University Scholars include five Urbana-Champaign faculty members

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Five University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professors have been named University Scholars in recognition of their excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. The award is presented by the University of Illinois System to faculty members from the Chicago, Springfield and Urbana universities.

Begun in 1985, the scholars program recognizes faculty excellence and provides $15,000 to each scholar for each of three years to enhance their academic career. The money may be used for travel, equipment, research assistants, books or other purposes.

“We value the critical role of our diverse, world-class faculty in maintaining the University of Illinois System’s preeminence as a global leader in higher education,” said Nicholas Jones, the System’s executive vice president and vice president for academic affairs. “Continuing to support their efforts remains a top priority, and recognition as a University Scholar is one example of how we look to demonstrate that.

“Our honorees are to be commended for their dedication to excellence in teaching, scholarship and service and for their outstanding contributions to the discovery and innovation that will continue to drive progress and positively impact our state, nation and world. These individuals are most deserving of this prestigious award, and we are proud to recognize and congratulate each one of them.”

The five Urbana campus recipients, as described by their nominators:

Gloriana González, a professor of curriculum and instruction, conducts research on mathematics education with a focus on supporting teachers in facilitating problem-based instruction. Her research has had a major impact on curricula for educating new teachers, professional development strategies for existing teachers and making classrooms more equitable by supporting all students in learning mathematics through meaningful engagement. Unwavering in her dedication to her research, González pursues her scholarship with passion and rigor.

González also has contributed through her graduate and undergraduate course instruction, her leadership as director of graduate studies and her student mentorship. She was particularly attentive to students during the pandemic, offering special sessions with each student to make sure they felt supported when COVID-19 interrupted their data-collection efforts.

Derek Hoiem, a professor of computer science, focuses his research contributions on 3D scene understanding, attribute-based representations of objects and generalizable task learning. He teaches classes at the freshman, senior, graduate and Ph.D. levels. As a particular highlight, he created a computational photography course – first as an on-campus course and then expanded to the online program.

Hoiem co-founded Reconstruct in 2016 and led development of 3D scene reconstruction and alignment algorithms. He invented a method to create 3D model “as built” floor plans of interiors and to align these to 2D drawings; these are then used by construction managers to inspect progress and quality of construction. Reconstruct is an essential tool on thousands of building projects across six continents.

Prashant Jain, a professor of chemistry, is a world leader in three high-impact fields of research: artificial photosynthesis, catalysis and fundamental nanoscience. His teaching record is superb in advanced laboratory courses and undergraduate and graduate lecture courses in physical chemistry. He is particularly recognized for making technically challenging concepts in statistical mechanics and thermodynamics accessible to students.

Through his vision, leadership in the scientific community and outreach, Jain is helping reimagine and reinvent how chemicals and fuels are manufactured. Building on the foundations of discoveries and ideas from his laboratory, capital and energy-intensive, carbon-emitting facilities could in the future be replaced by distributed photoreactors that deploy solar photons for sustainable, zero-carbon manufacturing. 

D.K. Lee is a professor of crop sciences researching the discovery, improvement and optimization of crop production. His focus is on crops that deliver renewable energy to a growing human population living in a changing climate. After spending several years examining the bioenergy feedstock potential of various grass species and annual crops, Lee is currently focusing on studying native perennial species that provide ecosystem services such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving soil and water quality, and increasing biodiversity.

Lee is extremely active in translating his research to stakeholders. He has established numerous demonstration and on-farm research plots for outreach activities, and routinely speaks at field days and grower meetings. He also provides technical advice to governmental, nonprofit and private organizations.

Carol Symes, a professor of history, is well-respected, often-cited and increasingly recognized as a leader in the fields of medieval history, classics, theater and medieval studies, an interdisciplinary field that includes all aspects of the Middle Ages. Symes’ work forging new paths across disciplinary boundaries has been acknowledged by colleagues, students, the university and the history profession.

A former professional actor, Symes brings humor and drama to her lectures, mesmerizing her student audiences while maintaining the highest scholarly standards. Her classes are full of ideas and interpretations that challenge students to think seriously about historical experience and change. At the college and campus levels, she has given generously of her time and considerable talents in the interests of students and colleagues.