Professor Chris Justice Named as Distinguished University Professor

Dr. Chris Justice is among six professors named this year in the 2021 Class of Distinguished University Professors. This is the highest honor that the university bestows on faculty members for their contributions to their fields of research. 

Professor Christopher Justice served as Chair of the Department of Geographical Sciences for 10 years, and makes significant contributions—nationally and internationally—through his work on land cover and land use change, satellite-based Earth observations and data products, wildfire and global agricultural monitoring, and their associated information technology and decision support systems.

“I would like to thank my colleagues in the Department, the Dean of BSOS and all those that supported my nomination. I have a deep sense of gratitude for all those that have mentored me throughout my career, with a special thanks to John Townshend—the former Chair of Geographical Sciences and Dean of BSOS—and to all the research collaborators, colleagues and students that have worked with me over the years and made it all worthwhile,” Professor Justice said. “Thanks to the Selection Committee and President for bestowing on me this prestigious award. This is the first DUP award in Geographical Sciences, and given our incredible Faculty, it should not be the last!” 

Professor Justice also currently serves as NASA Harvest Chief Scientist, Project Scientist for NASA’s Land Cover/Land Use Change Program, the Land Discipline Leader for the NASA Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer and the Soumi-NPP VIIRS Science Team, and Co-Chair of the international GEOGLAM initiative. In 2020, has was awarded NASA’s Distinguished Public Service Medal, the administration’s highest honor for non-government individuals. 

“The designation as a Distinguished University Professor, coming on the heels of the significant NASA award, is a fitting recognition of Chris’s talent, commitment and leadership,” Dean Ball said. “As department chair and as a mentor, Chris has inspired the next generation of scientists and researchers. The college and indeed the entire university greatly benefits from Chris’s contributions, and his vision.”

Dr. Justice is joined by two other members of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Learn more about Dr. Katherine Abraham (Joint Program in Survey Methodology) and Dr. Sonalde Desai (Sociology) here: https://bsos.umd.edu/featured-content/three-bsos-faculty-named The recipients will be recognized at an awards ceremony in the fall.

Published on Fri, 07/02/2021 - 11:10