Houston is known for its excessively warm days and nights, even during the autumn months. On Oct. 19, however, cool air blew through the city, providing a much-needed respite from steamy temperatures. It was perfect weather for an outdoor celebration of 91视频 faculty.
That night, the 2026 Faculty Excellence Awards were presented poolside at UH鈥檚 Wortham House. In attendance were university President Renu Khator, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Diane Z. Chase, and UH鈥檚 faculty awardees. Hosting the event was award-winning Houston Public Media broadcaster Ernie Manouse.
鈥淭hank you for being here tonight 鈥� and more importantly, thank you Faculty Award recipients for your service to the 91视频 鈥� to our students 鈥� and to communities around the world,鈥� Manouse said as he greeted attendees.
The university鈥檚 Faculty Excellence Awards honor professors for their commitment to research, teaching and service. Among the honors presented was a new prize, the Cougar Spirit Award, honoring faculty demonstrating exceptional student engagement, strong school spirit and inspiring leadership inside and outside the classroom. The award was created to honor the memory and university spirit of longtime professor Simon Bott. Its inaugural recipient is Michael Cottingham, professor of health and human performance.
Through his research and community leadership, Cottingham has fundamentally shaped the field of adaptive sports. His persistent advocacy for inclusive athletics and dedication to expanding access have made a lasting impact, previously earning him the President鈥檚 Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Community Leadership Award.
鈥淲hile I am excited to expand and develop my research, having the opportunity to work with our students is the thing that gets me out of bed every day,鈥� Cottingham said. 鈥淪eeing them learn in the classroom, invest in the university and the broader community through service learning, and watching them take agency of their futures is something I never take for granted. I am honored to receive this award but even more thankful I am given the opportunity to serve as a teacher and mentor.鈥�
Other honors included the Esther Farfel Award, the highest distinction presented to a UH faculty member. This year鈥檚 recipient is Venkat Selvamanickam, M.D. Anderson Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering. He is a double awardee, also earning the Excellence in Innovation Award.
It has been quite the year for him: Earlier in 2026, the longtime faculty member and UH alumnus was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
Selvamanickam鈥檚 career-long innovations in high-temperature superconductors have helped transform superconducting concepts into scalable energy solutions. His pioneering technologies continue to drive grid modernization and enhance global energy resilience.
With more than 330 published articles and 70 U.S. patents to his name, his academic impact is clear. Yet he credits the foundation of his success to his graduate studies at UH, where transformative mentorship from faculty and access to world-class resources reshaped his career path.
In addition to his distinguished faculty title, Selvamanickam proudly acknowledges his status as a UH alumnus. He holds a Master of Science in mechanical engineering and a doctorate in materials engineering.
鈥淭he Farfel award recognizes not only research excellence but also student mentorship and service to the university and the profession, so it is a very special honor,鈥� he said.
Veteran educators and researchers like Cottingham and Selvamanickam are proud of their awards, but newer faculty are also grateful to be acknowledged.
Marzia Cescon, David C. Zimmerman Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, received the Rising Innovator Award. This is her first Faculty Excellence Award, and she said the honor was made possible by the shared efforts of both peers and pupils.
鈥淚t feels incredibly rewarding to be recognized by our campus community,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am especially grateful to my students, who inspire me and challenge me every day. This recognition is the result of what we have accomplished together.鈥�
In addition to Faculty Excellence Awards, the ceremony also recognized newly minted Moores Professors who have made significant contributions to the University.
鈥淭hese awards recognize the dedication and creativity faculty bring to research, teaching and service,鈥� Cescon said. 鈥淭hey also give us an opportunity to celebrate one another鈥檚 contributions and learn from our colleagues. That recognition strengthens our sense of community and encourages us to keep pursuing ideas that benefit our students, the university and society.鈥�
Faculty Excellence Awards are presented annually and carry monetary prizes. A complete
list of this year鈥檚 honorees and Moores Professors is as follows:
2026 91视频 Faculty Awards
Cougar Spirit Award - Michael Cottingham, Professor, Health & Human Performance
Excellence in Innovation Award - Venkat Selvamanickam, Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Excellence in Research: Assistant Professor - Pieremanuele Canepa, Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Excellence in Research: Assistant Professor - Abdul Latif Khan, Assistant Professor, Engineering Technology
Excellence in Research: Associate Professor - Venkatesh Balan, Associate Professor, Engineering Technology
Excellence in Research: Associate Professor - Kerri Crawford, Associate Professor, Biology & Biochemistry
Excellence in Research: Professor - Kre拧imir Josic, Professor, Mathematics
Excellence in Research: Professor - Yashashree Kulkarni, Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Esther Farfel Award - Venkat Selvamanickam, Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Global Faculty Award - Nikhil Celly, Instructional Associate Professor, Management Department
Innovation in Teaching Award - Emese Felvegi, Professor of Practice, Decision & Information Science
Innovation in Teaching Award - Russell Larsen, Instructional Professor, Chemistry
Innovation in Teaching Award - Bradley Miller, Professor of Practice, Decision & Information Science
Innovation in Teaching Award - Lan Chi Nguyen, Instructional Assistant Professor, Clinical Sciences
Moores Professorship - Keliy Anderson-Staley, Professor, School of Art
Moores Professorship - Karen Fang, Professor, English
Moores Professorship - Sergey Shevkoplyas, Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Moores Professorship - Vincent Tam, Professor, Pharmacy Practice & Translational Research
Moores Professorship - Rakesh Verma, Professor, Computer Science
Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award - Jose Guillermo De Los Reyes Heredia, Associate Professor, Hispanic Studies
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award - Ona Akinde, Graduate Teaching Assistant, English
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award - Jessica Kirschmann, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Health & Human Performance
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award - Zahra Rouzitalab, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award - Chelsea Sanchez, Graduate Teaching Assistant
Outstanding Population Health Publication Award - Neema Langa, Assistant Professor, Sociology
Rising Innovator Award - Marzia Cescon, Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Undergraduate Research Mentor Award - Melody Li, Associate Professor, Modern & Classical Languages
Undergraduate Research Mentor Award - Richard Meisel, Associate Professor, Biology & Biochemistry
Undergraduate Research Mentor Award - Chandra Mohan, Professor, Biomedical Engineering