WPI Announces 2026 Faculty Promotions and Tenure Decisions

Worcester Polytechnic Institute has awarded promotions and/or tenure to 37 full-time faculty members in recognition of their exemplary teaching, research, and service, effective July 1, 2026. “These promotions, as well as the awarding of tenure, recognize members of the WPI faculty for the outstanding contributions they have made through their teaching, advising, research, and scholarship,” says Andrew Sears, WPI provost. “They are excellent teachers, internationally recognized scholars, and respected representatives of our community. I am delighted to congratulate them.” Joseph Aguilar was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor of teaching in the Department of Humanities and Arts. Francesca Bernardi was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Jun Dai, an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science, was awarded tenure. Lindsay Davis was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor of teaching in the Department of Humanities and Arts. Corey Dehner, an associate professor of teaching in The Global School, was awarded tenure. Mohammed El Hamzaoui was promoted to senior instructor in the Department of Humanities and Arts. Katherine Foo was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor of teaching in The Global School. Fatemeh Ganji was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Rudra Kafle, an associate professor of teaching in the Department of Physics, was awarded tenure. Kyumin Lee was promoted to professor in the Department of Computer Science. Shichao Liu was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering. Xiaozhong Liu was promoted to professor in the Department of Computer Science. Ingrid Matos-Nin, a professor of teaching in the Department of Humanities and Arts, was awarded tenure. Stephen McCauley, an associate professor of teaching in The Global School, was awarded tenure. Rebecca Moody was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor of teaching in the Department of Humanities and Arts. Randy Paffenroth was promoted to professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Guanying Peng was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Barry Posterro was promoted to teaching professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Adam Powell was promoted to professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. Pratap Rao was promoted to professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. Dina Rassias was promoted to associate teaching professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Daniel Reichman was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor in the Department of Computer Science. Adam Sales was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Gillian Smith was promoted to professor in the Department of Computer Science. Gbetonmasse Somasse, an associate professor of teaching in the Department of Social Science and Policy Studies, was awarded tenure. Qingshuo Song was promoted to professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Alex Sphar was promoted to associate teaching professor in The Global School. Jagan Srinivasan was promoted to professor in the Department of Biology and Biotechnology. Izabela Stroe, an associate professor of teaching in the Department of Physics, was awarded tenure. Xiaoyan (Sherry) Sun, an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science, was awarded tenure. Shubbhi Taneja was promoted to associate teaching professor in the Department of Computer Science. Bo Tang, an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was awarded tenure. Geoffrey Tompsett was promoted to associate teaching professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. James Urban was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering. Qi Wen was promoted to professor in the Department of Physics. Zhongqiang Zhang was promoted to professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Yihao Zheng was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.