KU Engineering Recognizes 2025-2026 Award Winners


The School of Engineering recognized award winners and greeted new employees from the past year at a reception on Sept. 9. Here's a rundown of the award winners and faculty awarded named professorships this year. 

Miller Professional Award for Research
Alex Bardas, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

Miller Professional Award for Service
Juan Bravo Suárez, Chemical & Petroleum Engineering

Sharp Teaching Professorship
Felipe Anaya, Chemical & Petroleum Engineering

Bellows Scholar Award for Outstanding Research
Xinmai Yang, Mechanical Engineering
Heechul Yun, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

Bellows Scholar Award for Outstanding Contributions to Engineering Education
Mark Shiflett, Chemical & Petroleum Engineering
Sara Wilson, Mechanical Engineering

Miller Scholar Award for Outstanding Early-Career Research
Masoud Kalantari, Chemical & Petroleum Engineering
Hongyang Sun, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

Miller Scholar Award for Outstanding Service to the University of Kansas
Brian Lines, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
Karen Nordheden, Chemical & Petroleum Engineering

Staff Award for Outstanding Service to Students
Ronda Morgison, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
Ash Shadrick, Mechanical Engineering

Staff Award for Outstanding Service to Research
Jennifer Laverentz, CReSIS
Jessica Tami, EARTH

Staff Award for Outstanding Administrative Service
Nathan Fortner, Engineering Facilities
Alex Pang, Engineering Student Success

New Professorship Appointments
Professors
Alex Bertuccio, Chemical & Petroleum Engineering: Tunison Professor
Ron Hui, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science: Dean E. Ackers Professor
Alexandra Kondyli, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering: Deane E. Ackers Professor
Kevin Leonard, Chemical & Petroleum Engineering: Deane E. Ackers Professor
Fengjun Li, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science: McClendon Professor
Candan Tamerler, Mechanical Engineering: Charles E. & Mary Jane Spahr Professor
ZJ Wang, AE: Charles E. & Mary Jane Spahr Professor
Beth Ward, School of Engineering Administration: Vann SELF Professor
Heechul Yun, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science: McClendon Professor

Scholars
Morteza Hashemi, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science: McClendon Scholar