2024 UH Faculty Awards Recognize Teaching, Research, Service

The University of Houston recently honored its outstanding faculty members at the 2024 Faculty Awards ceremony, acknowledging their dedication to teaching, research, and service. The event celebrated the achievements of educators who have made significant contributions to the university and the community.

One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Esther Farfel Award, the highest faculty honor at UH, to Zhifeng Ren, the Paul C. W. Chu and May P. Chern Endowed Chair in Condensed Matter Physics. Ren expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating, “Receiving the Farfel Award increases the pressure for more success. Now that I finally earned this award, I am inspired to work even harder—but more importantly smarter—to contribute more to UH and further improve the status of the University.”

Ren, who joined UH in 2013, serves as the director of the Texas Center for Superonductivity UH (TcSUH) and pays tribute to Paul C. W. Chu by leading the Paul C. W. Chu and May P. Chern Endowed Lecture Series. He is part of a select group of faculty members who have received the prestigious Farfel Award, which has been presented annually since 1979 in memory of Esther Farfel.

In addition to Ren, over 30 faculty members were recognized for their excellence in various categories during the ceremony. The awards spanned across teaching, research, and service, showcasing the diverse talents and accomplishments of UH's academic community.

Among the recipients were educators like Allison Master, Sharon Borja, Lila Carden, Olivia Johnson, Tracey Ledoux, Chin-Yo Lin, Sandra Zalman, Ann Cheek, Tai-Yen Chen, Bulent Dogan, Maureen Grissom, and many others, who were commended for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.

The event, hosted by Houston Public Media’s Ernie Manouse, highlighted the commitment of UH faculty members to excellence in academia and their dedication to shaping the university's future. The Faculty Awards serve as a testament to the university's commitment to fostering a culture of innovation, scholarship, and community engagement among its faculty members.

Overall, the 2024 UH Faculty Awards ceremony was a testament to the exceptional talent and dedication of the university's faculty members, who continue to elevate UH's reputation as a top-tier institution of higher education.