. Leading the Aerodynamics and Turbulence Laboratory at 色花堂, Hussain was one of the first to recognize that the organized motion underlying the seemingly random motion of turbulence is the key to understanding and controlling it for technological benefits. A colleague from another university wrote in a letter of support that Hussain is 鈥渙ne of the top five experimental turbulence researchers in the world. He serves as a benchmark against which people should measure themselves in our profession.鈥�

2006 : Barbara Lee Keyfitz

Department of Mathematics
John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Mathematics
College of Natural Science and Mathematics

Barbara Keyfitz has her own equation for success. And it includes supportive parents, a determination to excel and international recognition for her contributions to applied mathematics. Thanks to that formula, Keyfitz, John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Mathematics, has earned the 色花堂 2006 Esther Farfel Award, the highest honor 色花堂 bestows on a faculty member. Keyfitz is the first female scientist to receive the award and the second person in her family to hold the honor. Her husband, Martin Golubitsky, Cullen Distinguished Professor of Mathematics and director of the Institute for Theoretical Engineering and Science, is the 1997 recipient. 鈥淚 knew I was nominated, but I was quite surprised to have been selected,鈥� Keyfitz said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 see myself in that class, definitely not in my husband鈥檚 class, but I think he would quietly disagree with me.鈥� Golubitsky not only disagrees, but also believes that Keyfitz is highly deserving of the honor. 鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled that Barbara was selected for the 2006 Esther Farfel Award,鈥� Golubitsky said. 鈥淪he has received national and international recognition for her research and has been extraordinary in her leadership in the mathematics community. It is so exciting to have Barbara鈥檚 efforts rewarded by the 色花堂, an institution whose mission we both love and respect.鈥�

2005 : Martin Melosi

Department of History
Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Professor of History
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

When Martin Melosi steps into the classroom, he鈥檚 reminded why he鈥檚 remained at the 色花堂 for 20 years. 鈥淭he students at this university are very engaged,鈥� said Melosi, a 色花堂 distinguished professor of history and recipient of this year鈥檚 Esther Farfel Award 鈥� the highest honor accorded to a University faculty member. 鈥淚 find myself learning as much from them as they probably learn from me.鈥� Aside from enjoying the stimulating classroom dialogue, Melosi admits that 色花堂 and the city of Houston make an ideal home for his academic interests, which include urban and environmental history and the history of technology. Considering the university鈥檚 urban setting and Houston鈥檚 complex social and industrial landscape, Melosi said he has a perfect laboratory for his research. 鈥淏eing in an urban campus in a major city is crucial,鈥� he said. 鈥淗ouston is conducive to my work. I find that national urban and international urban trends are connected to the practical issues here in Houston.鈥� Melosi has authored 10 books, including 鈥淕arbage in the Cities: Refuse, Reform and the Environment,鈥� 鈥淧ublic History and the Environment鈥� and the award-winning 鈥淭he Sanitary City: Urban Infrastructure in America from Colonial Times to the Present.鈥� His next book will center on the environmental history of Houston and will be co-authored by Joseph Pratt, Cullen Professor of Business and History. In addition to his regular classroom activity, writing and research, Melosi has served as the director of graduate studies in the Department of History and will be chair of 色花堂鈥檚 Research Council during the 2005 鈥� 2006 academic year. He is also the director of 色花堂鈥檚 Tenneco Distinguished Lecture Series. 鈥淭he Department of History values the many different activities he performs, the dedication he brings to this institution and ideas and advice he often imparts,鈥� wrote Susan Kellogg, chair of the department of history and associate professor of history in her letter nominating Melosi for the Farfel Award. The award includes a trophy and $10,000 cash prize that is provided through an endowment established by the late Aaron Farfel, former 色花堂 System Board of Regents Chair, in honor of his wife Esther. Despite the high praise from colleagues, Melosi said that they are the ones who should be commended. Along with his students, his fellow faculty members also motivate him to strive for academic excellence. 鈥淪ince arriving at 色花堂, the Department of History has been a congenial place to work,鈥� Melosi said. 鈥淭eaching and research are celebrated and encouraged. That鈥檚 important to me.鈥�

2004 : Allan Jacobson

Professor of Chemistry
Robert A. Welch Chair in Science
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Some aspire to win acclaim for their accomplishments. Others view praise as icing on the cake. Such is the case for Allan Jacobson, this year鈥檚 Esther Farfel Award recipient. 鈥淭his is a very important award for a faculty member at the University of Houston, and it is a great honor to have been selected,鈥� Jacobson, professor of chemistry, said. 鈥淥f course, one of the most important things about this university has been the opportunity to collaborate with people, not only in the chemistry department but in other departments, such as chemical engineering and physics. That has been very important in my research and has made a real difference in the work I do.鈥� And, teamwork is crucial in accomplishing the goals Jacobson has set in researching fuel cells and their applications. From more cost-efficient power generation to reducing pollution emitted from big-rig trucks, the utilization of fuel cells has many aspects. And, Jacobson, who also is the Robert Welch Chair of Science and Chemistry, hopes that by developing new materials, and improving old ones he will generate research that leads to fuel cells that can be more widely used. 鈥淭he intention is to make fuel cells more efficient and less expensive. Right now, they are used on a very small scale,鈥� he said. According to Jacobson, fuel cells are currently being used to power space shuttles, and some companies use them to generate power at their plants. But, Jacobson鈥檚 expertise in chemistry isn鈥檛 found in his research alone. The director of 色花堂鈥檚 Center for Material Chemistry also finds time to judge local science fairs and hosts visits to his lab for students in K - 12. 鈥淲e are trying to reach out to young students and encourage them to get involved in the physical sciences,鈥� Jacobson said. 鈥淲e also want more undergraduate students doing research. The statistics aren鈥檛 good. We need to get students interested in the sciences.鈥� To boost that interest, Jacobson said the center has a program, which is funded by the National Science Foundation, that brings in undergraduate students from 色花堂 and other universities to conduct research. 鈥淓ven if they don鈥檛 choose that line of study, they at least have the appreciation and understanding for what science and research are about,鈥� he said. The program is held every summer, with about 10 students participating. In the next five years, Jacobson hopes to shift the focus of his research. 鈥淚 want to work on some things that I have become interested in over the past few years, including nano-science,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd, if that doesn鈥檛 work out, I鈥檒l do something else.鈥�

