05/26/2026
Congratulations to the Penn State professors who have been named EVAN PUGH UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS, an elite and prestigious distinction conferred by the University on only 84 faculty members since the establishment of the designation in 1960.
The five professors newly bestowed with the University's highest faculty honor, effective July 1st, are:
* W. NIEL BRANDT, Eberly Family Chair Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Eberly College of Science
* LONG-QING CHEN, Hamer Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
* RUNZE LI, Eberly Family Chair Professor of Statistics, Eberly College of Science
* KAREN THOLE, professor of mechanical engineering, College of Engineering
* ADRI VAN DUIN, distinguished professor of mechanical engineering, College of Engineering
The professorships are named for Penn State’s founding president, Evan Pugh, a renowned chemist and scholar who was at the helm of the University from 1859 to 1864.
"I am continually inspired by and proud of the extraordinary caliber and accomplishments of Penn State’s world-class faculty. Penn State's Evan Pugh University Professors embody our commitment to excellence, innovation, creativity, discovery, scholarship and achievement at the highest level," said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi.
The Evan Pugh University Professorships are awarded to faculty members who are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in their fields of research or creative activity; demonstrate significant leadership in raising the standards of the University with respect to teaching, research or creativity, and service; display excellent teaching skills with undergraduate and graduate students who go on to achieve distinction in their fields; and receive support from colleagues who also are leaders in their disciplines.
Read more about the latest Evan Pugh University Professors.
https://www.psu.edu/news/academics/story/penn-state-names-five-new-evan-pugh-university-professors
