About

The highest academic recognition awarded by the University, the title of University Distinguished Professor is bestowed upon full professors on the basis of outstanding scholarship and achievement. Professors receiving this title hold the distinction for the duration of their association with Colorado State University. 

In 1986, the University instituted the UDP program to recognize those among its faculty whose accomplishments had achieved national and international recognition. On the August 26, 1986, President Philip Austin bestowed the title of University Distinguished Professor upon five individuals: Jack Cermak, Mortimer Elkind, Howard Evans, Albert Meyers, and John Stille. In early 1987, Marshall Fixman and Stanley Schumm were also named University Distinguished Professors. In 1987, the incumbent University Distinguished Professors assumed responsibility for evaluation and selection of additional UDPs.

Colorado State’s current president approves new selections and secures endorsement from the Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System.

The purposes of the University Distinguished Professorships are 1) to confer honor upon faculty members for outstanding scholarship and 2) to symbolize the continuing commitment of Colorado State University to the pursuit of excellence. There are presently 22 current UDPs and 31 emeritus UDPs across 27 academic departments.

University Distinguished Professors Bylaws

Purpose and Role of the UPDs — Bylaws Excerpt

University Distinguished Professors PDF (through 2021)

25th Anniversary UDP Booklet (2011)

UDP Scholarship

Each year, the University Distinguished Professors Scholarship is awarded to a Colorado State University graduate student who demonstrates excellence in research and academia. 

UDP Scholarship information and previous winners

2024 University Distinguished Professor

Jeff Collett

Department of Atmospheric Science

Current University Distinguished Professors

*In alphabetical order.

Ed Barbier

Department of Economics; 
Areas of expertise: Environmental and resource economics, international environmental policy

V. Chandrasekar

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering; 
Ph.D., Electrical Engineering (Colorado State University)

Eugene Chen

Department of Chemistry; 
Areas of expertise: Polymer science, sustainable & green chemistry, chemical catalysis

Debbie Crans

Department of Chemistry; 
Postdoctoral Studies, Chemistry and Biochemistry (University of California, Los Angeles); Ph.D., Organic Chemistry (Harvard University)

Camille Dungy

Department of English; 
Areas of expertise: Poetry, creative nonfiction, literature

Kathleen Galvin

Department of Anthropology & Geography; 
Ph.D., Anthropology (Binghamton University)

Temple Grandin

Department of Animal Sciences; 
Areas of expertise: Animal behavior, livestock handling, autism rights

Alan K Knapp

Department of Biology; 
Ph.D., Botany (University of Wyoming)

Sonia Kreidenweis

Department of Atmospheric Science; 
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering (California Institute of Technology, Pasadena)

Jan Leach

Department of Agricultural Biology; 
Areas of expertise: Molecular plant-microbe interactions, plant pathology

Carmen Menoni

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering; 
Ph.D., Physics (Colorado State University)

Keith Paustian

Department of Soil & Crop Sciences; 
Ph.D., Systems Ecology/Agroecology (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)

LeRoy Poff

Department of Biology; 
Ph.D., Biology (Colorado State University)

David Randall

Department of Atmospheric Science; 
Ph.D., Atmospheric Science (University of California, Los Angeles)

Jorge Rocca

Departments of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Physics; 
Ph.D., Electrical Engineering (Colorado State University)

Susan van den Heever

Department of Atmospheric Science; 
Areas of expertise: Convective storm processes, aerosol-cloud interactions, cloud/mesoscale modeling

UDP Susan VandeWoude

Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Pathology;
D.V.M. (Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine)

Ellen Wohl

Department of Geosciences; 
Area of expertise: Fluvial geomorphology

Past & Emeritus University Distinguished Professors

*In alphabetical order.

Headshot of Barry Beaty

Barry Beaty

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology

Headshot of Patrick Brennan

Patrick Brennan

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology

Headshot of Katherine Browne

Katherine Browne

Department of Anthropology & Geography

Headshot of Jack Cermak

Jack Cermak

Department of Civil Engineering
(deceased)

Manfred Diehl

Department of Human Development & Family Studies; 
Ph.D., Human Development & Family Studies (The Pennsylvania State University)

Headshot of Mortimer Elkind

Mortimer Elkind

Department of Environmental & Radiological Health Sciences
(deceased)

Headshot of Donald Estep

Donald Estep

Department of Statistics

Headshot of Howard Evans

Howard Evans

Department of Zoology and Entomology
(deceased)

Headshot of Anne Fisher

Anne Fisher

Department of Occupational Therapy

Headshot of Marshall Fixman

Marshall Fixman

Department of Chemistry
(deceased)

Headshot of Louis Hegedus

Louis Hegedus

Department of Chemistry

Headshot of Ed Hoover

Ed Hoover

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology
(deceased)

Wes Kenney

Department of Music and Director of Orchestras; 
Areas of expertise: Orchestral conducting (professional, college, advanced youth orchestras), opera conducting, advanced conducting pedagogy

Headshot of Willard Lindsay

Willard Lindsay

Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
(deceased)

Headshot of Karolin Luger

Karolin Luger

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Headshot of Wayne McIlWraith

C. Wayne McIlwraith

Department of Clinical Sciences

Headshot of Albert Myers

Albert Meyers

Department of Chemistry
(deceased)

Headshot of Gordon Niswender

Gordon Niswender

Department of Biomedical Sciences
(deceased)

Headshot of Ian Orme

Ian Orme

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology
(deceased)

A. R. Ravishankara

Departments of Chemistry and Atmospheric Science; 
Ph.D., Physical Chemistry (University of Florida)

Headshot of Phil Risbeck

Philip Risbeck

Department of Art and Art History

Headshot of Bernie Rollin

Bernard "Bernie" Rollin

Departments of Biomedical Sciences, Animal Sciences, and Philosophy
(deceased)

Headshot of Holmes Rolston

Holmes Rolston III

Department of Philosophy

Headshot of Stanley Schumm

Stanley Schumm

Department of Earth Resources
(deceased)

Headshot of George Seidel

George Seidel Jr.

Department of Biomedical Sciences
(deceased)

Headshot of Gary Smith

Gary Smith

Department of Animal Sciences

Headshot of John Sofos

John Sofos

Department of Animal Sciences

Headshot of Graeme Stephens

Graeme Stephens

Department of Atmospheric Science

Headshot of John Stille

John Stille

Department of Chemistry
(deceased)

Headshot of Takumi Tsuchiya

Takumi Tasuchiya

Department of Agronomy
(deceased)

Headshot of Thomas Vonder Haar

Thomas Vonder Haar

Department of Atmospheric Science

Headshot of Diana Wall

Diana Wall

Department of Biology (deceased)

Headshot of John Wiens

John Wiens

Department of Biology

Headshot of Robert Williams

Robert Williams

Department of Chemistry
(deceased)

Headshot of Stephen Withrow

Stephen Withrow

Department of Clinical Sciences

UDP Nomination Information

Nominations for University Distinguished Professors are not being accepted at this time. When nominations open, a call will be issued from the Office of the Provost. See below for general information on nominating professors for the title of UDP.

Nomination Information — University Distinguished Professors