Investiture Ceremony Celebrates New Endowed Professors, Chairs

Eight outstanding faculty members at The University of Texas at Dallas were honored April 18 during the 2024 Investiture Ceremony at which their new endowed titles were officially announced before family, friends, colleagues and students.

Endowed chairs and professorships are the highest academic award a faculty member can receive from a university. The endowments are supported in part by philanthropic donations and provide distinguished faculty with funds to advance their scholarly activities and support research. UT Dallas has more than 175 chairs and professorships.

"Today we celebrate our honorees who are supported by these endowed positions, and we look forward to the instruction and research that will benefit the University for years to come," said UT Dallas President Richard C. Benson, who holds the Eugene McDermott Distinguished University Chair of Leadership.

This year's honorees represent the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology; the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences; the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS), and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Dr. Jennifer S. Holmes, dean of EPPS, recalled how one of her predecessors, Dr. Brian Berry, professor emeritus of economic, political and policy sciences and the former Lloyd V. Berkner Professor, helped her grow professionally when she first joined UTD in 1998.

"When I was a new visiting assistant professor, fresh out of graduate school, Brian took an interest in my work," said Holmes, who was recognized as the Lloyd V. Berkner Professor at the ceremony. "He read my first book prospectus, helped me talk through a new research design and made a new scholar feel at home at UTD."

The honorees were each introduced by a presenter - a student, former student or colleague - before receiving a medallion from Benson.

Dr. Charissa N. Terranova, the Margaret M. McDermott Distinguished Chair of Art and Aesthetic Studies and professor of art and architectural history, modern and contemporary, was introduced by former student and artist Dr. Marjaneh Goudarzi MA'19, who said Terranova is dedicated to fostering creative minds.

"From her nurturing mentorship to her infectious laughter, she embodies the essence of a guiding force - a fluttering butterfly gracefully imparting wisdom and clarity to those fortunate enough to cross her path," Goudarzi said.

Though many of the University's endowed positions were established as tributes to UTD's co-founders and early leaders, some more recent endowments have been established by faculty members, including chair emeritus of natural sciences and mathematics Dr. A. Dean Sherry, who is also the former Cecil H. and Ida Green Distinguished Chair in Systems Biology Science, and his wife, Dr. Cindy Sherry BS'78.

In 2022, the Sherrys established the Dean and Cindy Sherry Professorship in Chemistry, an endowment that supports the chemistry and biochemistry research-enhancing activities of the holder. Dr. Gabriele Meloni, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, was named a Fellow of that professorship.

Meloni said the honor caused him to reflect upon the responsibility that comes with such recognition, and he credited his students and colleagues for his successes.

"Without their passion and their work, I would not be on this stage," he said.

Dr. Mario Wriedt, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, was honored as Fellow, Francis S. and Maurine G. Johnson Chair. He said before he ever visited campus, he fell in love with his job description, and he's delighted to be at UTD.

"I'm a people person, so I would like to thank the people who made me who I am today," he said. "UT Dallas has fantastic colleagues and students and an excellent infrastructure and resources."

List of Investees

Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology

School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences

School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences

School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics