They are experts in everything from linguistics to law, from the economics of climate change to the reliability of software. These nine faculty members — eight associate professors and one professor — are UC ԭ’ newest class of Chancellor’s Fellows, a title given to early career academics doing exemplary work.
“These outstanding faculty members are some of our brightest and most promising scholars,” Chancellor Gary S. May said. “I know they will continue to impress and shine a light on the groundbreaking work happening here at UC ԭ. I expect this recognition and support will help propel them to even greater heights.”
The Chancellor’s Fellows program was created in 2000, and this year’s class brings the total number of recipients to an even 200. Recipients carry the title for five years and are awarded $25,000 in unrestricted philanthropic support for research or other scholarly work.
“We’re all celebrating reaching 200 Chancellor’s Fellows,” said Shaun B. Keister, vice chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations. “Our dedicated donors have helped launch some of the most impactful research of the past two decades, supporting early-career experts across all disciplines. This is a true testament to how philanthropy is changing the world.”
This year’s fellows are:
Brittany Dugger
Her research focuses on understanding diversity within neurodegenerative diseases and the development of innovative tools for deeper analysis of the human brain. Her works bridge the fields of machine learning and computer engineering, data science and social determinants of health. She is the foremost expert in digital neuropathology. Her laboratory’s research, in collaboration with institutions across the country, sparked a new wave of science, leading to advancements on a national level. She has produced high-impact publications that contribute to our understanding of neuropathologies. In addition to running her laboratory, Dugger leads neuropathology programs for numerous National Institutes of Health-funded studies and centers at UC ԭ.
“Dr. Dugger is a triple talent: outstanding in research, teaching, and service on local, national, and international levels,” wrote Kim E. Barrett, distinguished professor and vice dean for research in the School of Medicine. “She is a highly valued faculty member with a superb record of achievement in neurodegenerative diseases research. I am positive Dr. Dugger will continue to make her mark both as a leader in her field and as a leader at UC ԭ.”
Gozde Goncu-Berk
She explores electronic textiles and wearable technologies, including new material and digital fabrication possibilities to facilitate design for a variety of underserved populations such as people suffering from chronic diseases, the elderly and children. Recently, she was named a Dean’s Faculty Fellow for her research developing and testing an electronic, textile-based, real-time bladder monitoring device that can be worn as an unobtrusive undergarment.
“[She] is an exemplary citizen of the university and highly deserving of this honor,” wrote Susan Taber Avila, professor of design. “She not only excels in the three pillars of academic life — research, teaching and service — but she exudes a generosity of spirit and humanity that elevates everyone around her.”
Irene Oritseweyinmi Joe
She is a former New Orleans public defender whose research focuses on how the design of the criminal process affects the ability of institutional attorneys to manage overwhelming caseloads and comply with ethical requirements.
One of the nation’s leading scholars on topics pertaining to public defenders, Joe is also an expert on voir dire, or jury selection. Her voir dire class is one of the law school’s most popular. A UC ԭ Law faculty member since 2016, Joe has been selected twice by students to be commencement faculty speaker.
“A rising star, Professor Joe is poised to be one of the leading criminal justice scholars in legal education,” wrote School of Law Dean Kevin Johnson.