Purpose
This award was established in 1978 by Dr. William H. Byler, senior vice president for research, U.S. Radium Corp., for recognition of outstanding abilities, performance and character.
Award
Up to two individuals will be given the annual award which will include an amount of $3,000, less applicable taxes.
Eligibility
Open to all full-time faculty throughout the MU campus
Nomination and Submission
This section outlines who can nominate individuals for this award and what to include in the nomination packet. As you prepare packets, please keep the purpose of the award and any listed criteria in mind. In many cases, there are length guidelines in place for packet components (e.g., include a letter of nomination that is no longer than 2 pages, double-spaced). The overall length of a packet is not of importance to the selection committee – the focus should instead be on providing convincing evidence of the nominee’s accomplishments and contributions. An unsuccessful nomination packet may be updated and resubmitted up to three times within a 5-year period, per award (i.e., Professor Truman the Tiger is not selected in the first year the packet is submitted and can now be resubmitted for the same award two more times within the next 4 years).
Who can Nominate for this Award:
Faculty colleagues, students, departments, schools/colleges, or recognized campus organizations may nominate individuals.
What to Include in the Nomination Packet for this Award:
- Submission Requirements Form
- Nomination/Cover Letter (limited to 2 double-spaced pages)
- Describe how the nominee meets the criteria of outstanding abilities, performance and character.
- Supporting letters (limited to three) (each letter limited to 2 double-spaced pages) must include opinions of prominent people in the nominee’s discipline, within or outside the university
- Nominee’s personal philosophy of teaching statement (limited to 2 double-spaced pages)
- Nominee’s curriculum vitae (limited to most recent 5 years)
Submission Process and Deadline:
The annual deadline for this award is January 15 (due the following business day when falls on a weekend or holiday).
Nomination packets for this award must be submitted by the Divisional Dean, who may establish an earlier deadline. The Divisional Dean will submit the nomination packet as a single PDF attachment via email to UMCProvostAwards@missouri.edu. The PDF file should be named as follows: YearByler_LastFirst (e.g., 2026Byler_TigerTruman)
Please contact us at UMCProvostAwards@missouri.edu with any questions.
Past Recipients
- 2025 Dawn Cornelison, Biological Science
- 2024 Melissa Stormont, Special Education
- 2023 Rafael Gely, Law
- 2022 Rex Cocroft, Biological Science
- 2021 Keith Herman, Educational, School & Counseling Psychology
- 2020 Erica Lembke, Special Education
- 2019 Michael Budds, Music
- 2018 Jamie Flink, Strategic Communication
- 2017 Donald Burke-Aguero, Life Science
- 2016 Janine Stichter, Special Education
- 2015 R. Lee Lyman, Anthropology
- 2014 Theodore Koditschek, History
- 2013 Stephen Anderson, Soil, Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences
- 2012 Josephine Stealey, Art
- 2011 Carol Gilles, Learning, Teaching & Curriculum
- 2010 Ian Worthington, History
- 2009 Paul Weirich, Philosophy
- 2008 Bede Clarke, Art
- 2007 Richard Robinson, Learning, Teaching, & Curriculum
- 2006 J. David Robertson, Chemistry
- 2005 Rebecca Johnson, Nursing
- 2004 Timothy Materer, English
- 2003 Grace Y. Sun, Biochemistry and Pathology & Anatomical Sciences (joint appt)
- 2002 James Wall, Management
- 2001 Leonard Riskin, Law
- 2000 Greeley A. Kyle, Broadcast-News
- 1999 Howard Fulweiler, English and Judy Wall, Biochemistry
- 1998 John Kultgen, Philosophy
- 1997 Karl D. Nolph, Internal Medicine
- 1996 James D. Atwater, Journalism and Charles Timberlake, History
- 1995 Kim S. Wise, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
- 1994 Arvarh Strickland, History (D)
- 1993 Douglas Randall, Biochemistry
- 1992 Carla R. Waal, Theatre
- 1991 W. Raymond Wood, Anthropology
- 1990 Abraham Eisenstark, Biological Sciences
- 1989 William A. Berry, Art (D)
- 1988 Joye Patterson, Journalism and Philip Hung-Sun Jen, Biological Sciences
- 1987 Susan L. Flader, History
- 1986 Donald Kausler, Psychology (D) and Ben F. Nelms, Curriculum and Instruction
- 1985 Thomas Alexander, History (D) and Sudarshan K. Loyalka, Nuclear Engineering
- 1984 Richard G. Hoft, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- 1983 Billy N. Day, Animal Sciences and Richard A. Watson, Political Science
- 1982 Lawrence T. Rugolo, Art
- 1981 Arthur Kalleberg, Political Science (D)
- 1980 Noble E. Cunningham, History (D)
- 1979 John R. Roberts, English