Rupesh Kariyat, an Indian American scholar, has been appointed co-director of the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center at the University of Arkansas for a three-year term.
The University of Arkansas has announced the appointment of Rupesh Kariyat as co-director of the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center. He will serve a three-year term alongside continuing co-directors Edward Holland, an associate professor of geosciences, and Aysa Galbraith, a teaching associate professor in the first-year engineering program.
Kariyat succeeds Hope Ballentine, who recently completed her own three-year term at the center. Established in 1992, the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center is dedicated to promoting faculty development, classroom innovation, and initiatives aimed at enhancing student success.
Born in India, Kariyat began his academic journey by earning a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences from Kerala Agricultural University. He then pursued further studies in the United States, obtaining a master’s degree in agronomy with a focus on plant breeding and genetics from the University of Wyoming. He later earned a doctorate in plant biology, specializing in insect-plant interactions, from Pennsylvania State University.
Following his doctoral studies, Kariyat completed postdoctoral work at both Penn State and ETH Zurich in Switzerland. He also served as a National Science Foundation Vision and Change Teaching Fellow at Penn State. Currently, he is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology within the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas. In addition, he holds the Clyde H. Sites Professorship in International Crop Physiology and is affiliated with the university’s Cell and Molecular Biology and Environmental Dynamics graduate programs.
Before joining the faculty at the University of Arkansas in 2022, Kariyat was a member of the faculty at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. In his current role, he teaches courses in insect pest management, insect behavior, and chemical ecology, engaging with undergraduate, graduate, and honors students. His teaching philosophy emphasizes building personal connections and employing diverse instructional strategies to accommodate students from various backgrounds and learning styles.
Kariyat’s contributions to education have garnered him significant recognition within the academic community. He received the Entomological Society of America’s 2024 Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching and was named the November 2024 Wally Cordes Chair. Additionally, he earned a Faculty Applause Award in 2025 and the Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award in 2026. His accolades also include a national Excellence in Education award from the American Society for Plant Biologists, a North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Educator Award, and multiple commendations from the center he now co-directs.
In his new leadership role, Kariyat aims to enhance engagement among both tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty members. He is committed to advocating for increased recognition and rewards for teaching excellence across all stages of academic careers.
According to The American Bazaar, Kariyat’s appointment marks a significant step in fostering a collaborative and innovative teaching environment at the University of Arkansas.