2023 Winners of the King, Nolan, and OMNI Faculty Awards Announced

The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the U of A has selected the 2023 recipients of several of its most prestigious endowed faculty awards, including:

• Kate Chapman, assistant professor in the Department of Psychological Science, who received the John E. King Award for Outstanding Service
• Suresh Kumar K. Thallapuranam, Cooper Chair of Bioinformatics and Research and Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, who received the Nolan Faculty Award
• Burcu Bayram, associate professor in the Department of Political Science, who received the OMNI Center for World Peace and Justice Faculty Award
• Katia De Avila Fernandes, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geosciences, who received the OMNI Keeling/Hansen Climate Science Award

“We want to celebrate these amazing faculty members for their contributions to Fulbright College and the Northwest Arkansas community,” said Kathryn Sloan, interim dean of Fulbright College. “These individuals have gone above and beyond in their commitment to educational excellence and we are so grateful for their tireless efforts.”

“The recipients of these prestigious faculty awards are leaders in their respective fields and should be incredibly proud of their achievements,” Sloan added.

JOHN E. KING AWARD

The John E. King Award for Outstanding Service was created and endowed by Fulbright College faculty members to recognize colleagues who exhibit exemplary service to the campus and community. They named the award for King, a professor of social work, as a tribute to his “leadership and extraordinary ethic and record of good deeds.”

Recipient Dr. Kate Chapman’s academic and professional focus has been on student advocacy and community involvement. She has served on the Fulbright College Honors Council, as well as the Undergraduate Curriculum, Faculty Senate, and Inclusive Excellence committees. She also served is also Vice Chair of the Campus Council.

Additionally, Chapman is devoted to many public-service efforts in the community. She is deeply involved with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), an organization that advocates for the need of children in the foster care system in court and other official hearings. Her dedication to this cause has inspired others within her department to become advocates as well

“Dr. Chapman’s service activities have been consistently directed toward student success, inclusive excellence, and an overarching desire to make her department, college, university, and community an inclusive and welcoming place for all,” said Douglas A. Behrend, professor and chair of the Department of Psychological Science. “We are a better place because of Dr. Chapman’s service.”

NOLAN FACULTY AWARD

The Nolan Faculty Award was endowed by the William C. and Theodosia Murphy Nolan Foundation to support the career advancement of faculty members who provide the highest quality teaching research and service to the college.

Recipient Dr. Suresh Kumar K. Thallapuranam is a dedicated academic who has published more than 175 papers in peer-reviewed journals and been awarded seven patents and counting. He is also an integral part of the NIH COBRE Arkansas Integrative Metabolic Research Center and an editorial board member of three scientific journals, including the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

“Professor Kumar holds a critical leadership role in our graduate program,” said Francis Millett, Bruker analytical science professor and distinguished professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “His efforts in facilitating, finding funding for, and ensuring the publication of graduate student research made him the obvious choice for the Nolan Award.”

In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Kumar dedicates himself to the success of his students. He has worked with more than 124 graduate and 157 undergraduate students on thesis and research projects, pushing them to achieve success in their academic and professional endeavors. He also serves as the Director of Undergraduate Research and the Chair of Graduate Admissions and Program Action Committees for the department.

Kumar has also received several other accolades, such as the Charles and Nadine Baum University of Arkansas Distinguished Award for Outstanding Teaching, the Collis Geren Outstanding Interdisciplinary Faculty Award, and awards for outstanding performance in mentorship and teaching.

OMNI CENTER PEACE AWARD 

The OMNI Center for World Peace and Justice Faculty Award was created to “recognize exceptional research, teaching and service by faculty who promote the studying and teaching of peace and justice and the practice of nonviolence, conflict resolution and diplomacy.”

Recipient Dr. Burcu Bayram has grounded her research interests in the psychological foundations of cooperation in world politics. Her publications discuss peacebuilding through sustained international support and participation in global politics through a psychological lens.

“We believe Professor Bayram is one of our finest researches and most conscientious teachers,” said Janine A. Parry, founding director of the Arkansas Poll and professor in the Department of Political Science. “My colleague is committed to teaching her students peaceful, real-world conflict-resolution skills and pursuing justice-oriented service.”

Bayram is chair of the International Studies Association President’s Committee on the Status of Women and a member of the association’s Women Caucus. She also serves on the executive board and book award committee of the Foreign Policy Analysis section of the American Political Science Association.

Additionally, her innovative courses and instructional techniques have pushed her students to actively understand and promote global peace. She has also been integral to the inclusive excellence efforts of her department.

“I am not sure how my compassionate and reliable colleague does all of these things at once, but I am glad she does,” Parry added.

OMNI KEELING/HANSEN AWARD 

The OMNI Keeling/Hansen Climate Science Award was created to “promote cutting-edge climate science research conducted by Fulbright College faculty and students in developing knowledge of the causes and impacts of global climate change, in developing tangible solutions to mitigate global climate change and its deleterious effects on humanity and global ecosystems, and in communicating the urgency of the climate catastrophe.”

Recipient Dr. Katia De Avila Fernandes focuses her research on applying climate science principles to advancements in agriculture, fire prevention and control, and resource use and planning.

“Dr. Fernandez is an deserving recipient and devoted educator committed to understanding the causes of and solutions to global climate change,” said Jason Tullis, member of the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies and professor in the Department of Geosciences.

Fernandez currently serves as an Adjunct Associate Research Scientist for the International Institute for Climate and Society and is a member of the Environmental Dynamics PhD Curriculum Review, Inclusive Excellence, and Geosciences Graduate Committees. Additionally, she is a member of the American Geophysical Union and the American Meteorological Society.

Alongside her public-service commitments, Fernandez supervises multiple undergraduate and graduate/postdoctoral research endeavors. She is a coordinator for the geography major, and has devoted her time to reviewing the grant proposals and manuscripts of various students and colleagues.

Fernandez has also worked with the Public Broadcasting Service, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and the University of Arkansas chapter of the Sierra Club to promote a greater understanding of the science of climate change. Her many professional publications and presentations have centered on innovative understandings of these same issues.