Wynn joins ranks of CU distinguished professors

The CU Board of Regents named six CU faculty members distinguished professors Thursday morning, the most prestigious honor for faculty at the university.

Thomas Wynn, professor, Department of Anthropology, was one of the six and the only UCCS faculty member selected. Three of the six faculty members  received their recognition during the CU Board of Regents meeting Thursday in Berger Hall.

“Tom Wynn is a legendary faculty member,” Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak said during the presentation. “He has provided extraordinary service of extraordinarily high quality. We believe Dr. Wynn represents the best of what the University of Colorado is.”

Wynn shared an estimated 300,000 year old hand axe with the regents before accepting the award and giving brief remarks.

“40 years ago, my archeology colleagues thought I was on the lunatic fringe for pursuing this idea of cognitive archeology,” Wynn said. “I am fortunate to have landed at UCCS. The university has supported me and the importance of interdisciplinary research.”

Wynn is recognized as one of the founders of the field of cognitive archaeology which studies the evolutionary development of cognition in humans and other primates through the lenses of psychology, anthropology and philosophy. Since 1977 as a faculty member at UCCS, Wynn distinguished himself in teaching, research and service, while also serving in several administrative posts. He is credited with establishing the UCCS archaeology curriculum and its first field course. He has published extensively and continues to teach.

A campus reception for Wynn is scheduled for 4 p.m. Dec. 10 in University Center 303. Confirmation of attendance is requested by Dec. 5 to [email protected].

Wynn is the fifth UCCS faculty member to receive the distinguished professor honors. Others include current faculty members Robert Camley, Physics Department, Donald Klingner, School of Public Affairs, and Tom Pyszczynksi, Psychology Department. Former faculty member Dan Cougar, College of Business, also received the honor.

Other honorees recognized Thursday were:

Daniel Baker, professor, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Science, CU- Boulder. As director of LASP, one of the world’s premier space sciences organizations, for two decades, Baker has ensured that hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students engage in hands-on research and learning unique to CU-Boulder. His scholarly publications have demonstrated great influence in the space sciences community, and his voice is highly respected in the development of space policy at the federal level. His research and management successes have earned him several awards nationally and at CU.

Daniel J. Scheeres, professor and A. Richard Seebass Endowed Chair in the Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research, CU-Boulder. Scheeres is an international leader in astrodynamics and celestial mechanics; he is currently the gravity science team lead for NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, which focuses on collecting samples from an asteroid and returning them to Earth. Professor Scheeres has published extensively in the fields of astrodynamics, dynamical astronomy and celestial mechanics. He coordinates the Smead Fellows program, supporting outstanding junior faculty and doctoral students in aerospace engineering sciences at CU. A Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the American Astronautical Society, he has an asteroid named in his honor.

Those who did not attend the meeting but named distinguished professor were:

Kurt G. Beam, professor, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, CU Anschutz Medical Campus. His research focuses on unlocking the mechanisms of electrical signals in nerve and muscle cells, as well as understanding mutations that hinder function and cause disease. Beam’s work has shown significant influence, with one discovery contributing to the removal of a widely used antibacterial chemical from soaps and personal care products. His exemplary approach to discovery science, training and service benefit faculty and students across several departments, divisions, centers and programs at CU Anschutz. His scientific contributions have garnered him numerous awards, including election to the National Academy of Sciences. Each year, the recognition goes to faculty members who demonstrate exemplary performance in research or creative work, a record of excellence in classroom teaching and supervision of individual learning, and outstanding service to the profession, university and its affiliates.

Kris Gutiérrez, professor, Educational Psychology and Learning Sciences, and Literacy, School of Education, CU-Boulder.  Professor Gutiérrez is a member of the National Academy of Education and holds the Inaugural Provost’s Chair at CU-Boulder. Her groundbreaking interdisciplinary work on sociocultural theories of learning and their applications in literacy, bilingual education and science education is known nationally and internationally. Such praised research has led to the reorganization of classroom spaces to promote consequential learning and engagement for students from nondominant communities. She has received distinguished teaching and mentoring awards from UCLA and CU-Boulder, where she also earned her doctorate.

Leslie Leinwand, professor, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, chief scientific officer for BioFrontiers Institute, CU-Boulder. Her research opens the door to the possibility of personalized treatment for heart disease. As an international leader in the study of the molecules involved in muscle contraction and their role in the development of heart disease and other muscle diseases, Professor Leinwand has shown that the mechanisms of heart disease differ between males and females and that the genetic risk of the disease is impacted by gender and diet. She maintains a strong commitment to teaching and training, and is influential nationally in the shaping of biomedical research policies and focus.

CU President Bruce D. Benson reviewed nominations from CU’s campuses; with the recommendation of a committee of distinguished professors, he forwarded the candidates’ names to the Board of Regents, which voted in favor of the nominees.

With these six new designees, the number of CU Distinguished Professors is 79. The program was established in 1977.

— Jay Dedrick, University Relations, Office of the President, contributed to this article.

— Photos by Jeff Foster, UCCS University Communications and Media Relations.