The Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) announced the recipients of the 2026 Research Excellence, Teaching Excellence and Leadership Excellence Awards on Tuesday.
Muhammad Azhan, president of GPSS and a fourth-year PhD candidate in chemistry, explained the competitive selection process.
“This year, we set a record with 171 nominations, which left the GPSS awards committee with some very challenging choices to make,” Azhan said.
The GPSS awards committee reviewed 75 nominations for the Research Excellence Award, 56 for the Teaching Excellence Award and 40 for the Leadership Excellence Award.
Azhan first introduced the Research Excellence Award and the winners.
“These winners have shared their research through invited talks, conferences and publications, many of which have gone on to receive multiple awards in their fields,” Azhan said. “Many of these winners have mentored young researchers and collaborated across disciplines in ways that enhance innovation and research.”
Applications for the GPSS Research Excellence Award were evaluated based on the quality and rigor of scholarly work and evidence of research productivity. They demonstrated a contribution to advancing knowledge within the discipline.
The 2026 Research Excellence Award recipients:
- Michael Sekyere
- Chengzhe Liu, a graduate student studying business and technology.
- Taimoor Ul Islam, a graduate student studying electrical and computer engineering.
- Kunle Sunday Oguntoye, a graduate student studying the intersection of civil infrastructure asset management and computer science.
- Usman Gohar, a graduate student studying computer science.
Azhan then introduced the Teaching Excellence Award and the winners.
“Their mentors and students spoke highly of their passion for teaching and the engaging approaches they have employed in their classrooms,” Azhan said. “Many of these winners have expanded their teaching beyond the classroom into community initiatives and summer programming for high school students.”
Applications for the GPSS Teaching Excellence Award were evaluated through a structured review process based on instructional effectiveness, sustained commitment to teaching, mentorship and impact on student learning.
The 2026 Teaching Excellence Award recipients:
- Naifa Saeed Alqahtani
- Zahra Falsafi, a graduate student studying apparel merchandising and design.
- Nathan Vinehout Kane, a graduate student studying creative writing and environment.
- Belange Mutunda, graduate student studying apparel merchandising and design.
- Wren Bouwman, a graduate student studying applied linguistics and technology.
Azhan went on to introduce the Leadership Excellence award and the winners.
“These individuals are not only scholars, but builders of community, advocates for progress and catalysts for meaningful change,” Azhan said. “They lead with integrity, resilience and purpose and inspire others to contribute, collaborate and create lasting impact.”
Applications for the GPSS Leadership Excellence award were evaluated based on demonstrated leadership involvement and sustained exemplary service to the department, university and broader community.
The 2026 Leadership Excellence award recipients:
- Wren Bouwman, a graduate student, studying applied linguistics and technology.
- Nathan Vinehout Kane, a graduate student studying creative writing and environment.
- Rachel E. Block, a graduate student studying psychology.
- Morgan Ostrander, a third-year student studying veterinary medicine.
- Natasha N. Lambert, a graduate student studying human-computer interaction.
Each awardee will receive a $250 scholarship in recognition of their contributions.
Erin Conlan, GPSS advisor and Graduate Student Success Specialist, gave closing remarks to the room.
“It takes all of us to put on such an event,” Conlan said. “All of the committee members, everyone who participated in the conference, everyone who voted, showed up and presented. We really want to make sure that we recognize all of the amazing work that our graduate students at Iowa State University are doing. You are exceptional students, and we want to make sure that this event shows that.”
