Eleven Finalists Named for Judith Deckers Prize

Award recognizes those who go above and beyond in helping students

A collage of headshots

This is a summary of a story on The Office of Undergraduate Education.

The 11 finalists for Duke University’s 2026 Judith Deckers Prize represent chemistry, marine conservation, political science, psychology, language studies, international affairs, economics, photography, and neurology. 

The annual award recognizes faculty members whose impact on undergraduates extends beyond the classroom, honoring educators who inspire, challenge, and mentor students in meaningful ways. 

Selected from a pool of 125 nominations, this year’s finalists are Stephen Craig, Meagan Dunphy-Daly, Peter Feaver, Sarah Gaither, Bridgette Hard, Maha Houssami, Jessica Namakkal, Susie Post-Rust, Duncan Thomas, Angela Vieth and Leonard White. 

The Judith Deckers Prize is administered by Duke’s Office of Undergraduate Education. It honors professors whose dedication to teaching leaves a lasting impression on students’ academic and personal growth. Last year’s recipients were Lisa Huettel of Pratt, Deondra Rose of Sanford and Sarah Schott of Trinity. 

A committee of Duke representatives will review the finalists before selecting this year’s recipients. The winners of will be announced in January 2027 by Duke Provost Alec D. Gallimore.

To learn more about the finalists, visit The Office of Undergraduate Education.