Desktop News | November 2023
At the College of Arts and Sciences, our dedicated faculty leave a unique mark on the University through their commitment to students, research and community service. The Marilyn Williams Elmore and John Durr Elmore Endowed Professorship highlights some of the College’s most dedicated scholars, whose innovative, forward-thinking research and relentless support of students have distinguished them as invaluable members of our community.
The three recipients of the 2023 Marilyn Williams Elmore and John Durr Elmore Endowed Professorship, embodying the core values of our esteemed institution, are Dr. Rajesh Kana, Dr. Bülent Tosun and Dr. Michelle Dowd.
Dr. Rajesh Kana, a psychology professor and director of the Cognition, Brain and Autism Lab, plans to use the support from the professorship in initiating groundbreaking research projects, promising to enhance our understanding of autism and the lives of those affected. Dr. Kana expresses his enthusiasm, “The Marilyn Williams Elmore and John Durr Elmore Endowed Professorship is such a wonderful honor! I am thrilled to be recognized with this. We have been planning to kickstart a couple of pilot research projects to examine the connectivity of the different layers of the neocortex of the brain in autistic individuals, and the stipend from the endowed professorship would be instrumental in beginning this new direction of research for me and my lab.”
Dr. Bülent Tosun, an associate math professor, plans to use the support from the professorship for two important purposes: to write a research book and to support undergraduate research programs. Tosun exclaimed, “I am humbled and honored to be selected as a recipient of the Elmore Endowed Professorship in the college. Being named as an Elmore Professor recognizes the dedication and enthusiasm I have invested in my research, and I appreciate the support of The College of Arts and Sciences. This professorship will help me to take my research activities to the next level, and grow as a researcher, teacher and community member on our campus and beyond. The stipend that comes with the Elmore professorship will help me to research and finalize a research monograph that I am writing. Additionally, some of the funds will be used to supplement my summer research programs with undergraduates.”
Dr. Michelle Dowd, a professor of English and the director of the Hudson Strode Program in Renaissance Studies, plans to use the support from the professorship to continue research for her upcoming publications. “I am extremely grateful to receive this award and recognition. I plan to use the award funds to research a book on Shakespeare and work, which I am writing for Oxford University Press,” said Dowd. “Because it will help cover research costs, including some travel to libraries and archives, the award will be enormously helpful in enabling me to bring this book project to fruition.”
The impact of the Marilyn Williams Elmore and John Durr Elmore Endowed Professorship extends far beyond the individual recipients and their respective fields. It enriches the academic landscape, fosters innovation and nurtures a culture of excellence at The College of Arts and Sciences. The profound gratitude expressed by the 2023 recipients is a testament to the significance of this honor and the opportunities it presents for transformative research and scholarship.
The Marilyn Williams Elmore and John Durr Elmore Endowed Professorship offers a $5,000 stipend per year for the 3-year appointment, demonstrating the commitment to recognizing and celebrating the passion and dedication of outstanding faculty members like Dr. Kana, Dr. Tosun and Dr. Dowd. This support allows them to continue advancing knowledge, inspiring future generations, and working towards a brighter future.