Honoring Recent Award Recipients: In the Spotlight

Dear Northeastern Community

We are delighted celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our faculty members who have recently received prestigious recognition for their groundbreaking research and academic excellence. The work of these remarkable individuals continues to shape their fields and brings distinction to our university.

Faculty as Community Shapers

Building Community Through Critical Muslim Educational Research

Dr. Noor Ali, Assistant Teaching Professor of Education in the College of Professional Studies, is helping to reshape the landscape of educational research for Muslim scholars, students, and communities. As the founding Chair of the newly established Critical Muslim Educational Research Special Interest Group (SIG) at the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Dr. Ali is creating vital space for scholarship that centers Muslim identities, critical theory, and educational practices.

The approval and launch of this SIG represents a significant milestone in the field. As Dr. Ali and her co-founders note, “Given the changing socio-political climate in the country, many scholars who study Muslims are seeking places where their research can be supported and affirmed and where they can find good company in the presence of others with shared academic commitments.”

Dr. Ali’s leadership in establishing this SIG ensures that critical scholarship on Muslim education will have a dedicated home for generations to come. As she and her colleagues beautifully expressed: “May the Critical Muslim Educational Research SIG be a beacon in our field for impactful, bold scholarship that shapes the field for generations to come!”

Transforming Healthcare Access in Charlotte

Dr. Nia Johnson, Assistant Clinical Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Assistant Program Director of the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Masters Program in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences and Community and Belonging Lead for the Charlotte Campus, has been nominated for the 2025 Heart of Charlotte Award for Community Engagement Excellence. This nomination recognizes her extraordinary efforts in building bridges between Northeastern University and the Charlotte community.

Since launching the inaugural SLP program at NEU-Charlotte, Dr. Johnson has created a comprehensive ecosystem of community partnerships that address critical healthcare needs. Her vision has resulted in:

Strategic partnerships with local public schools, YMCAs, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library System, and regional colleges and universities
Specialty clinics serving Charlotte’s diverse communities, including an Aphasia Clinic for stroke survivors and the Speak Out Parkinson’s Clinic (launched in Fall 2025).
Community-based pediatric services designed specifically to reach marginalized communities where speech-language services have been historically under-resourced
Interprofessional practice initiatives that unite healthcare programs across Charlotte’s educational institutions

Dr. Johnson’s approach emphasizes sustainability and mutual benefit—providing consistent, reliable services to community members while offering rich experiential learning opportunities for graduate students. As her nominator noted, “Her leadership demonstrates that meaningful community engagement requires more than programs and services—it requires building relationships grounded in respect, reciprocity, and shared commitment to community wellbeing.”

In addition to the Heart of Charlotte nomination, Dr. Johnson was recently selected as a Professional Member in the Speech-Language Pathology Academy, Class of 2026, within the National Academies of Practice —the longest-standing nonprofit, interdisciplinary organization dedicated to advising governmental bodies on interprofessional healthcare in the United States.

Translating Engineering Science to Clinical Impact

Dr. Francis Loth, Professor in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and Bioengineering, has been awarded the 2026 ASME Savio L-Y. Woo Translational Biomechanics Medal. This prestigious recognition honors an individual who has translated meritorious bioengineering science to clinical practice through research, education, professional development, and service to the bioengineering community.

As featured in College of Engineering (COE) news, Dr. Loth received the medal “for unwavering commitment to translating engineering tools—from in-silico and in-vitro analysis of cerebrospinal fluid flow to in-vivo image-based biomechanics of the brain—to decipher the pathophysiology of Chiari malformation and assess and improve its diagnostic and treatment methods.”

His work exemplifies how fundamental engineering research can directly improve patient outcomes and clinical care. By developing sophisticated computational and experimental tools to understand cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and brain biomechanics, Dr. Loth has contributed essential knowledge that helps clinicians better diagnose and treat Chiari malformation—a condition affecting the brain’s positioning in the skull.

This recognition places Dr. Loth among an elite group of bioengineers whose work has successfully bridged the gap between laboratory research and clinical application, ultimately improving healthcare for patients and families affected by complex neurological conditions.

These exceptional faculty members exemplify Northeastern University’s commitment to pioneering research and academic excellence. Their achievements not only advance their respective fields but also inspire the next generation of scholars and innovators. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to each of them and look forward to the continued impact of their groundbreaking work.

Please join us in celebrating these remarkable faculty members and their contributions to our university community and beyond.

Please use this link to discover more exceptional faculty achievements and to subscribe to the bimonthly Honorific Awards Newsletter.

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