UWM Distinguished Professors
At the pinnacle of their careers, UWM Distinguished Professors have had significant impact on their fields of study. With remarkable productivity, international reputations, and glowing testimonials from peers, UWM Distinguished Professors continue to make significant scholarly contributions to their disciplines. Of the 46 professors who have achieved this status since 1973, 25 remain on the faculty, continuing their leadership role at our university.
- Carolyn Aita
Physical Chemistry - She is designing "smart super-plastic" coatings for biomedical applications such as implants and indwelling catheters.
- Margo Anderson
History, Urban Studies - Specializing in U.S. social history, she is a leader in research on the U.S. Census.
- Margaret Atherton
Philosophy - The historian of philosophy is best known for her studies of Locke, Berkeley, and Descartes.
- Mohsen Bahmani-Oskooee
Economics - Influential research areas include international reserves, open economy macroeconomics, and exchange rates.
- James Cook
Chemistry - His chemistry of hope is leading to safer and more effective drugs to ease anxiety, alcoholism.
- Fred Eckman
Linguistics - An internationally recognized expert on how humans learn non-native languages and second-language phonology.
- Chukuka Enwemeka
Kinesiology - Among foremost authorities in photo-engineering of tissue repair with visible and near-infrared light and lasers.
- Nadya Fouad
Educational Psychology - The professor and doctoral training director is interested in how culture and gender affect career development.
- Jane Gallop
English - Gallop is described as "a brilliant feminist theorist whose work has received national and international recognition."
- Arun Garg
Industrial Engineering - Garg's ergonomics work has advanced understanding of repetitive-motion injuries and influenced OSHA policies.
- John Heywood
Economics - His research on interactions between employers and their workers spans the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia.
- J. David Hoeveler
History - Studying centuries of U.S. thought and culture, Hoeveler tracks the “creation of the American mind.”
- Stephen Leeds
Philosophy - At UWM since 2003, Leeds has achieved distinction in the philosophy of science, epistemology and metaphysics.
- Abbas Ourmazd
Physics - The accomplished researcher and entrepreneur has a strong track record of stimulating multidisciplinary work.
- David Petering
Chemistry - Petering has become an internationally recognized expert on the effect of metals on biological systems.
- Paul Roebber
Mathematical Sciences - He is regarded as one of the leading forecasting experts in the United States and the world.
- Pradeep Rohatgi
Materials Engineering - His profound impact on cast metal matrix composites is evident in over 400 papers and presentations and 20 patents.
- Mark D. Schwartz
Geography - Schwartz's work has revealed important ecological implications of phenology—the seasonal timing of plant life cycles.
- Robert Schwartz
Philosophy - Schwartz's broad impact is greatest in philosophy of psychology: vision, language, and mathematical cognition.
- Ehsanolah S. Soofi
Business Statistics - Has developed information measures for statistical analysis and shown their economic and business applications.
- J. Rudi Strickler
Biological Sciences - J. Rudi Strickler has revealed the activities of species near the bottom of the aquatic food chain.
- Anastasios Tsonis
Mathematical Sciences - First to apply chaos theory and nonlinear techniques to meteorology, Tsonis built UWM's Atmospheric Sciences Program.
- Wilfred Tysoe
Chemistry - Tysoe is recognized for using surface science to study catalysis under “real world” conditions.
- Michael Weinert
Physics - His groundbreaking theoretical work in condensed-matter physics is enhanced by collaboration with experimentalists.
- Merry Wiesner-Hanks
History - Her inquiries into the lives of women in the early modern period helped establish the field of women's history.
Selection and Roles and Responsibilities of UWM Distinguished Professors 