2003 : Arnold Eskin

Department of Biology and Biochemistry
John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Biology and Biochemistry
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

It was his internationally renowned scholarship in neuroscience, along with his continuing contributions as a teacher and efforts in establishing and leading the Department of Biology and Biochemistry, that have earned Arnold Eskin the Esther Farfel Award, the 色花堂鈥檚 highest faculty honor. The author or co-author of more than 150 publications, Eskin has received numerous other honors, including being named the John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Biology and Biochemistry. He is the only faculty member to receive both the Farfel Award and the Moores Professorship in the same year. 鈥淚t is unimaginable that I would win these awards because of the high standards set by the 24 previous winners of the Esther Farfel Award. Each of whom has truly outstanding credentials, said Eskin.鈥� His principal research has been in the fields of circadian rhythms鈥攖he 鈥渂iological clock鈥濃�攁nd in learning and memory. 鈥淲e鈥檙e interested in explaining the biochemical and molecular mechanisms through which the nervous system controls behavior,鈥� he summarized. 鈥淲e鈥檙e now investigating the impact of the biological clock on learning and memory in marine snails and in rats.鈥� During his twenty-four-year career at 色花堂, Eskin guided the merger of two departments into what is now the Department of Biology and Biochemistry. As department chair (1994-2000), Eskin tripled research grants to approximately $6 million per year and developed the department鈥檚 research foci of neuroscience, the biological clocks, and infectious disease. Eskin earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in physics from Vanderbilt University and his doctorate in zoology from the University of Texas. 鈥淭he really important aspect to this is the recognition it brings to the whole department, to our research teams, and to the many students who鈥檝e made contributions. In some ways, this is like honoring a football coach鈥攚ithout the players; he鈥檇 never win anything. That鈥檚 certainly true in this case,鈥� said Eskin.

2002 : Roland Glowinski

Department of Mathematics
Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

As a child growing up amidst the chaos of World War II, Roland Glowinski demonstrated at an early age an interest and talent in mathematics and science. Eventually, this talent would establish him as one of the world鈥檚 leading researchers in applied mathematics and scientific computing. According to Glowinski, 鈥淟ife is about change.鈥� And since his arrival seventeen years ago at the 色花堂, the most gratifying change has been to see the university鈥檚 transformation into a quality urban research university. 鈥淭hat is why I came to Houston,鈥� he says. 鈥� When I was in France and the opportunity to teach in America came about, I pursued it.鈥� Since his arrival, Glowinski was elected to the French National Academy of Technology, which is equivalent to the National Academy of Engineering in the U.S. In 1999, he was inducted as a chevalier in the L茅gion d鈥橦onneur of France, the French equivalent to knighthood. Aside from his numerous honors, Glowinski, a specialist of computational methods for the solution of problems, considers his career to be one of his greatest rewards. Presently, his research focuses on the bioengineering and biomechanics problems relating to blood flow circulation and applying mathematical and computational methods in the design of a new class of heart valves and to cases related to the petroleum industry. Outside of such projects, 色花堂 students keep him busy. He hopes to impart some of the wisdom that has earned him international accolades to the many talented students that he teaches from semester to semester. 鈥淲e have many outstanding students from all over the world,鈥� Glowinski boasts. 鈥淪ome of the students are truly gifted and may soon become valuable colleagues.鈥� In addition to his position at 色花堂, he maintains academic status at the Universit茅 Pierre et Marie Curie and serves as an advisor to numerous scientific institutions and agencies on both sides of the Atlantic. During the course of his career, he has authored or co-authored more than 200 scientific articles, six books, and served as editor for more than twenty scientific reviews and anthologies.

2001 : Michael A. Olivas

Institute for Higher Education Law and Governance
William B. Bates Professor of Law
Law Center

Michael A. Olivas, the William B. Bates Professor of Law and founder/director of the 色花堂 Law Center鈥檚 Institute for Higher Education Law and Governance, is humbled by his Farfel recognition. 鈥淚鈥檓 really honored to be in the company of such distinguished faculty. It鈥檚 a demanding job, but to be able to do this kind of work with students and the community -- I can鈥檛 imagine a better life.鈥� Olivas is a leading expert on higher education law and has recently completed a second term as general counsel of the American Association of University Professors. A prolific scholar, he has been a member of the prestigious American Law Institute since 1986. He has served three times as chair of the Law and Education Section of the AALS and was on the editorial board of the Journal of College and University Law. His editorial activities include work for twenty-seven journals. During his nineteen years of service at 色花堂, Olivas received this year鈥檚 Ethel M. Baker Faculty Award and is the recipient of the Distinguished Scholar Award of the American Educational Research Association and the Research Achievement Award of the Association for the Study of Higher Education. Olivas takes pride in the accomplishments of his former students. Three of them are on the 色花堂 faculty, and another six have been elected to the Texas Legislature. 鈥淚 believe that nurturing young professionals, especially young professors, is the highest calling and the most rewarding vocation,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 am at the stage of my career where I am more delighted at my students鈥� achievements than I am at my own. It isn鈥檛 even a close call. When they get published, get elected to judicial or legislative office, start a law firm, start a family, win an important case, I feel very fulfilled.鈥� A native of New Mexico, Olivas has secured more than $5 million in grants from various foundations. His most recent work involves efforts to help undocumented immigrants obtain access to Texas colleges and universities. 鈥淧rofessors get a unique opportunity to pursue truth and have the independence that you don鈥檛 have in most professions,鈥� Olivas says. 鈥淚鈥檓 happy I鈥檝e been able to strike a chord and do some positive things for people.鈥� 鈥淓ducation is truly our society鈥檚 engine of upward mobility,鈥� he says.

