Two faculty members were named Distinguished University Professors in recognition of their exemplary achievements in teaching, research, scholarship and professional service.
The honorary titles for Dr. Michael Boyd and Dr. Jon Elhai, both of whom are from the College of Arts and Letters, were approved Wednesday, Feb. 28, by The University of Toledo Board of Trustees.
Dr. Michael Boyd.
“Being named a Distinguished University Professor is a prestigious honor that reflects the national and international distinction these faculty members have received through their artistic and scholarly contributions,” said Dr. Scott Molitor, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “We’re proud to recognize their accomplishments and grateful for their service to the University.”
Boyd, a professor of piano, joined UToledo in 1987. He is an accomplished soloist who has widely played in the United States and abroad, including performances at the San Francisco Conservatory, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and Ionian University in Greece. He also has performed recitals in Austria, Belgium and Spain.
In 2008, Boyd was designated a “Steinway Artist,” an honor bestowed on only 1,600 pianists worldwide, and he was instrumental in helping UToledo achieve the coveted recognition of an All-Steinway School two years ago. Last year, he was named to the Steinway Music Teacher Hall of Fame.
“Each of those are really significant achievements. Becoming an All-Steinway School has been years in the making and being named to the hall of fame was kind of a personal capstone for me,” Boyd said. “To be acknowledged as a Distinguished University Professor by the institution that I’ve had such a long and close relationship with tops even that. It means a lot to me.”
Boyd holds both master’s and doctoral degrees from the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and previously served as a visiting professor at Eastman.
Dr. Jon Elhai.
Elhai, a professor of psychology who has extensively studied post-traumatic stress disorder and currently specializes on cyberpsychology and internet addictions, joined the UToledo faculty in 2009. He is the author of more than 370 scholarly publications and several books, including “Assessment and Treatment Planning for PTSD” and “The Encyclopedia of Psychological Trauma.”
Earlier this year, he was again ranked among the world’s most influential researchers by the data analytics firm Clarivate. The distinction recognizes researchers who have authored multiple papers that rank in the top 1% by citations for their field and publication year during the past decade.
Elhai, whose expertise in problematic smartphone usage has drawn international recognition, has been included in Clarivate’s list since 2021.
“I feel quite honored to be recognized as Distinguished University Professor,” he said. “Conducting research in psychology and teaching students how to conduct research are the aspects of my work that I most enjoy. I’m fortunate to receive this honor for engaging in the work I’m most passionate about, and to be supported by students and colleagues who have helped me conduct my work.”
