Pushing the boundaries of learning and discovery
The University of Texas at Arlington welcomed more than 70 new faculty members to campus for the start of the new academic year.
The new teachers, scientists and researchers are spread across UTA’s eight degree-granting colleges and schools, and bring with them research portfolios that support the four guiding themes of the University’s Strategic Plan: health and the human condition, sustainable urban communities, global environmental impact, and data-driven discovery.
In total, approximately 100 new faculty joined UTA over the past academic year. Almost half of these are tenured or tenure-track, an achievement indicative of their significant research contributions and commitment to education.
“As the model 21st-Century Urban Research University, UTA is growing in both educational and research areas, and faculty are the lifeblood of that prosperity,” UTA Provost Teik C. Lim said. “These new faculty members will join the world-class faculty already at UTA in pushing boundaries, conducting cutting-edge research and educating and inspiring the next generation.”
Among the new class of faculty are three National Academy members and eight recipients of University of Texas System Faculty Science and Technology Acquisition and Retention (STARs) Program funding.
Since January 2019, UTA has tripled the number of National Academy faculty members on campus, marking a significant milestone on its path to becoming a Texas Tier One institution.
The momentum started with the appointment of Dereje Agonafer, the Jenkins Garrett Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), in February. Florence Haseltine, member of the National Academy of Medicine, and Surendra Shah, member of the NAE, came to UTA in the spring. The University announced in August that James Coleman, member of the NAE, would also be joining the faculty.
This group of National Academy members joined UTA’s Kenneth Reifsnider, member of the NAE, and David Nygren, member of the National Academy of Science, to bring the University’s total number of National Academy faculty to six.
All National Academy members at UTA carry the title of Presidential Distinguished Professor.
The new faculty coming to campus strengthen UTA’s research and teaching capabilities in their respective colleges and schools, while also bringing with them unique areas of interest. To learn more about UTA’s new faculty members, please read the Welcome New Faculty Fall 2019 booklet.