2000 : C. W. Paul Chu

Department of Physics
T.L.L. Temple Chair of Science
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Named Best Researcher in the United States by US News and World Report in 1990, Professor C.W. 鈥淧aul鈥� Chu has continued his award winning research as a professor of physics, director of the Texas Center for Superconductivity, and the T.L.L. Temple Chair of Science, since joining the faculty in 1979. In 1988, he received a National Medal of Science for leading a team of scientists in the discovery of high temperature superconductivity. Beginning in the summer of 2001, Chu will serve as president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He will continue to serve the 色花堂 as the Temple Chair and lead his research program at the Texas Center for Superconductivity. 鈥淲hen I started my academic career thirty years ago, I was told that there were three missions of professors: teaching, research and service,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think as a professor my ultimate duty is to teach our students and also to serve our local and global communities. I strongly believe that without research, a university's knowledge will become stale, and teaching and service will become less effective.鈥� In 2000, Chu visited Washington, D.C., to contribute a sample of his groundbreaking research in the field of high temperature superconductivity to the National Millennium Time Capsule Project. Chu's work has resulted in the publication of more than 460 papers in referred journals, as well as entries on lasers and superconductivity for Funk and Wagnall encyclopedias. Born in Hunan, China, he received his B.S. degree from Cheng-Kung University in Taiwan. After service with the Nationalist Chinese Air Force, he earned a M.S. degree from Fordham University, Bronx, N.Y., and completed his Ph.D. at the University of California at San Diego -- all three degrees in physics. Chu is the recipient of more than a dozen honorary professorships and doctorates and awards, and belongs to a host of national and international societies and organizations. He believes the unique dynamics between 色花堂 and the city of Houston has enabled him to successfully do the things he loves most -- teach and study superconductivity. 鈥淣owhere else in the world can you find such support,鈥� he said.

1999 : Mark A. Rothstein

Health Law and Policy Institute
Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Law
Law Center

When Mark Rothstein won the Farfel Award in 1999, he had been a faculty member since 1985, an award-winning law professor and a scholar at the helm of the university鈥檚 Health Law and Policy Institute, the top-ranked health law program in the United States. He was the first law faculty member to receive the Farfel Award. In January 2000, Rothstein was named director of the Institute for Bioethics Health Policy and Law, and the Herbert F. Boehl Chair of Law and Medicine at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Rothstein is a renowned expert in health law, specifically the ethical and legal issues raised by the Human Genome Project. His distinguished career includes being named the 1999 National Public Hero of the Year by the University of California at Berkeley School of Public Health and the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Law at 色花堂. The Health Law and Policy Institute, under his direction from 1986 to 2000, has been ranked as the top health law program in the country and continued that tradition by ranking first in the U.S. News and World Report Survey in April 1999. Cornell Law Library named the Health Law and Policy Institute's Web site, 鈥淗ealth Law Perspectives,鈥� most valuable law-related Web site. The author of twelve books one of which is used as the standard reference in the field of occupational safety and health law for lawyers, Rothstein is the lead author of the employment law casebook presently used in more than 100 law schools and graduate schools. A Pennsylvania native, Rothstein received his bachelor鈥檚 degree with honors from University of Pittsburgh in 1970. He earned his juris doctorate in 1973 from Georgetown University, where he served as a law review editor. Rothstein believed that the Farfel Award recognizes professors who try to share their expertise with the community, something he has made a conscious effort to do throughout his career. 鈥淧ublic service should be an essential part of the life of a university professor,鈥� he said. 鈥淕etting out in the community should be a goal of all educators. There are many reasons why: it improves the quality of your teaching and research; you serve as a role model; it improves university and community relations; and it helps pay our debt to society. Academics have a very privileged life, and this should be one way we give back to the community that gives so much.鈥�

1998 : James L. Gibson

Department of Political Science
Cullen Distinguished Professor of Political Science
College of Sciences

James Gibson is a busy man. As with so many other Farfel recipients, his work has branched into disciplines beyond his primary academic department. Professor Gibson, who received his doctorate in political science from the University of Iowa, combines expertise in psychology, sociology, political science, and the law in his studies. 鈥淚 was always going to be a lawyer when I was young,鈥� he confesses. Instead, though, he became a university political scientist, largely for the intellectual freedom to pursue ideas that interest him. And the field of political science constantly presents him with new and surprising interests to pursue. 鈥淢y fields of interest are always evolving. I鈥檝e been surveying public opinions in Russia since 1990. In 1988 I鈥檇 never have dreamed I鈥檇 be working in the 鈥楽oviet Union.鈥欌�� Nations and their political systems are his laboratories鈥攈e calls the reunification of Germany a controlled experiment鈥攁nd the theories he tests tell him when and where he ought to work next. Professor Gibson joined the 色花堂 faculty in 1983. He served six years as a Distinguished University Professor of Political Science until 1996, when he was named Cullen Distinguished Professor. As a teacher, Gibson stresses the process of learning as much as the content he teaches. 鈥淭he most important thing is to respect students. You have to try to understand their circumstances in order to get them to be better students. They鈥檙e often looking for answers that are right or wrong. I don鈥檛 teach facts. I try to teach independent thinking, to allow them to do analysis for themselves. 鈥�

