Six University of Iowa Faculty Members Honored for Excellence
The Iowa Board of Regents is set to honor six distinguished faculty members from the University of Iowa for their remarkable contributions and sustained excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. Each recipient of the Regents Award for Faculty Excellence will receive a $1,500 stipend. These awards were determined by committees formed through shared governance and the university administration, with final confirmation by the Board of Regents.
Mary Charlton
Mary Charlton, a professor of epidemiology in the College of Public Health, is recognized nationally for her leadership in cancer surveillance, rural cancer disparities, and health services research. Her work includes over 140 peer-reviewed publications and ongoing research funded by the National Cancer Institute and other federal agencies. As the director of the Iowa Cancer Registry since 2019, she has produced influential Cancer in Iowa reports that guide state policy, clinical practice, and public awareness. Through initiatives like the Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project and the Iowa Cancer Affiliate Network, Charlton translates complex data into actionable improvements in care for rural and underserved patient populations. She also co-leads a major research program at the UI Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center and serves as the president of the Iowa Cancer Consortium, while mentoring future public health professionals in cancer prevention.
Polly Ferguson
Professor Polly Ferguson, executive vice chair of pediatrics in the Carver College of Medicine, has made transformative contributions to care for children with rare inflammatory bone diseases. Her research has uncovered gene mutations responsible for these conditions, paving the way for targeted therapies. With over 100 peer-reviewed articles and citations exceeding 10,000, Ferguson has maintained continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 2002. She leads two NIH-funded K-12 research training programs and has served on advisory boards for the NIH, the American Board of Pediatrics, and the American College of Rheumatology. Ferguson is widely acknowledged for her role in nurturing the next generation of pediatric physician-scientists.
Alberto Segre
Alberto Segre, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science, is noted for his leadership in computational epidemiology, enhancing the detection and control of infectious diseases. As a co-founder of the UI Computational Epidemiology Research Group, Segre has united experts across disciplines to model disease spread and guide health care decision-making. His work, comprising over 130 peer-reviewed publications and a research monograph, has secured more than $16 million in funding. An advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration, Segre has significantly raised the profile of faculty research. As an educator, he remains engaged with first-year students through introductory computer science courses and has supervised numerous doctoral students.
Carol Severino
Carol Severino, a professor of rhetoric and director of the UI Writing Center, has dedicated over 30 years to advancing writing instruction. An internationally recognized figure in writing pedagogy and second-language writing, Severino has published extensively and led development workshops across the Americas. At Iowa, she expanded the Writing Center’s influence and co-founded the Honors Writing Fellows Program, enhancing writing support systems campuswide. As a mentor, she has guided numerous doctoral committees and taught foundational courses in writing pedagogy, gaining respect for her insightful and compassionate guidance.
Fred Stern
Fred Stern, George D. Ashton Professor of Hydroscience and Engineering, is an acclaimed leader in ship hydrodynamics, elevating the University of Iowa’s prominence in naval engineering. He has built the IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering’s ship hydrodynamics program into a world-class center for experiments and simulations. Stern developed CFDShip-Iowa, a critical simulation tool for the U.S. Navy. With nearly $50 million in research funding, Stern has strengthened international collaborations and contributed to the naval engineering workforce. His extensive scholarship includes over 220 journal articles and 300 conference papers.
Nick Street
Nick Street, the Leonard A. Hadley Chair in Leadership in the Tippie College of Business, is a leader in artificial intelligence, data mining, and healthcare analytics. His interdisciplinary work has advanced cancer care and clinical decision support, with over 110 peer-reviewed articles and more than $4 million in funding. Street’s collaborations span multiple fields, reinforcing Iowa’s leadership in applied analytics. As a first-generation college student from a small Iowa town, Street understands the impact of mentorship and has advised numerous doctoral students. His leadership has expanded Iowa’s Business Analytics programs, preparing students for data-driven careers.
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