National & International Faculty Honors

UC Davis is home to globally renowned visionaries in the arts and education, law and letters, engineering, and the physical and life sciences, assuring its place as one of the top public universities in the country. Click through the categories on the right to view a sampling of the many premier faculty honors received. For more faculty distinctions by discipline and related stories, visit the colleges and schools linked here.

Professor Zhou, in a lab coat, holding a chicken.
Huaijun Zhou, Professor of Animal Sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, received the 2023 NAS Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences.
A black and white headshot of Professor Liz Miller, whose shoulder-length, blonde hair is blowing in the wind.
Elizabeth Miller, Professor of English, has received the Stansky Book Prize of the North American Conference on British Studies “for the best book published by an American scholar on any aspect of British studies since 1800.”
A headshot of Kevin Johnson, Dean of the School of Law.
Kevin Johnson, Dean and Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and Chicana/o Studies, has received the Association of American Law Schools Inaugural Michael A. Olivas Award for Outstanding Leadership in Diversity & Mentoring in the Legal Academy.
Professor Dean Schildgen smiling with picture frames in the background
Brenda Deen Schildgen, distinguished professor emerita of comparative literature, received the 2022 Helen and Howard Marraro Prize of the Society for Italian Historical Studies for her book Dante and Violence: Domestic, Civic, Cosmic.
Headshot photos of each professor, each grinning widely!
Nancy Lane, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Rheumatology, and Aging Research (left); Kai Lu, Adjunct Professor of Physics (middle); and Justin Siegel, Associate Professor of Chemistry and of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (right), have been elected Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors.
Professor Pamela Lein holding her sweet labs.
Pamela Lein, Professor and Chair of Molecular Biosciences in the School of Veterinary Medicine, has been appointed a Pathology Expert on California EPA’s Scientific Review Panel on Toxic Air Contaminants.
Joanna Regulska, Global Affairs and Dept of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies
Joanna Regulska, Vice Provost and Dean of Global Affairs and Professor of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies, has received the 2022 Outstanding Achievement Award of the Association for Women in Slavic Studies.
Professor Gozde Goncu-Berk posing with her hands crossed in front of hanging tapestry.
Gozde Goncu-Berk, Associate Professor of Design, won the Best of Category award at an international design competition for CalmWear, which provides tactile stimulation to relieve the symptoms of anxiety disorder.
Professor Emeritia Barbara Metcalf tilting her head while having a discussion.
Barbara D. Metcalf, Professor Emerita of History, received the 2022 Sir Syed Excellence International Award.
Professor Tina Jeoh (center) and her graduate students are positing together in her lab. They are all equipped with lab coats, gloves, and protective eyewear.
Tina Jeoh, Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering (center), received the Danisco Foundation Science Excellence Award.
A headshot of Professor Peter Lee wearing a suit and tie.
Peter Lee, Professor of Law, has been elected a member of the American Law Institute.
Professor Katia Vega standing in front of a sign in Spanish that says, "...transform the world."
Katia Vega, Assistant Professor of Design, has received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award.
Professor Simon Cherry conducting a lecture behind a podium.
Simon Cherry, Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, received the Benedict Cassen Prize for Research in Molecular Imaging from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.
Professor Jane-Ling Wang surrounded by green leaves.
Distinguished Professor Jane-Ling Wang from the Department of Statistics was elected an Academician of Academia Sinica.
Professor Michael Hill, with his arms crossed and his right shoulder slightly leaning against the thick trunk of a tree.
Michael Hill, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, has received the 2022 Brewer Award from the Society for Experimental Mechanics.
Professor Susan Ustin is having a conversation about her work and is pointing at a computer screen with her left hand.
Professor Susan Ustin of the Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, has received the William T. Pecora Award of the USGS National Land Imaging Program.
A black and white photo of Dr. Emily Merchant with her arms folded across her chest, smiling, back propped against a wall.
Emily Klancher Merchant, Assistant Professor of Science and Technology Studies, has received the Merle Curti Intellectual History Award from the Organization of American Historians
Professor Prem Devanbu, wearing a satchel and harden hat, tilting his head smiling, There seems to be a lush garden behind him.
Prem Devanbu, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, has received a 2022 Alexander von Humboldt Research Award. With co-authors Hindle, Barr, Gabel, and Su, Devanbu also received the Most Influential Paper Award from the 2022 International Conference on Software Engineering.