News

Nine Faculty Named 2026 Bass Chairs

Awarding excellence in research and undergraduate teaching

Nine faculty members were named 2026 Bass Chairs this spring, joining the Bass Society of Fellows. This prestigious distinction honors faculty whose teaching and research exemplify Duke’s commitment to undergraduate education.

The new chairs were celebrated during a reception at the Washington Duke Inn. President Vincent Price, Provost Alec Gallimore, and Vice Provost Lee D. Baker delivered remarks acknowledging the qualities that define Bass Fellows, congratulating this year’s recipients, and thanking the Bass family for their enduring support.

"As Bass fellows, you have an important role to play in maintaining the unique culture of teaching excellence that we have here at Duke," said Provost Gallimore. "I thank you for your contribution to that culture, and I look forward to seeing it continue to grow."

The Bass Society of Fellows was established in 1996 through a $10 million donation from Anne T. and Robert Bass. The program supports faculty who demonstrate excellence in research and undergraduate teaching. Fellows hold a named professorship for five years and retain lifetime membership in the society. Throughout the year, fellows organize opportunities to exchange innovative ideas and experiences, with a particular emphasis on excellence in undergraduate teaching.

"In some respects, being a Bass fellow, this is one of the most significant honors I’ve received because it celebrates those who refuse to choose," said Vice Provost Baker. "Being a Bass Chair reflects excellence in both research and teaching."

2026 Bass Chairs

Pratt School of Engineering

Jessilyn Dunn, Theodore Kennedy Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering

In addition to being a groundbreaking scholar in “wearable” technologies, Dunn is a committed undergraduate teacher even outside of the traditional classroom. She leads numerous Data+ and Bass Connections teams while mentoring dozens of undergraduates in her lab. Dunn is an exceptional instructor who brings the best out of her students.

Maria Gorlatova, Sternberg Family Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

An innovator in the field, she works with wearable augmented reality technologies and their novel applications, such as assisting with neurosurgery. Gorlatova impressively reinvigorates the curricula of her courses, employs real-world applications of core concepts, and regularly mentors students to be lead authors on research papers. Her pedagogy, combined with her work with the Karsh STEM+ program, reflects her dedication to Duke students while maintaining a cutting-edge research portfolio.

Sanford School of Public Policy

Simon Miles, Kevin D. Gorter Associate Professor of Public Policy

An international expert in the Cold War, military strategy, diplomacy, and statecraft, Miles translates his research into impactful undergraduate courses that are popular, challenging, and engaging. He brings in speakers from highly selective and sensitive special operations units while modeling healthy discussion and dialogue that creates an “open and inquisitive environment” for learning. Students comment in evaluations that they look forward to class despite its demanding and complex nature. Such reactions speak to Miles’ outstanding skill not only as a scholar, but also as a teacher.

Trinity College of Arts and Sciences

David Berger, Sally Dalton Robinson Professor of Economics

Berger’s research includes studying housing, labor, and how macroeconomic theory can help us understand economic and social trends and shocks. His research productivity is impressive, regularly publishing in the field’s top five journals. Students highlight his ability to connect course material with real-world challenges, including local ones. He takes students on walking tours across Durham, where Berger dives into the city’s history of redlining and urban renewal. Berger’s passion for teaching is transformative for his students and raises the caliber of undergraduate engagement in the Department of Economics at large.

Lauren Ginsberg, Kiser Family Associate Professor of Classical Studies.

Ginsberg is a nationally recognized scholar of Roman history and ancient civilization and demonstrates an exceptional pedagogical imagination and commitment to student-centered learning. Students describe Ginsberg’s courses as revelatory and intellectually rigorous. Evaluations repeatedly describe her courses as “demanding yet deeply rewarding, emphasizing her clarity, enthusiasm, and ability to make complex material accessible without sacrificing nuance.” She was recently celebrated by the Arts & Sciences Council with a 2025 Undergraduate Teaching Award.

Kimberly Lamm, Gilhuly Family Associate Professor of Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies

Lamm has made a big impact while teaching smaller classes in a smaller department, with her reach extending beyond the classroom. She helped establish the Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies Student Union and organizes film screenings and brown bag lunches. Her highly successful course offerings have been at the center of the department’s efforts to reach new student constituencies and to make apparent the connections with other fields.

Debmalya Panigrahi, Bishop-MacDermott Family Professor of Computer Science

Panigrahi is among the foremost theoretical computer scientists of his generation, with research focusing on graph algorithms and algorithms under uncertainty. His teaching load includes large courses such as COMPSCI 330, which students describe as "difficult but rewarding." Panigrahi has taught more than 1,500 Duke undergraduates over the past decade, consistently earning outstanding evaluations in large, demanding courses. He has been recognized twice as one of the top 5% of instructors at Trinity College, and many students note that his teaching transformed their perception of theoretical computer science and strengthened their analytical reasoning skills.

Herman Pontzer, Jerry G. and Patricia Crawford Hubbard Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology

Pontzer has renowned contributions in understanding cardiometabolic disease and how behaviors shape overall health and body composition. He has had a significant impact on pedagogy while teaching more undergraduate courses with high enrollment than other faculty in his department. Students describe Pontzer’s classes as engaging and exciting as he approaches course content from a diverse range of perspectives to promote interaction from students of all backgrounds, life experiences, and learning styles. His department chair noted that his “commitment to undergraduate pedagogy is remarkable for a scientist of his stature and productivity.”

Candis Watts Smith, Robert O. Keohane Professor of Political Science

Smith is an exceptional teacher, top-ranked scholar, prolific author, and public intellectual. Her scholarship highlights the role of race and ethnicity in shaping the American political landscape. The chair of the department wrote, “Professor Watts Smith creates the conditions under which students take intellectual risks, refine arguments, listen carefully, and learn how to disagree productively—skills at the core of political science and of democratic citizenship.” Students comment that her teaching helps broaden their perspectives, equips them with stronger analytical tools, and forges a deeper capacity to connect political concepts to the world around them. Her commitment to undergraduate teaching is deeply evident throughout her career.