College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

The University Distinguished Professorship program is designed to recognize faculty members who have served the University with distinction and have compiled an outstanding record of achievement in teaching, research, and service. By providing additional support for their work, the program seeks to enable recipients to pursue more professional opportunities and to increase the leadership role of these faculty at Western Kentucky University.

Please note: Policy 1.1336: University Distinguished Professor Selection & Appointment was substantively revised in recent years, so please review if you plan to nominate someone.

Faculty can be nominated for a University Distinguished Professorship by a faculty member, department chair/director, or dean, or they can self-nominate; current UDPs may not submit nominations. Nominees who were not selected will be given three options for one year after they have been initially nominated:

• withdraw the application from consideration;
• briefly update the packet for reconsideration by the UDP selection committee without internal and external review;
• withdraw the application and resubmit a new packet for the entire review process. Faculty always have the option to self-nominate.

To nominate an individual for a University Distinguished Professorship, please send an e-mail to provost@wku.edu and include the following information:

Name of Nominee

Nominee’s Home Department Nominee’s e-mail address

A brief summary of why you feel the nominee should be considered for a University Distinguished Professorship

Nominations must be submitted by Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Nominees will be notified of their nomination by Friday, September 5, 2025, and must submit an acceptance of the nomination by Monday, September 15, 2025.