UL Bestows Honor on 42 Faculty In continuation of activities marking the conduct of the UL 104th Commencement Exercises, several faculties across various academic departments and programs who published research articles peer review journals for academic 2022/2023 were given special recognition and honored.Honor and certificate were also given to a few dedicated faculty and staff at the program. They included 22 faculty for dedicated services and 42 faculty authors.Scores of family members of the honorees, guests, and research scholars were in attendance .The ceremony washeld in the Theater of the Academic Building on the Fendall campus of the University of Liberia on September 12, 2023.Research topics covered various disciplines and focused primarily on addressing major thematic areas of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, with a focus on Liberia’s energy, social, economic, environmental, climate change challenges and recommendations to solve them.Associate Professor Abdulfatah Abdu Yusuf of the Mechanical Engineering Department was given special recognition for emerging as the faculty with the most publication of sixteen articles in notable peer review journals.He was also awarded in 2023 as the most published faculty with fourteen articles published.Some of his publications include “A comprehensive review of Liberia’s energy scenario. Advancing energy access, sustainability, and policy implications”, “Race towards net zero emissions”, “Role of negative emission technologies in South Africa pathway to net zero emission”, among others.The Executive Director of the Office of Diaspora and Migration Studies at the UL, and former VP for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ezra William Allen, said the scholastic and honoring program for the faculty is befitting because they have fulfilled an important feat in academia by publishing important research articles.“This occasion is appropriately called the scholastic and honoring program because these authors have fulfilled one of the cardinal pillars of academia. That pillar is the production of knowledge”, Dr. Allen described.Dr. Allen could not hold back his excitement about how the UL faculty members have excelled in conducting research and engaging in peer review publication as compared to the past when it was just a few faculty members undertaking research.“As I look at the publications here and hold to the fact that it was inaugurated [scholastic and honoring program] three years ago, I was quite impressed”, Dr. Allen mentioned.He however urged the faculty to engage in more research and publication and similarly encouraged other members to emulate the examples of their colleagues who continue to engage in research and publication. He wants the faculty to be the producers of knowledge, noting “Academics are expected to not only teach but to produce the teaching materials”.Dr. Allen, who himself is a publisher of many articles, books, and other scholarly works reminded the faculty that the task of producing knowledge would be strainous because of the regular teaching schedules and loads they must execute. He however emphasized the crucial role research would yield in the growth and development of the individual faculty.“Consequently, the faculty career, income, and rank depend on publication, hence, the saying, ‘Publish or Perish’, Dr. Allen stressed.He commended the Visitor of the UL, Pres. Joseph Nyumah Boakai, and the Board of Trustees, the Acting President, Dr. Al Hassan Conteh, and the entire Management Team, the honorees for upholding the mission of the UL, despite recent happenings.“Let me extend my thanks and appreciation to the Interim Management Team for the audacity to hold this 104th Commencement when barely three months there were deep uncertainties on this campus. You took a difficult decision amid these uncertainties to hold the 104th Commencement Convocation”, Dr. Allen applauded.Addressing the honorees, UL Acting President, Dr. Al Hassan Conteh described the faculty authors as scholars, mentors and leaders who have committed their talents, time, and intellect to scientific research.He reflected on how research and publication were highlighted and promoted at the UL in the 1960s but got interrupted by the Liberian Civil War.“This revolution was at its peak at the University of Liberia in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, but was interrupted by the coup and the civil war”, Dr. Conteh noted.He added that during those era faculty collaborative research included works like “Christianity, Islam, and the Negro race”, by Prof. Wilmot Blyden, “Growth without development”, “Tribes and Class in Liberia”.“The University of Liberia Journal was also published during that era, and it was through that means that faculty research was recognized.Dr. Conteh therefore recommended to the VP for Academic Affairs to restart the UL Journal.He concluded by thanking all Universities from Africa, India, and the United States that are partnering with the UL and ensuring that the faculty profile is boosted.Earlier, the VP for Academic Affairs, Dr. Agnes Taylor explained that the concept to recognize and honor outstanding faculty was conceived three years ago to further encourage research at the UL.According to her. they started with 13 faculty in the first year that marked the 102nd Commencement Convocation and subsequently increased to 35 during the second year that marked the 103rd UL Commencement and the third year, marking the 104th Commencement with 42 faculty She thanked the faculty authors for raising the profile of the UL through their scholastic works.The UL VPAA also lavished commendations on dedicated members of the faculty and staff for their commitment and hard work through their services.“We want you to know that we see the work you do, and we value your dedication, handwork, and service”, Dr. Taylor acknowledged.The 104th Convocation will continue September 13 and 14, 2024, on the Capitol Hill and Fendall Campuses with UL Alumni Homecoming, Graduating Class Night and UL Faculty Day respectively.Meanwhile, the main graduation exercises will commence on Monday, September 16, 2024, on the UL Fendall with candidates from the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Science and Humanities, College of Education, and the David Stratz-Sinje College of Technical and Vocational College receiving their diplomas.