Lamar University announces 2026 Professor and Merit Award recipients

Lamar University has announced the recipients of the 2026 University Professor and Merit Awards, recognizing exceptional faculty achievements in teaching, research and service to the university and academic community.

These awards represent some of the highest faculty honors at Lamar University, celebrating both sustained career excellence and outstanding early-career contributions. The program continues a long-standing tradition of recognizing faculty whose work has a lasting impact on students, colleagues and the broader community.

"These awards recognize excellence in teaching, scholarship and service, but more importantly, they recognize impact - impact on students, impact on colleagues, impact on this university and the communities we serve," Lamar University President Jaime Taylor said. "Faculty are the heart and soul of this university. Student success does not happen by accident. It happens because of exceptional faculty who challenge students to think critically, inspire curiosity, invest time and care, and believe deeply in the potential of those they teach."

The 2026 honorees are:

• Dr. Cristian Bahrim - University Professor Award
• Dr. Sushil Doranga - Merit Award
• Dr. Yan Yan - Merit Award
• Dr. Abigail Dueppen - Merit Award

Dr. Cristian Bahrim, professor of physics, was named the 2026 University Professor, the university's highest honor for faculty.

With more than 25 years at Lamar University, Bahrim has built a distinguished career in teaching, research and mentorship. He has taught courses ranging from introductory physics to advanced subjects such as quantum optics, photonics and spectroscopy. His teaching emphasizes hands-on, experimental learning and real-world applications.

Bahrim has mentored more than 100 honors projects and advised student organizations including the Society of Physics Students and Sigma Pi Sigma, guiding students to national and international recognition. His scholarly work includes more than 100 publications and conference presentations, many co-authored with students. He has secured $2.6 million in grant funding from organizations including the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education.

"It is a very great honor. It's overwhelming. I hardly can find words to express what I feel," Bahrim said. "I humbly acknowledge all my colleagues who considered me worthy of such an honor (…) This moment is dedicated to all my students who chose to walk alongside me all these years for their academic growth," he said. "They put their trust in us, and it's a blessing; it's a privilege."

He also credited university leadership and colleagues for fostering a supportive academic environment.

"They created and maintained a healthy and stimulating professional environment of collegiality and respect," he said.

Three faculty members were recognized with 2026 Merit Awards for excellence in teaching, scholarship and service.

Dr. Sushil Doranga, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has demonstrated a strong commitment to student success through teaching, mentorship and research engagement. He serves as an advisor to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and is a member of the Undergraduate Advisory Research Board.

Doranga has supervised five undergraduate and seven graduate students and contributed to seven scholarly presentations alongside them. He has authored 25 publications and secured more than $300,000 in grant funding, including a $200,000 award from the National Science Foundation supporting research on structural reliability modeling.

Yan Yan, Ph.D., assistant professor of curriculum and instruction, has distinguished herself through excellence in teaching and scholarship. She maintains strong student evaluations, averaging approximately 4.75 out of 5, and has received the Student Choice Teaching Excellence Award.

Her innovative course design has been recognized by the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. Yan has published nine scholarly works, contributed to seven presentations involving students and secured approximately $160,000 in grant funding. She has also been recognized with the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society Outstanding International Service and Scholarship Award.

Dr. Abigail Dueppen, assistant professor of speech and hearing sciences, serves as director of the graduate vocology certification program, one of only three such programs in the United States.

Her work spans clinical voice care, research and performance. She has published nine peer-reviewed articles, secured more than $80,000 in funding and received national recognition, including the ASH Foundation New Century Scholars Doctoral Scholarship. Dueppen was unable to attend the ceremony as she performed in a World Voice Day concert in Houston, an international event celebrating the human voice.

To learn more about Lamar University's Professor and Merit Awards visit, https://www.lamar.edu/faculty-staff/academic-affairs/awards/university-professor-merit-award.html.