The key features of WSU Presidential Distinguished Professor Program are:
- Faculty members selected will be recognized with the title WSU Presidential Distinguished Professor, a title that will be retained throughout his or her tenure at WSU and upon retirement from WSU will carry the title WSU Presidential Distinguished Professor Emeritus.
- To be eligible to be considered for the WSU Presidential Distinguished Professor, a candidate needs to have been a member of the WSU faculty for at least five years, must be tenured, and must carry the title of full professor. Current administrators are not eligible.
- Nominees will be screened and evaluated by a selected group of senior faculty and academic administrators appointed by the Provost.
- The final selection of the awardees will be recommended by the President of the University to the Board of Trustees for approval.
- The WSU Presidential Distinguished Professor awardees will formally receive the award at the spring WSU commencement exercises.
- Each WSU Presidential Distinguished Professor awardee will receive a cash award in the total amount of $16,000, payable over four (4) years in the amount of $4,000 per year as a salary supplement or funds for professional development or research support. Payments will continue only as long as the awardee remains employed by WSU until the full $16,000 is received.
Presidential Distinguished Professors:
2011 - Brooke Arkush, Judy Elsley, Yu-Jane Yang
2010 - John Cavitt, Lauren Fowler, Edward Walker
2009 - Jim Christian, Brenda Marsteller Kowalewski, Susan Matt, Adolph Yonkee
2008 - Brad Carroll, Brian Davis
2007 - Eric Amsel, Yasmen Simonian, Michael Wutz
2006 - Craig Oberg, Gene Sessions, Samuel Zeveloff