Four to receive the Linzer Award for Faculty Service

Four faculty — Sara Sood, Vicky Kalogera, Noriko Taira Yasohama and Ted Quiballo — have received the 2026 Daniel I. Linzer Award for Faculty Excellence in Service.

Given annually by Northwestern’s Office of the Provost, the award celebrates individuals who have performed extraordinary service that has had a positive impact on the University as an institution and on the members of the University community.

The four honorees will be honored at a reception on Feb 16. The recognition comes with a $5,000 award.

Sara Sood

Sara Sood is a professor of instruction, the Chookaszian Family Teaching Professor and associate chair for undergraduate education in the McCormick School of Engineering.

Sood is recognized for her extensive leadership of undergraduate operations and initiatives in the computer science department, as well as her mentorship of fellow teaching track faculty. Sood played a critical role in leading the launch of the new interdisciplinary AI minor. She’s been praised by students for her support and mentorship in and out of the classroom.

Vicky Kalogera

Vicky Kalogera is the Daniel I. Linzer Distinguished University Professor in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

Kalogera has performed extensive service to the University through various committees and interdisciplinary efforts both as a member and chair, going back to co-chairing the committee that led to establishment of the research computing facility Quest, and most recently Program Review Council, the Honorary Degrees Committee, the President’s Advisory Committee on Free Expression and Institutional Speech, the Provost Search Committee, and the Data Science and AI Steering Committee. Kalogera also leads the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) and the newly founded NSF-Simons AI Institute for the Sky (SkAI Institute).

Noriko Taira Yasohama

Noriko Taira Yasohama is a professor of instruction and co-director of the Weinberg Language Resource Center.

Yasohama’s service includes her leadership as director of the Asian Language Programs from 2013-2023, during which time she led transformations of language curriculum and policies. She is also honored for her university-wide contribution as co-chair of the Council on Language Instruction, chair of the Language Proficiency Committee and co-director of the Language Resource Center.

Ted Quiballo

Ted Quiballo is an instructional technologies librarian in Northwestern University Libraries.

He received nominations from across Northwestern highlighting his ongoing efforts to help students, faculty and staff better leverage technology in the classroom. He has played a significant role in the MakerLab and video production studio in the University Libraries/Mudd Library.