Academic excellence has been recognized and celebrated at Northeastern University, where members of the university community have demonstrated exceptional scholarship, research, teaching, and innovation. The 15th annual Academic Honors Convocation was held on Wednesday at the Blackman Auditorium, honoring undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty members, who have made significant contributions to the university’s mission.
- David Madigan, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, recognized the achievements of faculty members and students.
- Eduardo Sontag, University Distinguished Professor of bioengineering, electrical and computer engineering, was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The Academic Honors Convocation recognized faculty members who have made significant contributions to their fields, including Matthew Miller, a professor of health sciences and epidemiology who received the University Distinguished Professor Award. Miller is a leading expert in injury and violence prevention, with a focus on firearm violence and suicide.
| Matthew Miller | University Distinguished Professor Award | Leading expert in injury and violence prevention |
| Albert-LĂĄszlĂł BarabĂĄsi | National Academy of Sciences | Research on complex networks |
| Eduardo Sontag | American Academy of Arts and Sciences | Bioengineering and electrical engineering |
Graduate student awards were also presented, including the Graduate Education For Minorities (GEM) Ph.D. Engineering Fellowship to Nazira Cisse, and the Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award in Humanics to Skye Morét for her work on interdisciplinary design and media. The Academic Honors Convocation also recognized students who have achieved academic excellence, including undergraduate students who received the Sears B. Condit Award and the Barry Goldwater Scholarship. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship is the most prestigious undergraduate science scholarship in the country.
- Warda Ahmed, Dhwani Bhatt, Marcella Hesser, Geneva Palmer, Alexzander Sansiveri, Adriana Totten, and Kyle Wilson received the Sears B. Condit Award
- Rohan Chopra received the Barry Goldwater Scholarship
In addition to these awards, the university also recognized students who have been selected for prestigious scholarships, such as the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships, and the Luce Scholarship. These scholarships provide opportunities for students to pursue research-based masterâs and doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions.
- Nicole Occidental received the Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- Portia Aning, Abigail Binkley, Jonathan Alexander Bush, Jasmeen Jahneya Chambers, Rebecca Chen, Elizabeth Niemiec, and Rayan Uddin received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships
- Fatuma Mohamed received the Luce Scholarship
Overall, the Academic Honors Convocation at Northeastern University was a celebration of academic excellence and the achievements of the university community.
Graduate Student Awards
The university also presented several graduate student awards, including the Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award in Experiential Learning to Toshiaki Yoshida and the Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award in Leadership to Deng Li and Andresa Lima. These awards recognized students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and academic achievement.
Undergraduate Awards
Undergraduate students who have achieved academic excellence were recognized at the Academic Honors Convocation, including students who received the Sears B.
Scholarships and Awards
The university also presented several scholarships and awards, including the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, the Benjamin A.
Global Network Accelerator Award
The university also recognized faculty members who have made significant contributions to their fields through the Global Network Accelerator Award. The award recognized three faculty members who have spanned disciplines, colleges, campuses, countries, and industry sectors while exhibiting the best of Northeasternâs mission.
- Oliver Ayers, associate professor of history
- K.J. Rawson, professor of English, womenâs, gender and sexuality studies, and director of the Humanities Center
- Kirsten Saxton, professor of English, director of the Humanities Center Oakland, and the Lorry I. Lokey Endowed Chair in Ethics
University Awards
The university also presented several university awards, including the University Distinguished Professor Award, which recognized Matthew Miller as a leading expert in injury and violence prevention. The Graduate Education For Minorities (GEM) Ph.D. Engineering Fellowship was also presented to Nazira Cisse, which promotes opportunities to enter industry in high-level technical careers at the nationâs top engineering and science firms and universities.
Awards Ceremony
The Academic Honors Convocation was a lively and celebratory event, with music provided by the Northeastern Wind Ensemble. The event also featured a speech by Joseph E. Aoun, the president of Northeastern University, who highlighted the achievements of the university community and expressed his appreciation for the honorees.