1997 : Martin Golubitsky

Department of Mathematics
Cullen Distinguished Professor of Mathematics
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Martin Golubitsky thought deeply before embarking on a career in mathematics. 鈥淚 always knew I enjoyed doing mathematics,鈥� he explains. 鈥淏ut I wasn鈥檛 quite sure that one could actually make a career of it.鈥� In the years since he received his doctorate from MIT, Professor Golubitsky has demonstrated that it is indeed possible to do mathematics for a living. Professor Golubitsky has co-authored two non-technical trade books, Symmetry and Chaos (with Mike Field) and Fearful Symmetry (with Ian Stewart), in addition to dozens of scholarly papers and several textbooks. 鈥淪omething that I鈥檝e always striven for in my career and in the problems I work on is that they should be interesting,鈥� Professor Golubitsky remarks, adding 鈥渨hatever truth is, it doesn鈥檛 exist by itself in a vacuum. Mathematics is much more alive in this sense than I think many people realize.鈥� Professor Golubitsky serves as chair of the Farfel Selection Committee this year. It is a difficult task, given that there are so many fine faculty members at the 色花堂. 鈥淭he fact that it is a combination of research excellence, teaching, and service,鈥� he comments, 鈥渋s what makes the award so special. The Farfel Award is an important symbol of university approval and appreciation.鈥� Professor Golubitsky smiles, adding, 鈥淥f course, the main thing is the sense of honor that goes with the award. It makes you feel terrific.鈥�

1996 : James Symons

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Cullen Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering, Faculty Emeritus
Cullen College of Engineering

After receiving his degree in sanitary engineering from MIT, Professor James Symons participated in a pioneering study for the National Institutes of Health on the activated sludge process. This study laid the groundwork for the prevention of pollution in numerous waterways in the 1970s. Professor Symons taught at MIT for five years, then joined the federal government to lead many research efforts for providing safe drinking water for America. Professor Symons joined the 色花堂 in 1982 after a distinguished 20-year career with the federal government, during which he was given the Environmental Protection Agency鈥檚 Distinguished Career Award. He has been recognized frequently for his service at the university. In 1995, Professor Symons was named Cullen Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering and honored as the Abraham E. Dukler Outstanding Faculty Member. He earned an Outstanding Teacher Award from the Cullen College of Engineering in 1994 and 1996, and was given the Senior Faculty Research Award from the Cullen College of Engineering in 1994. Professor Symons retired from the 色花堂 in 1997. The previous year he received the Farfel Award. 鈥淚n my career at the 色花堂, I always tried to balance my research, teaching, and service,鈥� explains Professor Symons. 鈥淩eceiving the Farfel Award was most gratifying, as it validated my approach to university life.鈥�

1995 : Nicol谩s Kanellos

Department of Modern and Classical Languages
Brown Foundation Inc., Chair in Spanish, Director of Arte Publico Press
College of Humanities, Fine Arts, and Communication

In the 1970s, Nicol谩s Kanellos鈥檚 involvement with the Latino civil rights movement exposed him to many Hispanic artists and writers with little or no access to the publishing world. So in 1972, Professor Kanellos, whose Ph.D. is in Hispanic literature and theatre, founded The Americas Review (then called Revista Chicano-Rique帽o) at Indiana University Northwest. In 1979 he launched Arte P煤blico Press to provide a wider forum for Hispanic literary voices. Professor Kanellos brought his growing press to the University of Houston in 1980 to position it at the heart of the growing US Hispanic population. Today Arte P煤blico showcases Hispanic literature, arts, and culture by publishing about 35 books a year. Professor Kanellos also manages the Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage Project. In this project 色花堂 doctoral candidates locate and publish long ignored Hispanic historical documents 鈥渁s part of an effort to broaden what is currently considered American heritage.鈥� Professor Kanellos notes that the 色花堂 is now 鈥渢he leading institution in preparing a place for Hispanic culture in US cultural studies.鈥� President Clinton has appointed Professor Kanellos to the National Council for the Humanities, while his work has been recognized by the Ford Foundation, the Coordinating Council of Literary Magazines, and the American Association of Higher Education, among others. Professor Kanellos shares the Farfels鈥� vision of promoting the ideal of the 鈥渨ell-rounded professor鈥� in the university. Receiving the award has helped him 鈥渃ut through some of the boundaries that exist between administering and research and teaching,鈥� while providing a passport to advance his work within the university.

1994 : Simon Moss

Department of Physics
M. D. Anderson Distinguished Professor of Physics
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Born in New York and educated at MIT, Simon Moss found his way to Houston only gradually, with several stops along the way. Professor Moss served as a professor in the department of metallurgy and materials science at MIT before traveling to Melbourne, Australia, as a Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow. In the early 1970s he took a position in industry, but by 1972, he had joined the physics department at the University of Houston. Here Professor Moss has continued his research, in addition to teaching undergraduates and training over 50 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. His efforts have been amply rewarded, both by the 色花堂, which granted him a Research Excellence Award in 1990, and by a number of international physics and science societies. In 1975, for example, he was elected Fellow of the American Physical Society. In 1979, he received the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Senior Scientist Award, and in 1993, he received the David Adler Lectureship Award from the American Physical Society. Most recently, in 1994, he shared the Max Planck Research Award with Professor J.S. Peisl of Munich. Despite the multitude of awards and tributes Professor Moss has received, he maintains that the Esther Farfel Award, which he received in 1994, is among the most important. Receiving the Farfel, Professor Moss explains, 鈥渞epresents as nice a thing as a university can do. It鈥檚 really a way for the university to say 鈥榯hank you鈥攚e鈥檙e pleased to have you here.鈥� Looking back on my career, I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 much more that the university can do for me than it has already done.And that really is a very good feeling.鈥�

