Naima Kaabouch named Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor
UND president, provost present professor with UND’s highest academic honor
Naima Kaabouch was in for a surprise when UND President Andrew Armacost and Provost Eric Link entered the CEM dean’s office on Thursday morning.
Kaabouch named Chester Fritz Distinguished Professors — UND’s highest academic honor — joining an exclusive club of faculty lauded for their excellence in teaching, research and service. Recipients are selected via a panel of nine UND professors, who consider letters of nomination from deans and fellow professors, among other factors, in rendering a decision.
UND Provost Eric Link (left), and President Andrew Armacost inform Naima Kaabouch of her selection as a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor. Photo by Mike Hess/UND.
“This is to honor you — you were nominated as a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor!” Armacost said to Kaabouch, professor in the School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science within UND’s College of Engineering & Mines, as well as director of UND’s Artificial Intelligence Research Initiative.
Thrilled and humbled by the announcement, Kaabouch thanked her colleagues and UND administrators for creating such a positive work environment.
“I really appreciate the recognition, and the support of UND, Brian (Tande) and the College (of Engineering & Mines),” she said. “That’s why I am happy to work here, and I am still here after 18 years. I cannot think about moving from here, just because of all the support and collaboration I am receiving.”
A leading authority on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, Kaabouch has published many award-winning academic publications, and according to Link, has secured more than $35 million in research funding during her 18-year tenure at UND.
Brian Tande, dean of the College of Engineering & Mines, added that Kaabouch is the first female professor from the college to receive the honor.
The level of admiration felt by Kaabouch’s colleagues toward her is reciprocal.
Numerous faculty members within the College of Engineering & Mines, and UND’s National Security Initiative, authored letters of nomination for her award. Among them was Mark Askelson, associate vice president for Research-National Security.
“I have experienced numerous blessings in my life, and Dr. Kaabouch is one of them,” wrote Askelson in his letter of nomination. “Dr. Kaabouch is one of the key talented and wonderful people to whom I owe a great debt. Through our collaborations on projects, Dr. Kaabouch has performed outstanding and brilliant work, deepening the respect stakeholders have for UND.”
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Written by Joe Banish // UND Today
