University Scholars Program
Faculty excellence is the cornerstone of any university of high quality. There is no more important task at the University of Illinois than attracting and retaining the very best teachers and scholars. The University Scholars Program recognizes outstanding members of the faculty and provides each with a funding allocation to enhance their scholarly activities.
University Scholars awards are not made for a specific project or proposal; rather, they represent recognition of the recipient’s excellence and the University’s commitment to foster outstanding people and their work. Therefore, the awards are made through nominations, not by application.
As of 2013, each award consists of an allocation of $15,000 per year for a period of three years. Recipients may use the funds at their discretion to enhance their scholarly work through travel, equipment, research assistants, scholarly materials or other uses that support their university-related teaching or research. University Scholars funds cannot be used toward the recipients’ base salary but can be used to support a summer salary of up to two-ninths of base salary.
Eligibility to the University Scholar Program is limited to members of the University of Illinois faculty, as defined in the University Statutes, i.e., members of the academic staff who are tenured or receiving credit toward tenure.
Each university will determine its selection criteria and process. Prior to the end of the academic year, they will submit the selection results to the President. Formal announcements of new University Scholars will generally be timed to coincide with the beginning of the academic year following selection.
University Scholars from 1985 to current year
2025 University Scholars
Springfield
BRANDON BARCLAY DERMAN
Environmental Sciences, School of Integrated Science, Sustainability, and Public Health, College of Health, Science, and Technology
Chicago
ANNA ROMINA GUEVARRA
Global Asian Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
MICHAEL J. FEDERLE
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy
SALMAN R. KHETANI
Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Associate Head, Director of Graduate Studies
SUBRAMANIAN SANKARANARAYANAN
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering
JUN SUN
Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, College of Medicine
ARA TEKIAN
Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine
Urbana-Champaign
QIAN CHEN
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Grainger College of Engineering
BEN GROSSER
The School of Art & Design, College of Fine and Applied Arts
EMILY J. M. KNOX
School of Information Sciences (iSchool)
KATY D. HEATH
Department of Plant Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
CHAREE M. THOMPSON
Department of Communication, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
updated October 2025