Almost a third of the 2025-26 cohort of NC State’s University Faculty Scholars are faculty members in the College of Engineering. This recognition honors faculty members for their academic achievements and contributions to NC State and beyond through their teaching, scholarship and service.

Congratulations to Derek Kamper, professor in the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering; Brina Montoya, professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering; Venkateswaran Narayanaswamy, professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE); Spyridon Pavlidis, associate professor in the Department of of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Ge Yang, professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering; and Jie Yin, professor in the MAE department.

NC State’s 2025-26 class of University Faculty Scholars was announced today. These 20 early- and mid-career faculty receive this designation in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements and contributions to NC State through their teaching, scholarship and service to the university and beyond.

Since the program’s inception in 2012, 298 faculty have been named University Faculty Scholars. These faculty members carry the title for the duration of their faculty appointment at NC State and receive an increase to their base salary.

Each college may submit nominations for assistant professors appointed for a second term, associate professors and professors within the first three years of their appointment. Senior faculty then review nominations, evaluating them on research and scholarship productivity, excellence in teaching and mentoring, and leadership in extension, professional societies and public service initiatives.

This year’s class of University Faculty Scholars includes:

• Rongmon Bordoloi, associate professor of physics and astronomy
• Meg Day, associate professor of English
• Colleen Doherty, associate professor of molecular and structural biochemistry
• Timothy Drake, associate professor of educational leadership, policy and human development
• Burak Erdim, associate professor of architecture
• Derek Kamper, professor of biomedical engineering
• Moses Khisa, associate professor of public and international affairs
• Whitney Knollenberg, associate professor of parks, recreation and tourism management
• Paula McAvoy, associate professor of teacher education and learning sciences
• Brina Montoya, professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering
• Venkat Narayanaswamy, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering
• Monique Pairis-Garcia, professor of population health and pathobiology
• Rajan Parajuli, associate professor of forestry and environmental resources
• Spyridon Pavlidis, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering
• Xinxia Peng, professor of molecular biomedical sciences
• Rishika Rishika, professor of marketing
• Deepti Salvi, associate professor of food, bioprocessing and nutrition sciences
• Astrid Schnetzer, professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences
• Ge Yang, professor of nuclear engineering
• Jie Yin, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering

This post was originally published in NC State News.