SHREVEPORT – LSU Shreveport honored five of its most decided faculty members Wednesday in its annual Most Outstanding Faculty awards ceremony.
Three faculty were selected based on their teaching capabilities and accomplishments with one faculty member each chosen on their service and on their research.
The three teaching faculty winners included Dr. Subhajit Chakrabarty (computer science), Dr. Chen Ji (nonprofit administration), and Dr. Xi Jin (kinesiology and health science).
The service award winner is Dr. Alexander Mikaberidze (history) with the research award going to Dr. Syed Noor (kinesiology and health science).
The Faculty Research and Development Grant Committee, comprised of Faculty Senate members, evaluated nominations and determined the winners.
Chakrabarty has made his mark in mentoring students through his Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Lab, which allows students to work on real-world products for local industrial and healthcare companies.
“(Chakrabarty) stimulates students for social good through such meaningful course projects … and motivates them for research,” Chakrabarty’s nomination read. “He motivates students to see learning as a journey, engaging them through meaningful and socially impactful course projects while fostering enthusiasm for both learning and research.”
Ji said she connected with LSUS nonprofit students and their drive to seek change for the Shreveport community in which they live. Ji’s students feel the same way about her through her first two years on campus.
“What distinguishes (Ji’s) teaching is the level of authenticity and impact embedded in student work,” Ji’s nomination read. “Student feedback proves her tremendous impact as they describe her as ‘knowledgeable,’ ‘approachable,’ and ‘supportive.’
“None of these qualities are incidental. They are reflections of the deliberate effort to design courses that are rigorous yet accessible.”
Jin is credited with “student-centered instruction and curriculum innovation” across both undergraduate and graduate courses in kinesiology and health science.
“(Jin) has taught a remarkably wide range of courses, spanning foundational, applied, and graduate-level instruction,” Jin’s nomination read. “Her teaching load demonstrates versatility, content mastery, and strong interdisciplinary alignment. Students described her as “supportive,” “clear,” “well-organized,” and “highly engaging.”
Mikaberidze, winner of this year’s service award, was called one of university’s “most consequential faculty citizens.”
“Alex is someone who not only accepts responsibility but also initiates work that strengthens programs, expands student opportunities, and elevates the public presence of the university,” Mikaberidze’s nomination read. “His 2025 service portfolio is not a collection of isolated activities, it’s a sustained pattern of high-impact work across governance, institutional development, student life, professional leadership, and community engagement.”
Noor, the winner of the research award, has nine peer-reviewed manuscripts in the last two years and 28 since 2020.
“Noor’s funded research record is exemplary,” Noor’s nomination read. “There are currently four funded research projects, including two grants over $1 million and two grants from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, each for more than $3 million.
“His research and teaching is enhanced by demonstrating a sincere eagerness to make a difference in the lives of others and in service to the community.”