K-State announces 2026 University Distinguished Professor honorees
Four K-State faculty receive lifetime honorable title for contributions in research, teaching and engagement
By Abbigail Marshall
Division of Communications and Marketing
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Four Kansas State University faculty have been bestowed the lifetime title of University Distinguished Professor — the highest faculty title given by the university — in recognition of their outstanding commitment to K-State's land-grant mission, their professions and their communities.
The 2026 honorees are Marcellus Caldas, professor of geography and geospatial science in the College of Arts and Sciences; Bala Natarajan, professor of electrical and computer engineering in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering; Jeffrey Pickering, professor of political science in the College of Arts and Sciences; and Artem Rudenko, professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences.
"Drs. Caldas, Natarajan, Pickering and Rudenko are shining examples of Kansas State University at its best," said Jesse Perez Mendez, provost and executive vice president. "Their impact reaches far beyond their individual fields, strengthening who we are and where we're headed as a next-generation land-grant university."
University Distinguished Professors are appointed following a universitywide nomination and evaluation process facilitated by the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President. The four newly appointed faculty will receive a personalized plaque and medallion during K-State's fall 2026 commencement ceremonies.
