Three renowned scholars from the University of Michigan, recipients of the Distinguished University Professorship, will share insights from their careers on February 11 at the Michigan Union, Rogel Ballroom. Christian Davenport, Sergey Fomin, and Anna Stefanopoulou will each present their work, followed by Q&A sessions from 4 to 6 p.m. Open to the public, this event will also be available via livestream.
Recognized by the Board of Regents, Davenport and Stefanopoulou received their titles in 2025, while Fomin was honored in 2024. Established in 1947, the Distinguished University Professorship celebrates senior faculty’s scholarly achievements and excellence in teaching, mentoring, and service. Honorees name their professorships after distinguished individuals in their fields and deliver an inaugural lecture sharing their professional journeys.
Below is a summary of each honoree’s career and their upcoming presentations:
Christian Davenport
Lecture: “Rebels, Repressors, Regular Folk and Me: A 30 Year Reflection of the last 75 years (in 20 Minutes)”
Christian Davenport, the Charles Tilly Distinguished University Professor of Political Science, holds additional roles in AfroAmerican and African Studies and Public Policy at U-M. A leader in studying state and non-state coercion, his work spans five books and over 50 articles, exploring global patterns of political conflict, including in the U.S., India, and Northern Ireland.
A recipient of 12 National Science Foundation grants, Davenport’s research has influenced academia, governments, and civil society globally. He’s collaborating with artist Rick Lowe for an exhibition at the U-M Museum of Art and exploring “Political Love.” His lecture will delve into political conflict, violence, and their impacts, synthesizing quantitative, qualitative, and artistic analyses from the past 75 years.
Sergey Fomin
Lecture: “Weave Patterns and Projective Geometry”
Sergey Fomin, the Richard P. Stanley Distinguished University Professor of Mathematics, joined U-M after a tenure at MIT. His significant contributions include the theory of cluster algebras, developed with Andrei Zelevinsky, which has applications across various fields and earned the Steele Prize from the American Mathematical Society.
Fomin is recognized for his research, teaching, and mentorship, contributing to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the AMS. His presentation will explore the connection between interlacing weave patterns and projective geometry.
Anna Stefanopoulou
Lecture: “Battery Middle Life Crisis and Decisions”
Anna Stefanopoulou, the Huei Peng Distinguished University Professor of Mechanical Engineering, has pioneered research in fuel cell and battery control. After earning her Ph.D. from U-M, she established a leading research group, influencing U.S. and international energy policies.
Her work with digital twins of propulsion systems and battery models has impacted the U.S. Department of Justice and the DOE’s National Blueprint for Lithium Batteries. Stefanopoulou’s lecture will address battery durability and safety, showcasing how digital twins manage battery health from manufacture to end-of-life, guiding decisions on repairing, replacing, and recycling.
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