Past University Distinguished Professors

Members of Oregon State University faculty granted an appointment as a University Distinguished Professor have amassed truly exceptional records in scholarship and creative work, teaching and mentoring, and public engagement and service. Since 1988, OSU has awarded the designation each year to a very a limited number of faculty nominated by their peers. The title is the highest faculty honor granted by the University.

2023

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Emily Ho

Emily Ho
University Distinguished Professor of Nutrition

Lecture: From B to Z: Food & Nutrients to Help You Live Better Longer

2023

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Yanyun Zhao

Yanyun Zhao
University Distinguished Professor of Food Science and Technology

Lecture: A Challenging Yet Rewarding Journey in Search of Sustainable Food Packaging Solutions

2022

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Michael Freitag

Michael Freitag
University Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Lecture: Epigenetics: I Know It When I See It 

2022

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Kathryn Higley

Kathryn Higley
University Distinguished Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering

Lecture: Bugs, Bunnies, and Bombs: Radioecology's Role in Radiation Protection

2022

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Brent Steel

Brent Steel
University Distinguished Professor of Public Policy

Lecture: The Democracy and Technocracy Quandary: Science, Scientists, and the Policy Process

2021

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Julia Jones

Julia Jones
University Distinguished Professor of Geography

Lecture Title: Ecosystem Response to Climate Change at Long-Term Ecological Research Sites

Complete Lecture

2021

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Richard Settersten

Richard Settersten
University Distinguished Professor of Life Course and Human Development

Lecture Title: Human Development and a Sociological Imagination: A Social Scientist's Journey

Complete Lecture

2020

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Yuji Hiratsuka

Yuji Hiratsuka
University Distinguished Professor of Art

Lecture Title: The Art of Print Making: Process and Content

Complete Lecture (1:01)

2020

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David Williams

David Williams
University Distinguished Professor of Environmental And Molecular Toxicology

Lecture Title: Eat Live - Eat Die: Carcinogens and Anti-Carcinogens in Food

Complete Lecture (58:05)

2019

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video link to intro of Clare Reimers, 2019 Distinguished Professor

Clare Reimers
University Distinguished Professor of Ocean Ecology and Biochemistry

Lecture Title: Carbon Cycling at the Seafloor: 40 Years of Advanced Science

News Release
Complete Lecture (54:22)

2019

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video link to introduction of Mas Subramanian, 2019 Distinguished Professor

Mas Subramanian
University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry

Lecture Title: The Surprising Science of Discovery: Stumbling onto a New Colorful Materials World

News Release
Complete Lecture (01:02:07)

2019

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video link to intro of Virginia Weiss, 2019 Distinguished Professor

Virginia Weis
University Distinguished Professor of Integrative Biology

Lecture Title: In Sickness and in Health: Studying Coral Symbiosis in the Age of Climate Crisis

News Release
Complete Lecture (01:17:23)

2018

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Edward Brook, Distinguished Professor video

Edward Brook
University Distinguished Professor of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences

Lecture Title: The History of the Atmosphere and Climate from Polar Ice Cores: Is Past Prologue?

News Release
Complete Lecture (1:03:25)

2018

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Joey Spatafora, Distinguished Professor video

Joey Spatafora
University Distinguished Professor of Botany and Plant Pathology

Lecture Title: How Fungi Changed the World

News Release
Complete Lecture (1:11:07)

2018

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Janet Tate, Distinguished Professor video

Janet Tate
University Distinguished Professor of Physics

Lecture Title: With a Little Help From My Friends: Collaborative Materials Research and
Incorporating Research into the Undergraduate Curriculum

News Release
Complete Lecture (1:00:00)

2017

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Video of Distinguished Profesor Alan Mix

Alan Mix
University Distinguished Professor of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences

Lecture Title: Past Dial Future: Potential Climate Tipping Points and Their Impacts in a Warming World

News Release
Complete Lecture (1:11:39)

 

2017

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video of Distinguished Professor John Selker

John Selker
University Distinguished Professor of Biological and Ecological Engineering

Lecture Title: Seeing Water Through Fresh Eyes

News Release
Complete Lecture (1:29:35)

2016

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Margaret Burnett, Distinguished Professor video

Margaret Burnett
University Distinguished Professor of Computer Science

Lecture Title: "Womenomics" and Gender-Inclusive Software: What Software Practitioners Need to Know

News Release
Complete Lecture (1:11:13)

2016

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Peter Clark, Distinguished Professor video clip

Peter Clark
University Distinguished Professor of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences

Lecture Title: Sea Level Rise Due to Global Warming: Next 100 to 10,000 Years

News Release
Complete Lecture (1:11:13)

2015

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Andy Karplus, Distinguished Professor video

Andy Karplus
University Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Lecture Title: Teaching, Teamwork, “Aha!” Moments and Peering into the World of Proteins
Complete Lecture (1:11:13)

2015

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Jon Lewis, Distinguished Professor video

Jon Lewis
University Distinguished Professor of Film Studies

Lecture Title: Hollywood Confidential: Crime and Punishment in Postwar Los Angeles
Complete Lecture (1:07:55)

