09/09/2026
Five of the six Cal State LA faculty members recognized with top faculty honors at the 2026 Employee Recognition and Service Awards Celebration are from the College of Natural and Social Sciences.
Congratulations to Barry J. Hibbs, Andres Aguilar, Yangyang Liu, Edith Porter and Dawn Dennis on this well-deserved recognition of their excellence in teaching, research, mentorship and service.
Swipe to learn more about each of our honorees. ➡️
Barry J. Hibbs, professor of hydrogeology in the Department of Geography, Geology, and Environment, has been named a President’s Distinguished Professor, Cal State LA’s highest faculty honor.
Since joining Cal State LA in 1998, Hibbs has built an internationally recognized career in hydrogeology while making student mentorship central to his work. He has mentored nearly 100 undergraduate and graduate students through funded research experiences and secured approximately $4.5 million in external research funding as principal investigator.
The honor adds to a remarkable year of recognition for Hibbs, who was also selected to receive the Karl and Ruth Terzaghi Outstanding Mentor Award and received the Keith E. Anderson Award from the National Ground Water Association.
Congratulations, Dr. Hibbs!
Congratulations to Andres “Andy” Aguilar, professor of biology in the Department of Biological Sciences, on receiving the Outstanding Professor Award!
Aguilar’s research uses genomic approaches to explore questions in evolutionary and conservation biology, including research on rockfishes and threatened and endangered species. He has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and has served as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator on numerous National Science Foundation-funded research grants.
In the classroom and beyond, Aguilar is passionate about creating field-based learning and mentorship opportunities that help students find their place in STEM.
Congratulations, Dr. Aguilar!
Congratulations to Yangyang Liu, professor of chemistry, on receiving the Outstanding Professor Award!
Since joining Cal State LA in 2016, Liu has built a nationally recognized research and e
