Distinguished Professor Award Recipients
Dr. Rafael Hernández
Professor and Department Head of Chemical Engineering
Interim Department Head of Petroleum Engineering
Associate Director of the Energy Institute of Louisiana
College of Engineering
J. Madison Nelson Board of Regents Professorship
Contractors Educational Trust Board of Regents Professorship
Dr. Rafael Hernández is a Distinguished Professor Award Recipient for the Eminent Faculty Awards. He is the department head and a professor for the Department of Chemical Engineering, as well as the interim department head for the Department of Petroleum Engineering. He holds the J. Madison Nelson Board of Regents Professorship in Chemical Engineering as well as the Contractors Educational Trust Board of Regents Professorship in Petroleum Engineering. He also serves as the Associate Executive Director of the Energy Institute of Louisiana and the Director of the Chemicals and Fuels Development Center.
Dr. Hernández’s research has allowed for significant advancements in the fields of chemical and petroleum engineering, including his research exploring the ability to convert wastewater into sustainable sources of biofuel as well as the development of a catalyst to remove sulfur from natural gas. His research and leadership have advanced collaborations across academia, industry, and government, supporting the development of sustainable technologies and workforce-ready graduates.
Dr. Beth Stauffer
Associate Professor of Biology
Ray P. Authement College of Sciences
SLEMCO Board of Regents Professorship in Science II
Dr. Beth Stauffer is a Distinguished Professor Award Recipient for the Eminent Faculty Awards. She is an associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences and holds the SLEMCO Board of Regents Professorship in Science II. She is nationally regarded for her research investigating how changes in aquatic environments – driven by human impacts, changing climate, and extreme events – affect phytoplankton communities and the food webs that rely on them. Her work also directly impacts the state of Louisiana and its coastal ecology and economy, including research in conjunction with state government agencies to develop low-salinity tolerant populations of Louisiana oysters.
On campus, Dr. Stauffer is committed to mentoring students at all levels. She led the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at the university, which is funded by the National Science Foundation and aimed to support active research participation by undergraduate students. The REU program also helped to introduce the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the research efforts of its faculty to a broad base of students. She has also mentored several doctoral and graduate students who have gone on to make their own significant contributions in the field.