From 1972 to 1995, the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ System Board of Regents awarded Regents' Professorships and Regents' Merit Awards. The Professorships were given to distinguished senior faculty and the Merit Awards were presented to outstanding junior faculty. With the transition to The Texas State University System, these recognitions changed and today are known as the University Professor and Merit Awards programs.
In 2025, Lamar awarded the twenty-nineth University Professor and Merit honorees.
Dr. Kaye Shelton, Professor of Educational Leadership, received the 2025 University Professor Award. University Professorships are awarded for life and carry a $2,500 honorarium.
University Merit Awards include a stipend of $1,000, and the 2025 recipients are:
Dr. Karen Saar, Assistant Professor of Speech and Hearing Sciences
Dr. Anna Jilla, Assistant Professor of Speech and Hearing Sciences
Dr. Kole Kubicek, Assistant Professor of Biology
The selection guidelines, criteria, calendar, and resume format for this year's University Professor/Merit Award selection are found below for your information and consideration.