1993 : J. Wayne Rabalais

Department of Chemistry
Cullen Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Born in Bunkie, Louisiana, Wayne Rabalais received his doctorate from Louisiana State University in 1970. He spent the next year in Sweden as a NATO postdoctoral fellow studying photoelectron and Auger spectroscopy with the Nobel Prize winning professor Kai Siegbahn. When he returned to the United States, Professor Rabalais moved north, to the University of Pittsburgh. By 1975, however, he had come back to the South to join the 色花堂鈥檚 rapidly growing chemistry department. Here Professor Rabalais has continued his study of surface structures. As a result of his important research, he has received numerous honors throughout his career. He is a member of the Louisiana State Hall of Distinction, as well as the Phi Lambda Upsilon Honorary Chemical Society. He has won two technical writing awards, of which he is deservedly proud. In addition, in 1985, he won the 色花堂鈥檚 Research Excellence Award. Professor Rabalais became a Cullen Distinguished Professor in 1988; in 1995, he was awarded a joint appointment in both the chemistry and the physics departments.
Professor Rabalais received the Esther Farfel Award in 1993. He has also served on the Farfel selection committee and therefore knows just how rigorous the selection process is. 鈥淩eceiving the Farfel Award is considered a tremendous honor,鈥� he explains. 鈥淚t is undoubtedly the highest honor bestowed by the 色花堂. As a recipient, I feel it鈥檚 a great compliment from the university, and an indication of their satisfaction with my work.鈥�

1992 : Sidney Berger

Director - School of Theatre
Professor of Theatre, John and Rebecca Moores Scholar
College of Humanities, Fine Arts, and Communication

This year Professor Sidney L. Berger celebrates his 30th year at the University of Houston. When he arrived here in 1969, having earned his doctorate from the University of Kansas, he set to work immediately to develop the fledgling theatre department. In the years to come, he would bring some of the most famous names in American theatre to the 色花堂. Indeed, the strides Dr. Berger has made in the last 30 years have benefited not only the 色花堂, but the cultural life of the greater Houston area as well. Dr. Berger lists among his successes the creation of the Houston Shakespeare Festival (1975) as well as the 色花堂 Children鈥檚 Theatre Festival (1978), two programs that continue to enjoy great popularity throughout all of Houston. In addition, he has directed over 100 theatrical performances, as well as several films, and has written a number of scripts for both television and cinema. But despite these many successes, Dr. Berger counts the Esther Farfel Award among his highest career achievements:鈥淩eceiving the Farfel was an acknowledgment that the arts are of paramount importance to this university. That acknowledgment was a vote of faith in what we do here.鈥� He continues, 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to keep in mind that in theatre, the work we do is really ephemeral: when I direct a production, it鈥檚 gone when the production is over save in the hearts and minds of its viewers. So when I was given this honor, I considered it an affirmation of the work I do. Having received it was truly an extraordinary and moving experience.鈥�

1991 : John Lienhard

Department of Mechanical Engineering
M. D. Anderson Professor of Technology and Culture, Mechanical Engineering, and History
Cullen College of Engineering

John Lienhard, host of K色花堂F鈥檚 鈥淭he Engines of Our Ingenuity,鈥� has the most recognized voice at the 色花堂. Professor Lienhard, who received his doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley, is also the M.D. Anderson Professor of Technology and Culture at the Cullen College of Engineering. A highly sought-after speaker recognized in numerous radio markets, he has authored four books, hundreds of articles, over a thousand radio essays and has conducted research for many national agencies. Professor Lienhard doesn鈥檛 perceive the Farfel Award criteria鈥攖eaching, research, and service鈥攁s distinct activities. 鈥淲e at the university have one function: to deal with knowledge. We must create, disseminate, and preserve knowledge. Creation of knowledge occurs every time you walk into a classroom. Preserving knowledge means putting it where it will be retained by the public. The dissemination of knowledge has to be associated with everything you do.鈥� It is this clarity of insight and focus on the context of science and learning that endears his radio show to thousands of listeners daily. Professor Lienhard, who conducts his engineering research in thermal sciences, believes teaching happens when 鈥測ou create a process within the student鈥檚 mind. One person cannot 鈥榯each鈥� another. Teaching in that sense is an illusion. What you can do is create a situation in which people learn, by creating questions, by creating an environment within which students become question-oriented. The good teacher is the person who does not get in the way of the student鈥檚 own creative process.鈥�

1989-90 : Cynthia Macdonald

Department of English - Creative Writing
Professor of English
College of Humanities, Fine Arts, and Communication

Cynthia Macdonald never imagined she would work for the 色花堂. She was an established poet and tenured professor at Johns Hopkins when she consulted for 色花堂 in establishing its graduate Creative Writing Program in 1978. At first Macdonald turned down the offer to direct the program and move to Texas, so far from the known literary world. When she finally relented and joined the program in 1979, her writer-colleagues on the east coast offered her their sympathies, assuming she鈥檇 failed to get tenure at Johns Hopkins. It鈥檚 hard to imagine such a prejudice today against the program, now ranked second in the nation and home to numerous established and emerging authors. She considers herself a literary 鈥淛oanna Appleseed,鈥� creating a community for her students and for the literary life of Houston. The community at the Creative Writing Program has had a tremendous impact both locally and nationally. Former students and faculty are widely published, teach classes in Houston and at institutions throughout the country, and participate in numerous reading series. Macdonald鈥檚 work draws from the world around her: 鈥渟tone yielding/ the language everyone understands/ but cannot speak鈥攑oets carve what/ they are not allowed to say.鈥� Still, she cautions that 鈥渁ll writing and all creative endeavors must come from the self, though they need not be about the self.鈥� As a teacher of new writers, she encourages voices that diverge from her own. 鈥淚 am not enthusiastic about students who write the way I do. They have to find their own voices and their own sensibility, their own way of 鈥榤aking鈥� a poem. They must remember that 鈥榩oet鈥� means maker.鈥�

