Louis K. Bell Research Award
The Louis K. Bell Research Award is intended to recognize outstanding contributions in the area of research and publication
by a faculty member in one of the following colleges: Arts, Humanities, and Social
Sciences; Business; Education and Human Development; Nursing; Science and Mathematics; School of Computer and Cyber Sciences; and Reese Library.
Recipients receive a plaque along with a $1,000 cash award. A permanent plaque is
also displayed in Reese Library.
Submit Nominations
For the 2025-2026 award period, nomination letters are due by Friday, October 31,
2025 at 11:59 EST.
Nominated candidates will be notified with details to submit portfolios no later than
Monday, November 3, 2025.
Submit Portfolios
For the 2025-2026 award period, portfolios are due by Monday, December 1, 2025 at
11:59 EST.
Nomination and Portfolio Support
In an effort to support faculty through the process, the AUFS Faculty Development
Committee partnered with the Center for Writing Excellence to provide resources for
faculty submitting nominations or creating portfolios for the Bell Research Award.
In this Box, you will find three folders. Make sure to select the portfolio materials folder
for the award to which you are applying:
-
- Nomination Letter Templates (containing Word document templates with guidance for writing nomination letters
for the Wallace and Bell awards)
- Bell Portfolio Materials (containing a checklist of the materials with submission information, Word document
templates with guidance for writing the cover letter for nominees, and templates of
emails for securing the different materials from letter writers)
- Wallace Portfolio Materials (containing a checklist of the materials with submission information, Word document
templates with guidance for writing the cover letter, and a template of an email for
requesting a letter from a department chair)
Criteria for Award
- All faculty who have primary appointments in one of the following colleges are eligible
for the award:
-
- College of Education and Human Development
- College of Nursing
- College of Science and Mathematics
- James M. Hull College of Business
- Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- Reese Library
- School of Computer and Cyber Sciences
- Nominees cannot have won the award within the previous three (3) years.
- Nomination should be based on research which has been completed within the last two
(2) years.
- Research quality and impact will be of primary consideration.
- Research productivity will be considered in the context of annual effort assignment
for research.
- Self-nominations are not considered.
Upon acceptance of the nomination, nominees will submit a portfolio consisting of
the following materials:
- Cover letter and Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Letter from department chair (or dean if nominee does not have a chair)
- Letter from a senior faculty member with knowledge of nominee's discipline
- External letter of support from an expert in the nominee’s research discipline
Award Selection Process
Internal Review Committee
An Internal Review Committee will be appointed by the Faculty Senate using the following
criteria:
- The Chair of the Senate's Faculty Development Committee appoints members from the
Senate's Faculty Development Committee to serve on the Internal Review Committee.
- The Committee shall consist of 5-7 total members. At least three members should be
faculty from the colleges eligible for the award. Each committee member should have
a distinguished record of research.
Duties of the Internal Review Committee:
- Ensure nominating agencies/individuals are reminded of deadlines and policies.
- Work with the Office of Faculty Affairs to collect nominations and nominees’ portfolios.
- Select 3 finalists from the nominees to be sent to the External Review Committee.
External Review Committee
An External Review Committee will be appointed by the Associate Provost for Faculty
Affairs using the following criteria:
- The Committee will be comprised of three faculty members from other colleges or universities
who have distinguished records as research scholars.
Duties of the External Review Committee Committees:
- Receive the 3 finalists’ portfolios from the Office of Faculty Affairs.
- Select the winning recipient.
Previous Award Recipients
Year |
Recipient |
1983 |
Dr. Emil Urban |
1984 |
Mr. Fred Wharton |
1985 |
Dr. Ed Cashin |
1986 |
Dr. Lyle Smith |
1987 |
Mr. Jack King |
1988 |
Dr. Creighton Peden |
1989 |
Dr. Ed Edmonds |
1990 |
Dr. Ed Cashin |
1991 |
Dr. Ron Ezell |
1992 |
Dr. John Arthur |
1993 |
Dr. Del Cahoon |
1994 |
Dr. John Black |
1995 |
Dr. William A. Reese, II |
1996 |
Dr. Gerald Thompson |
1997 |
Mr. Brian Rust |
1998 |
Dr. Hubert van Tuyll |
1999 |
Mr. James Rosen |
2000 |
Dr. Cathy Cobb |
2001 |
Dr. Lyle Smith |
2002 |
Dr. Nabil Ibrahim |
2003 |
Dr. Ray Whiting |
2004 |
Dr. Mark Fissel |
2005 |
Dr. Jurgen Brauer |
2006 |
Mr. Tom Nakashima |
2007 |
Mr. Tony Kellman |
2008 |
Dr. Chad Stephens |
2009 |
Dr. Kim Davies |
2010 |
Dr. Richard Topolski |
2011 |
Dr. Trinanjan Datta |
2012 |
Dr. Wendy Turner |
2013 |
Dr. Debra Reddin van Tuyll |
2014 |
N/A |
2015 |
N/A |
2016 |
Ms. Kristin Casaletto |
2017 |
Dr. Nai-Cheng Kuo |
2018 |
Dr. Mary-Kate Lizotte |
2019 |
Dr. Lufei Young |
2020 |
Dr. Dustin Avent-Holt |
2021 |
Dr. E. Nicole Meyer |
2022 |
Dr. Elizabeth "Kip" Webster |
2023 |
Dr. Lance Hunter |
2024 |
Dr. Jenelle Slavin-Mulford |
2025 |
Dr. Siva Panda |