DENTON (UNT), Texas — The University of North Texas hosted the annual Salute to Faculty Excellence Awards Celebration on April 16, 2026, recognizing faculty who have made a transformative impact through teaching, research, mentorship and service.

Presented by the Office of the Provost and supported by the UNT Foundation, the ceremony honored 38 faculty members from across the university who earned awards from divisions including the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Division of Research and Innovation, Faculty Senate and others.

“It’s always a pleasure to celebrate UNT’s world-class faculty,” said Provost Michael McPherson. “Whether recognized for groundbreaking research, exceptional teaching, outstanding service or all of the above, this year’s honorees share a common thread — an unwavering commitment to supporting, inspiring and empowering our students to achieve more than they thought was possible.”

Among the top honors were the UNT Foundation awards, which recognize four recipients for distinguished contributions to teaching, leadership, community engagement and scholarly activity.

“Outstanding faculty ignite possibility. They challenge students to think deeply, explore boldly and discover their potential,” said Lynette Gillis, president and CEO of the UNT Foundation. “The UNT Foundation is proud to support and honor these exceptional faculty, who shape the leaders of tomorrow and leave a lasting impact on the university community.”

First held in 2012, the Salute to Faculty Excellence has become a signature UNT tradition, with the UNT Foundation continuing to support the event and its top awards through private giving that advances faculty success.

UNT Foundation Eminent Faculty Award

Dornith Doherty 

Dornith Doherty, University Distinguished Research Professor in the College of Visual Arts and Design, is an internationally recognized artist who has maintained a prolific individual practice throughout her 30 years at UNT. Her work is held in numerous permanent collections and has been exhibited worldwide, including at the National Academy of Sciences Art Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the Jardín Botánico de Medellín.

A 2012 Guggenheim Fellow and 2016 Texas State Artist of the Year, Doherty uses photography, video and large-scale installations to explore ecological and philosophical issues such as biodiversity, climate change and the interdependence of human and natural systems. Since 2008, she has collaborated with scientists at seed banks, botanical gardens and research institutes, mergiing scientific imagery with poetic visual forms.

As a teacher and mentor, she blends technical rigor with creative inquiry. Her students regularly earn competitive fellowships and awards — including a 2022 Guggenheim Fellowship — and go on to successful careers in the arts, industry and academia.

UNT Foundation Faculty Leadership Award

Paul Hensel

Since joining UNT in 2008, Professor Paul Hensel has served on or chaired nearly every committee in the Department of Political Science, including multiple terms on the executive committee, and spent six years on the UNT Faculty Senate. As co-director of graduate studies, he has improved advising and helped standardize core course rotations to keep students on track for exams and graduation.

Hensel founded the Issue Correlates of War (ICOW) research project in 1997, creating widely used data for scholars worldwide. Supported by major grants from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Agency for International Development, the project has trained dozens of graduate researchers and earned the 2019 J. David Singer Award for Data Innovation from the American Political Science Association.

UNT Foundation Community Engagement Award

Brian Richardson

For 25 years, Professor Brian Richardson has helped students in communication studies make a meaningful impact in their communities. In his graduate courses, Communication Consulting and Organizational Communication, students conduct research and lead consulting projects for local organizations and community partners.

Beyond projects with partners like the city of Denton, his students have provided consulting and training for organizations such as Cumberland Youth and Family Services, The Ladder at One Safe Place and Opening Doors for Women in Need. His co-led study abroad courses in international disaster communication have taken students to Panama, Nicaragua and Peru, giving them firsthand experience in how communication can shape lives and communities.

Richardson also founded the COMM Alumni Mentoring Program and serves as faculty advisor for COMM Future Pros, a student organization focused on career-readiness.

UNT Foundation Outstanding Lecturer

Nazia Khan

Nazia Khan, principal lecturer of teacher education and administration, joined the UNT College of Education in 2017. As associate chair of initial certification, she has helped advance the college’s efforts to prepare high-quality, workforce-ready teachers for Texas. As an accomplished scholar, her work on conceptual understanding and equity in science classrooms has informed both practice and policy.

Guided by a teaching philosophy that connects theory to practice, Khan has designed or re-designed numerous courses in science education and curriculum design. Her inquiry-based classes equip future educators with practical, industry-relevant skills to lead with confidence, empathy and purpose. Through grants and partnerships with the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Capital One and local school districts, she has expanded opportunities for both pre-service teachers and K-12 students.