The Burnum Distinguished Faculty Award is presented each year to celebrate and encourage excellence in research, scholarship and teaching. The recipient will have demonstrated superior scholarly or artistic achievements and a profound dedication to the art of teaching, all of which bring distinctive credit to the academic community in general and to The University of Alabama in particular. Emphasizing a sustained career at the University, the Burnum Award spotlights excellence in both research and teaching. Nominations are evaluated by the Burnum Award Committee, composed of past recipients, which then presents the top two candidates to the President for the final selection of the annual winner.
Evidence requested to support the nomination includes:
- Evaluation of teaching ability.
- Letters from former students and distinguished external nominators.
- Copies of student evaluations and other student outcome materials.
- Assessment of contribution to intellectual development of former students.
- Contribution to research and service at UA.
- Citation index (if appropriate).
Winners
| 2023 | Dr. Andrew Dewar, Arts & Sciences, Music & New College |
| 2022 | Dr. Claire Major, Education, Educational Leadership, Policy, Technology Studies |
| 2021 | Dr. Anup Agrawal, Business, Economic, Finance and Legal Studies |
| 2020 | Dr. Ramana Reddy, Engineering, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering |
| 2019 | Dr. Ajay K. Agrawal, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering |
| 2018 | Dr. Subhabrata Chakraborti, Business, Information Systems Statistics and Management Science |
| 2017 | Dr. Marietta Stanton, Nursing, Nursing |
| 2016 | Dr. Catherine Roach, Arts & Sciences, New College |
| 2015 | Dr. Arunava Gupta, Arts & Sciences and Engineering (Joint Appt), Chemical & Biological Engineering |
| 2014 | Walter Enders, Business, Economics, Finance & Legal Studies |
| 2013 | Seth Panitch, Arts & Sciences, Theatre & Dance |
| 2012 | Joel Brouwer, Arts & Sciences, English |
| 2011 | Dr. George C. Rable, Arts & Sciences, History |
| 2010 | Dr. David A. Dixon, Arts & Sciences, Chemistry |
| 2009 | Dr. Ernest A. Mancini, Arts & Sciences, Geological Sciences |
| 2008 | Dr. Jennings Bryant, Communications & Information Sciences, Telecommunication & Film |
| 2007 | Dr. John E. Lochman, Arts & Sciences, Psychology |
| 2006 | Dr. Harris Schlesinger, Business,Economics, Finance & Legal Studies |
| 2005 | Pamela H. Bucy, Law, Law |
| 2004 | Charles G. Snead, Arts & Sciences, Music |
| 2003 | Dr. Robin Don Rogers, Arts & Sciences, Chemistry |
| 2002 | Robin Kathleen Behn, Arts & Sciences, Creative Writing |
| 2001 | Dr. William W. Dressler, Arts & Sciences Anthropology & Social Work |
| 2000 | Dr. Dolf Ziimann, Communications & Information Sciences, Mass Communication |
| 1999 | Dr. Philip D. Beidler, Arts & Sciences, English |
| 1998 | Dr. Richard C. Bradt, Engineering, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering |
| 1997 | Thomas A. Lee, Business, Accountancy |
| 1996 | Dr. John P. Formby, Business, Economics |
| 1995 | Dr. Leon Weinburger, Arts & Sciences, Religious Studies |
| 1994 | George H. Wolfe, Arts & Sciences, English |
| 1993 | Dr. Robert G. Wetzel, Arts & Sciences, Biology |
| 1992 | Dr. Michael P. Cava, Arts & Sciences, Chemistry |
| 1991 | Dr. Tony A. Freyer, Business, History and Law |
| 1990 | Doru M. Stefanescu, Engineering, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering |
| 1989 | Dr. Margaret Stieg Dalton, Libraries, Library & Information Sciences |
| 1988 | Dr. Howard Jones, Arts & Sciences, History |
| 1987 | Dr. Lowell D. Kispert, Arts & Sciences, Chemistry |
| 1986 | Dr. William A. Thomas, Arts & Sciences, Geological Sciences |
| 1985 | Dr. Jerry L. Atwood, Arts & Sciences, Chemistry |
| 1984 | Dr. Fred C. Hobson, Arts & Sciences, English |
| 1983 | Dr. Norman Ellis, Arts & Sciences, Psychology |
| 1982 | Dr. J. Barry Mason, Business, Marketing |
| 1981 | Dr. Chester Alexander, Arts & Sciences, Physics |
| 1980 | Dr. Forrest McDonald, Arts & Sciences, History |