Story by Sarah Salmons

The University of Missouri College of Education & Human Development is recognizing a remarkable group of faculty members whose scholarship is transforming lives in Missouri and around the globe. 

Effective July 1, three faculty members have been named to endowed faculty appointments, recognizing sustained excellence in research, teaching and leadership. In addition, six early-career researchers have been selected to receive the 2026-27 Nentwig Faculty Excellence Awards, honoring faculty whose innovative scholarship is shaping the future of education, health and human development. 

As a whole, this year’s honorees are improving schools and communities, advancing artificial intelligence and digital humanities, strengthening mental health supports for children and families, expanding educational opportunities for immigrant and refugee communities, improving sleep and cardiovascular health, supporting students with disabilities and helping educators better serve learners across Missouri and around the world. 

“These faculty members exemplify the transformative impact of research that improves lives,” said Dean Kui Xie. “Their work reaches far beyond our campus and reflects our college’s commitment to advancing knowledge that strengthens education, health and communities.” 

2026 Endowed Faculty Appointments

Francis Huang 

Isabelle Wade Lyda and Paul C. Lyda Professor 

An internationally recognized scholar in research methodology and school climate, Francis Huang has become one of the most influential voices in his field. His work has been cited more than 7,000 times and has contributed to more than $26 million in funded research over the past five years. Beyond his prolific scholarship, Huang is a sought-after collaborator, mentor and journal editor whose research has been featured by national media including The New York Times, NPR and The Washington Post. Last fall, he expanded his international impact as a visiting professor at the Education University of Hong Kong.  

The Isabelle Wade Lyda and Paul C. Lyda Professorship was established through an estate gift from Isabelle Wade Lyda (BA ’12, BSEd ’21, MA ’35).  

Emily Crawford-Rossi 

Charles H. Koelling, Ed.D. Faculty Fellow  

Emily Crawford-Rossi’s scholarship is helping educational leaders better serve immigrant and refugee communities while strengthening educational policy across Missouri. Her research has earned national recognition through books and publications with leading academic presses and journals, while her leadership as director of graduate studies has helped foster student success and faculty collaboration. Her partnerships with state education leaders have also helped secure important initiatives that expand opportunities for adult learners across Missouri.   

The Charles H. Koelling, Ed.D. Faculty Fellowship was generously established by Karen (BSEd ’71, MA ’75) and Thomas Weaver (BSBA ’72, MBA ’73) in honor of Charles Koelling (BA ’50, Med ’53, Ed.D. ’58).  

Mary Adu-Gyamfi   

Bess Schooling Outstanding Professor in Elementary Education   

Known for excellence in both the classroom and scholarship, Mary Adu-Gyamfi is dedicated to improving teaching and learning for children and families. Her innovative work in elementary education has earned national recognition, including the Francis P. Hunkins Award for distinguished scholarship on teaching. Students consistently praise her engaging instruction, while her research continues to influence best practices for educators through peer-reviewed publications and books.  

The Bess Schooling Outstanding Professor in Elementary Education was established by an estate gift from the late Herbert W. Schooling (MA ’40, Ed.D. ’54) to honor his wife, Bess.  

2026-27 Nentwig Faculty Excellence Award Recipients 

Established through the generosity of CEHD alumna Kim Nentwig (BSEd ‘89), the Nentwig Faculty Excellence Awards recognize outstanding early-career faculty members whose research demonstrates exceptional promise and impact.

Tanushree Sarkar  

Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis   

Tanushree Sarkar is emerging as a leading scholar at the intersection of disability studies, comparative education and education policy. Her award-winning research explores educational equity and inclusion across global contexts, earning recognition from national and international organizations while laying the foundation for an ambitious externally funded research agenda.  

Rachel Santiago   

Educational, School & Counseling Psychology    

Rachel Santiago’s research strengthens family-school-community partnerships to improve children’s mental health. Her rapidly growing body of scholarship has been recognized with a Journal of School Psychology Article of the Year Award, while her nearly $6 million in funded research reflects a commitment to developing evidence-based solutions that benefit youth and families nationwide. 

Eunjin Tracy   

Human Development & Family Science 

Eunjin Tracy is advancing understanding of how sleep, relationships and stress influence lifelong health. Using innovative research methods, her work examines how family dynamics affect cardiovascular disease, diabetes management and mental health, positioning her as a rising national leader in biopsychosocial health research. 

Yeji Kim    

Learning, Teaching & Curriculum 

Yeji Kim’s scholarship centers on social justice and community engagement. Her nationally recognized research not only informs the field through dozens of publications and competitive grants but also creates meaningful opportunities for young people and families through initiatives like the BASE Summer Camp, empowering Asian and Asian American youth to explore their history, identity and leadership. 

Wenyi Shang     

School of Information Science & Learning Technologies 

Blending history, literature and artificial intelligence, Wenyi Shang is redefining digital humanities research. His work uses machine learning, natural language processing and data visualization to uncover new insights into historical and literary questions while preparing future librarians to become collaborative research partners in an increasingly digital world. 

Angus Kittelman      

Special Education 

Angus Kittelman is helping schools better support students through research on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), teacher retention and innovative interventions for adolescents. With more than $8 million in grant funding and national leadership in special education research, his work is improving educational outcomes for students across Missouri and beyond. 

Celebrating excellence across the college

Together, this year’s endowed faculty appointees and Nentwig Faculty Excellence Award recipients reflect the extraordinary depth of talent within the college.  

Whether developing the next generation of educational leaders, advancing artificial intelligence in the humanities, strengthening schools and communities, improving health outcomes or expanding opportunities for learners of all ages, these faculty members embody CEHD’s mission to transform lives through research, teaching and service.