The real reward of writing, according to Professor Chinelo Okparanta, English, is sharing stories that connect us in meaningful ways.

As Professor Erin Jablonski, chemical engineering, pursued her education and career in a male-dominated field, she has paid careful attention to factors that could undermine student success in grades K-12.

Professor Neil Boyd, management, teaches his students that organizational sustainability must balances three bottom lines: financial, environmental and social.

Professor Erica Delsandro , women's & gender studies, routinely shakes up her students' understanding of social constructs such as race, gender and sexuality — often by helping them view the world through the lens of literature produced in the late-19th and early-20th centuries.

As a professor of history and Africana studies, Beeta Baghoolizadeh teaches her students that even official records have an editorial viewpoint that has been curated to emphasize some facts and leave out others.

Professor Sarah Lower, biology, studies the connections between the genetics of fireflies and the history of their evolution in different environments.

Professor Thomas Kinnaman, economics, isn’t afraid to challenge prevailing beliefs about environmental issues and policies, even if the data contradicts popular pro-environmental opinion.

Professor Kate Suslava, management, who once planned to study Italian dialects as a graduate student, merges linguistics and management in her current research.

Professor Matthew Slater, philosophy, studies the impact of scientific literacy on political division.

A civil engineer who studies disaster preparedness and recovery, Professor Terri Norton studies better ways to aid disaster victims during their most vulnerable times.