2014

Marie Harvey, University Distinguished Professor of Public Health
College of Public Health and Human Sciences, May 15, 2014

William Ripple, University Distinguished Professor of Ecology
College of Forestry, May 15, 2014

2013

Thomas Dietterich, University Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
College of Engineering, May 5, 2013

Joseph Beckman, University Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics
College of Science, May 5, 2013

2012

Andrew Blaustein, University Distinguished Professor of Zoology
College of Science, May 5, 2012

Stephen Giovannoni, University Distinguished Professor of Microbiology
College of Science, May 5, 2012

2011

Luiz Bermudez, University Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine, May 4, 2011

Robyn Leigh Tanguay, University Distinguished Professor of Molecular Toxicology
College of Agricultural Sciences, May 4, 2011

2010

James Carrington, University Distinguished Professor of Botany and Plant Pathology
College of Agricultural Sciences, May 5, 2010

Balz Frei, University Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics
College of Science, May 5, 2010

2009

Alan Acock, University Distinguished Professor of Human Development and Family Science
College of Health and Human Sciences, May 13, 2009

Jeff McDonnell, University Distinguished Professor of Hydrology
College of Forestry, May 13, 2009

2008

Tracy Daugherty, University Distinguished Professor of English and Creative Writing
College of Liberal Arts, September 16, 2008

Steven H. Strauss, University Distinguished Professor of Forest Biotechnology
College of Forestry, July 1, 2008

2007

Jeffrey A. McCubbin, University Distinguished Professor of Exercise Science
College of Health and Human Sciences, September 16, 2007

Lewis Semprini, University Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering
College of Engineering, September 16, 2007

2006

Douglas A. Keszler, University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
College of Science, September 16, 2006

Patricia A. Wheeler, University Distinguished Professor of Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences
College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, July 1, 2006

2005

K. Norman Johnson, University Distinguished Professor of Forest Resources
College of Forestry, July 1, 2005

Bruce A. Menge, University Distinguished Professor of Marine Biology
College of Science, September 16, 2005

2004

Daniel J. Arp, University Distinguished Professor of Botany & Plant Pathology
College of Agricultural Sciences, July 1, 2004

Dudley B. Chelton, University Distinguished Professor of Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences
College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, July 1, 2004

2003

Kathleen Dean Moore, University Distinguished Professor of Philosophy
College of Liberal Arts, September 16, 2003

Jeffrey J. Morrell, University Distinguished Professor of Wood Science
College of Forestry, July 1, 2003

2000

James W. Ayres, University Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutics
College of Pharmacy, September 16, 2000

Ronald E. Wrolstad, University Distinguished Professor of Food Science & Technology
College of Agricultural Sciences, July 1, 2000

1999

Henry M. Sayre, University Distinguished Professor of Art History
College of Liberal Arts, July 1, 1999

John Sessions, University Distinguished Professor of Forestry
College of Forestry, July 1, 1999

1998

Michael V. Oriard, University Distinguished Professor of American Literature and Culture
College of Liberal Arts, July 1, 1998

Arthur W. Sleight, University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
College of Science, July 1, 1998

1997

William Robbins, University Distinguished Professor of History
College of Liberal Arts, July 1, 1997

Fred Stormshak, University Distinguished Professor of Animal Sciences
College of Agricultural Sciences, July 1, 1997

1996

Larry Boersma, University Distinguished Professor of Soil Science
College of Agricultural Sciences, July 1, 1996

Frank L. Moore, University Distinguished Professor of Zoology
College of Science, July 1, 1996

1995

George S. Bailey, University Distinguished Professor of Food Toxicology
College of Agricultural Sciences, July 1, 1995

Richard H. Waring, University Distinguished Professor of Forest Science
College of Forestry, July 1, 1995

1994

David Robinson, University Distinguished Professor of American Literature
College of Liberal Arts, July 1, 1994

William Sandine, University Distinguished Professor of Microbiology
College of Science, July 1, 1994

1993

Paul Farber, University Distinguished Professor of History of Science
College of Liberal Arts, July 1, 1993

Jo-Ann Leong, University Distinguished Professor of Microbiology
College of Science, July 1, 1993

Jane Lubchenco, Distinguished Professor of Zoology
College of Science, July 1, 1993

1992

Marcus J. Borg, University Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture
College of Liberal Arts, July 1, 1992

James D. White, University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
College of Science, July 1, 1992

1991

Arthur Boucot, University Distinguished Professor  of Zoology and Geology
College of Science, July 1, 1991

Christopher Mathews, University Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry & Biophysics
College of Science, July 1, 1991

1990

John Fryer, University Distinguished Professor of Microbiology
College of Science, July 1, 1990

Donald J. Reed, University Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry
College of Science, July 1, 1990

1989

Warren E. Kronstad, University Distinguished Professor of Plant Breeding & Genetics
College of Agricultural Sciences, July 1, 1989

T. Darrah Thomas, University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
College of Science, July 1, 1989

1988

Harold J. Evans, University Distinguished Professor of Plant Physiology
College of Agricultural Sciences, July 1, 1988

Kensal van Holde, University Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry & Biophysics
College of Science, July 1, 1988