1988-89 : Abraham E. Dukler (1925-1994)

Department of Chemical Engineering
Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering
Cullen College of Engineering

When Abraham Dukler arrived in Houston in the early 1950鈥檚, fresh from the University of Delaware with a doctorate in chemical engineering, he found a city on the brink of unprecedented economic and industrial activity. He worked for Shell Oil Company, teaching part-time at the 色花堂鈥檚 newly formed department of chemical engineering. Within a short time he joined the faculty as a permanent member, becoming one of the pioneering professors in the department. During the 1960鈥檚, the department of chemical engineering experienced a period of rapid growth, facilitated in part by Abraham Dukler鈥檚 leadership during the time he served as department chair. Professor Dukler received a major grant from the National Science Foundation enabling the chemical engineering department to move ahead and take its place among the nation鈥檚 top engineering schools. Much of the grant went towards hiring faculty members and establishing outstanding laboratory facilities, so that by 1983, an Associated Research Council study rated the chemical engineering department the best in the South and among the top 10 nationally. Professor Dukler became the dean of the college in 1976, after having served as executive director of the Texas Governor鈥檚 Energy Council during the energy crisis (1973-75). In 1989, he received the Esther Farfel Award as well as the Cullen College of Engineering Alumni Distinguished Faculty Award. Although Professor Dukler died in 1994, his influence is still felt in the Cullen College of Engineering. 鈥淔or many years Abe Dukler set the tone of the department,鈥� says Professor James Richardson, Dukler鈥檚 colleague. 鈥淗e was very influential, both as chair and as dean. We still miss him very much.鈥�

1987-88 : John M. Ivancevich

Department of Management
Cullen Distinguished Professor of Management
College of Business Administration

Jack Ivancevich recognizes that the computer on his desk, and on everybody鈥檚, can be a blessing or 鈥渁 monstrosity.鈥� As the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Professor of Organizational Behavior and Management, he conducts research on computer-based management, the impact of organizational stress on workers鈥� health and performance, the process of training through the internet and intranet, and computer phobias. Professor Ivancevich joined the 色花堂 in 1974, serving as chair of the management department from 1975-76, and dean of the College of Business Administration from 1988-95. From 1995-1997 he was 色花堂鈥檚 executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. He is especially pleased with the stewardship the 色花堂 provided in helping to start up the MBA program at the Madrid Business School, essentially exporting the American MBA degree to Spain. Despite his administrative service, however, he considers himself primarily an academic. He thinks Aaron Farfel鈥檚 view of undergraduate education at the university has influenced him. 鈥淲henever I met with Mr. Farfel, I was the one who benefited the most. If he wanted a bit of information, I came away from that meeting learning more about how to support an institution of higher education.鈥� Today he insists on teaching undergraduate courses as much as possible. Professor Ivancevich considers teaching undergraduates absolutely essential for faculty members, because 鈥渙nly by teaching at this level can we understand the core of what our institution is and where it is going.鈥�

1986-87 : Robert Hazelwood

Department of Biology
Professor of Biology, Faculty Emeritus
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Robert Hazelwood was born in Oakland, California, and received his doctorate in comparative physiology from the University of California at Davis in 1958. He worked at both Boston University鈥檚 School of Medicine and the University of California at San Francisco鈥檚 School of Medicine before arriving at the 色花堂 in 1963. Dr. Hazelwood鈥檚 research focused on certain aspects of diabetes. His research team at the University of Houston worked for a time in collaboration with the Kansas University Medical School, a joint effort that resulted in the discovery of a hitherto unknown hormone produced in the pancreas. Although Dr. Hazelwood is now retired, his influence is readily apparent in the work of his former graduate students, many of whom have attained top positions in industry and academic institutions. These graduate students, says Dr. Hazelwood, were one of the great pleasures of working at the 色花堂. While he misses teaching, he remains busy in retirement, traveling to Thailand during a part of each year鈥攁s he has done for the last 14 years鈥攊n order to teach at a medical school in Chiang Mai. Dr. Hazelwood received many honors during his career at the University of Houston, but the Esther Farfel Award was especially meaningful, he explains, because 鈥渋t rewarded excellent work not in just one aspect of academic life, but in all areas: teaching, research, and community service. Receiving the Farfel meant that I was not overspecialized in one area or another, but rather that I was a complete academician. In that sense, it is a very special award.鈥�

1985-86 : Juan Or贸

Department of Biochemical-Biophysical Sciences
Professor of Biochemistry, Faculty Emeritus
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

