John C. Higginbotham (left), vice chancellor for research and economic development at the University of Mississippi, and Chancellor Glenn Boyce (right) present John Bentley, professor of pharmacy administration and marketing, with the 2026 Distinguished Research and Creative Achievement Award, the university's highest honor for faculty. Photo by Bill Dabney
Pharmacy professor John Bentley receives Distinguished Research and Creative Achievement Award
The University of Mississippi recognized nine outstanding faculty members Tuesday (April 7) at the second annual Chancellor’s Awards for Research and Creative Scholarship.
The event, at The Inn at Ole Miss, recognized faculty whose work has elevated the university’s research and creative scholarship profile and contributed to its R1 designation, a classification for institutions with the highest levels of research activity.
“These awards celebrate the arc of a researcher’s progressing career and shine a light on those who are establishing emerging leadership in their field,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce said. “What began last year as a new tradition is already becoming an important part of how we honor our research community.
“To the researchers: Thank you for being a cornerstone of our success.”
Provost Noel Wilkin presented John Bentley, professor of pharmacy administration and marketing and director of the Center for Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management, with the Distinguished Research and Creative Achievement Award. The award is the university’s highest honor for faculty success and honors a recipient who achieved national or international recognition for work in their field.
Bentley, who began working with the university as a doctoral student in 1993, has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles in prestigious research journals, published 21 book chapters and has presented at national and international conferences on his research.
His work has been recognized with the Outstanding Article of the Year Award from Quality of Life Research, the Best Research Publication Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association‘s Wiederholt Prize for the Best Published Paper in Economic, Social and Administrative Sciences.
He also serves on the Pharmacy Quality Alliance Risk Adjustment Advisory Board and is on the board of directors for the American Foundation of Pharmaceutical Education.
“For more than two decades, Dr. Bentley has distinguished himself as a leader in pharmaceutical research and education, while remaining committed to mentoring students and supporting his colleagues,” said John C. Higginbotham, vice chancellor for research and economic development.
“This award reflects not only the national impact of his scholarship, but also the lasting influence he has had on our university.”
The Awards for Research and Creative Scholarship highlight faculty members in multiple categories, including arts and humanities; social and behavioral sciences; and life science, physical science, math or engineering.
This year’s award recipients are:
- Asmaa Shehata, assistant professor of Arabic
- Hyejin Park, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders
- Sujith Ramachandran, associate professor of pharmacy administration
- David Holben, professor of nutrition and hospitality management
- Jing Li, assistant professor of biomolecular sciences
- Thomas Werfel, associate professor of biomedical engineering
- Hunain Alkhateb, associate professor of civil engineering
- Mohammad Al-Hamdan, professor of civil engineering.
“These awards reflect the depth and breadth of talent across our university,” Higginbotham said. “What makes these honorees especially remarkable is not just their accomplishments, but their commitment to mentoring students and translating their work into real-world change.
“That’s why we’re all here: to have an impact on the state, the country and every student who comes to Ole Miss.”
By Clara Turnage
About the Author
