Information for:

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 Portfolios

Nominated candidates have been notified with details to submit portfolios.

For the 2024-2025 award period, portfolios are due by Monday, December 2, 2024 at 11:59 EST.

Portfolio Submission

Submit Portfolio

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