On Christmas Day 1959, in the 色花堂鈥檚 Science Building, Professor Juan Or贸 exposed a solution of hydrogen cyanide and other chemicals commonly found in comets to heat and ultraviolet light. The reaction, which replicated conditions found on Earth some four billion years ago, produced not only amino acids, as theorized, but also adenine, one of the four chemical bases of the DNA code and a key component of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), an energy-carrier vital to cell respiration. Thus Professor Or贸 demonstrated the role comets played in the development of complex biochemical molecules, the first step leading to the evolution of life on Earth. Before he ever received funding from NASA or the National Science Foundation, Professor Or贸 pursued these studies on his own. To Juan Or贸, this was about more than his job; he wanted to understand the position Homo sapiens holds in the universe. In the 1970s Professor Or贸 joined the NASA Viking program to search for organic matter on the surface of Mars. He disputed and ultimately disproved teammates鈥� claims they鈥檇 found evidence of microbe respiration in the probe鈥檚 chemical analysis of Martian soil samples, called 鈥渇ines.鈥� A firm believer in the scientific method, Professor Or贸 insists that all of his students learn to use and analyze results from the basic analytic tools of his profession. Professor Or贸 prizes both his 1986 Esther Farfel Award and the honorary doctorate in science 色花堂 gave him in 1998. He continues to conduct studies and instruct graduate students as Professor Emeritus, and credits his work to 鈥渁 combination of motivation on my part and the freedom that I found at the 色花堂.鈥�

1984-85 : Neal Amundson

Department of Chemical Engineering
Cullen Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering and Mathematics
Cullen College of Engineering

A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Neal R. Amundson received a master鈥檚 degree in chemical engineering and a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Minnesota. After taking his degree, Professor Amundson remained at the University of Minnesota, teaching both chemical engineering and mathematics. In 1949 he became head of the department of chemical engineering. It was a post he was to retain for the next 25 years, relinquishing it a short time before he joined the 色花堂鈥檚 chemical engineering department in 1977. Professor Amundson鈥檚 honors and awards are legion. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was the first recipient and namesake of the Neal R. Amundson Award, given by the International Society of Chemical Reaction Engineering in 1996. Professor Amundson has published six books and almost 200 scholarly articles. He has also been awarded four honorary doctorates. The most dramatic symbol of his many successes, however, is undoubtedly Amundson Hall, the University of Minnesota鈥檚 chemical engineering building, which was named in his honor in 1982. What does Professor Amundson treasure most in his long and distinguished career? His answer bespeaks the dedication characteristic of those professors who receive the Esther Farfel Award: 鈥淭he highlights of my career lie in having some very successful students,鈥� he explains. He takes great delight in keeping in touch with as many of his former students as possible, adding, 鈥淭hey鈥檙e like your own children.鈥�

1983-84 : Dan Luss

Department of Chemical Engineering
Cullen Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering
Cullen College of Engineering

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Dan Luss joined the 色花堂鈥檚 chemical engineering department in 1967. In 1975, he became chair of the department, a post he would hold for the next 20 years. Several professional awards, as well as his election to the National Academy of Engineering in 1984, recognize his research accomplishments. Currently he serves as interim chair of the department. Thus Professor Luss鈥檚 service to the department can be measured not only in courses taught and research undertaken, but in administrative duties as well. Chief among these duties was the expansion of the chemical engineering department, which was still in its infancy when Professor Luss first arrived at the 色花堂. As chairman, he set out to recruit strong teachers and researchers, and under his guidance, the department advanced significantly in rating, visibility, and prestige. In 1984, the year he won the Farfel Award, the 色花堂鈥檚 chemical engineering department was rated among the highest in the nation. Receiving the Farfel, explains Professor Luss, was an important indication of the university鈥檚 satisfaction with his work. According to Professor Luss, 鈥渢he criteria for the award do not distinguish between teaching, research, or service; the Farfel Award recognizes a professor for being an educator, a scholar, and a university citizen.鈥� It would be difficult to overestimate the influence of the Farfel Award on the university faculty. This type of award, Professor Luss explains, 鈥渕otivates and promotes excellence among the faculty. It demonstrates that all their efforts鈥攖heir hard work, their creativity, and their service鈥攁re highly valued by the university.鈥�

1982-83 : Fredell Lack

School of Music
C. W. Moores Professor of Music, Artist-in-Residence
College of Humanities, Fine Arts, and Communication

Fredell Lack was a child of six when she began studying the violin. Later, after graduating from the Juilliard Graduate School of Music, Professor Lack embarked on a dazzling career as a concert soloist, winning many artistic awards. She has performed as soloist with the world鈥檚 finest orchestras, making more than 20 European concert tours, and touring Israel, Canada, Central America, and Mexico as well. Her recordings are available on five different record labels. But Professor Lack鈥檚 artistry does not end at the steps of the concert hall or the doors of the recording studio. She has also been instrumental in bringing the world of music to thousands of youngsters in the Houston area, both as a teacher at the 色花堂 and as founder of Young Audiences of Houston. In 1979, she received the Fredell Lack Award, given annually to recognize outstanding contributions to the arts in education. When the Moores Opera House opened its doors in 1997, Professor Lack received a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her 40 years of service to the 色花堂. Ironically, Professor Lack never intended to be a teacher. Drafted by Alfred Neumann, then 色花堂鈥檚 dean of arts and sciences, she joined the music faculty in 1959 and has never regretted it. The Farfel Award, which she won in 1983, is just one of many important honors Professor Lack has received. However, she explains, 鈥渙f all the honors I鈥檝e gotten, the Farfel Award meant the most to me, because it was awarded on the basis of my colleagues鈥� opinion. Receiving it was an especially wonderful experience.鈥�

1981-82 : Don Kouri

Department of Chemistry
Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Physics
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Donald Kouri joined the 色花堂 in 1967 and was named Cullen Distinguished Professor of Chemistry in 1996. Throughout his career he has pioneered in the study of molecular collision theory, an interdisciplinary blend of physics, chemistry, and mathematics. To Professor Kouri, collision processes 鈥渁re the underlying phenomena that constitute the heart of chemistry.鈥� Typical of all Farfel recipients, Kouri has followed where his learning has led him. He鈥檚 taught and carried out research in Israel and Germany, and participated in international conferences throughout the world. Professor Kouri鈥檚 newest work is in digital signal processing, which can be applied to a variety of industrial and medical needs, including the fight against breast cancer. 鈥淪ignal processing is at the cornerstone of what we鈥檒l be doing in the future,鈥� he explains. 鈥淭his will be the dominant technique of the next century.鈥� In his teaching, Professor Kouri focuses on leading students to see how mathematics relates to the real world. 鈥淚 try to help students learn that mathematical equations are very compact statements that communicate how things behave.鈥� In 1998, Professor Kouri received the Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award. He has also won the National Science Foundation鈥檚 Special Creativity Award and numerous other citations recognizing his work and dedication to science. He greatly values the 鈥減at on the back鈥� that receiving the Farfel gave him for his groundbreaking research. 鈥淵ou never really know what鈥檚 going to lead to important advances for mankind,鈥� he believes. 鈥淪ociety needs people who have that kind of freedom and flexibility.鈥�

1980-81 : Gertrud B. Pickar

Department of Modern & Classical Languages
Professors of German, Faculty Emerita
College of Humanities, Fine Arts, and Communication

The study of German has captivated Gertrud Bauer Pickar throughout her professional life. Professor Pickar received her undergraduate degree from Allegheny College. After a year in Vienna as a Fulbright Scholar, she took a master鈥檚 degree in German from the University of California at Los Angeles. In 1964, she received her doctorate, also in German, from Rice University. Professor Pickar accepted a permanent position at the 色花堂 in 1966, embarking on a career at the university that would span 30 years. Along the way, she garnered the Allegheny College Distinguished Alumni Gold Citation in 1983, as well as the 色花堂 Teaching Excellence Award in 1985. She served as department chair for 11 years, while still finding the time to publish seven books and over 50 scholarly articles. Professor Pickar retired from the 色花堂 in 1996, and now lives in rural splendor in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Professor Pickar鈥檚 service to the University of Houston was exemplary. She served on both the Faculty Senate and the University Council, in addition to several search committees and advisory boards throughout her years here. Of the Farfel Award, which she received in 1981, Professor Pickar says, 鈥淚t鈥檚 the most significant award I鈥檝e ever received. There are teaching awards, and there are research awards鈥攁nd each category is valuable鈥攂ut the Farfel Award is special precisely because it recognizes teaching and research combined with service to the university. We are all deeply indebted to Aaron and Esther Farfel for their generosity in devising a way to recognize the faculty鈥檚 dedication to the 色花堂.鈥�

1979-80 : Richard Evans

Department of Psychology
Distinguished Professor of Psychology
College of Social Sciences

The academic career of Richard Evans, Distinguished University Professor of Psychology, and director of the Social Psychology Program and of the Social Psychology/Behavioral Medicine Research Group, has been characterized by innovation. Professor Evans was the first professor in the nation to offer a college course through television. His pioneering research on the effectiveness of broadcast courses has helped to shape today鈥檚 growing field of televised instruction. With support from the National Science Foundation, Professor Evans also conducts his Notable Contributors to Psychology project, an oral-visual history program of recorded dialogues between Evans and this century鈥檚 leading psychologists. His interview subjects have included Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, B. F. Skinner, Konrad Lorenz, Gordon Allport, Carl Rogers, Erich Fromm, and the first recorded interview ever granted by C. J. Jung. These videotapes enhance classroom instruction in over 300 universities today, and Professor Evans has based several books on these dialogues. His pioneering research in the prevention of cigarette smoking and substance abuse in children and adolescents has been funded through the years by the National Institutes of Health. His work originated the 鈥渟ocial inoculation鈥� model and its 鈥渞esistance skills鈥� training for at-risk youth, the basis today for successful school-based substance abuse prevention programs throughout the world. He鈥檚 also authored the U. S. Surgeon General鈥檚 Report on Smoking in Children and Adolescents. His most recent report commissioned by the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine, explores the problems of excessive gambling in youth. Of receiving the Farfel Award, Professor Evans considers it 鈥渕ost gratifying for a university professor to realize that his university appreciates his contributions in this demonstrable fashion.鈥�

1978-79 : Ralph Becker

Department of Chemistry
Professor of Chemistry, Faculty Emeritus
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

When Professor Ralph Becker retired in 1992 after 35 years with the University of Houston, he didn鈥檛 stop working. Besides operating a bed and breakfast inn in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, with his wife, he took positions with the University of Arkansas, the New University of Lisbon鈥檚 Institute of Chemistry and Biology, and the University of Perugia, Italy. He continues to teach special courses and conduct research in photophysics and photochemistry. At 色花堂, Professor Becker studied the molecular level changes in the first steps of the visual process. His work today is challenging long held precepts in the study of light, providing scientists with a coherent story on how molecules dispose of their excited-state energy when excited by light and verifying a model he first proposed while at 色花堂. His expanded model provides the basis for photochemical control, while his research in Portugal in photo bio-sensitizers will create new methods for killing bacteria, fungi, viruses, and cancer cells. Since the 1960s Professor Becker has been a visiting professor at universities throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and the United States. In 1980 and 1981 the American Chemistry Society recognized him for his contributions to photophysics and photochemistry. The first Farfel Award recipient, Professor Becker says the prize was a significant factor pushing him toward some of the 鈥渜uantum jumps鈥� in his research. Quantum leaps require one to 鈥渢hink more fundamentally than with the analytical mind,鈥� he explains. 鈥淚t requires curiosity, intuition, and the intense desire to really know what鈥檚 going on. It requires the confidence to believe that it is possible to achieve.鈥