The University of Missouri Board of Curators recently named two University of Missouri-Kansas City faculty members Curators' Distinguished Teaching Professors.

This designation is the highest and most prestigious academic rank awarded by the Board of Curators, given to a select few outstanding scholars with established reputations for research or teaching.

This year’s honorees from UMKC are Yugyung Lee, Ph.D. of the School of Science and Engineering and Sean O’Brien (J.D. ‘80) of the School of Law.

“Both Lee and O’Brien are exemplary models of what it means to be a UMKC faculty leader,” said UMKC Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Jennifer Lundgren. “It is rewarding to celebrate the achievements of talented colleagues who are passionate about their work.”

Lee’s teaching focuses on artificial intelligence, data science, deep learning and other emerging technologies. Some of her work focuses on real-time and big data analytics for pervasive systems, a network of continuously connected embedded devices to enhance quality of life. She recently worked on research to improve accurate detection of oral cancer by addressing the scarcity of deep learning-based image segmentation research specifically targeting oral cancer and the lack of annotated data.

"I am deeply honored to receive the Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professors Award. This recognition highlights the inseparable connection between teaching and research.” Lee said. “Working with students has always inspired my research, just as my research has enriched the next generation of scientists and educators. A true researcher is, at heart, a true educator, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue learning and growing alongside my students."

O’Brien joined the law school faculty in 2005, teaching criminal law, criminal procedures, sentencing mitigation and post-conviction remedies. He has made a career of freeing the wrongly convicted, including people who have been in prison for decades. He successfully argued in front of the Supreme Court Schlup vs. Delo, a landmark case that expanded the ability to reopen a case in light of evidence of innocence. O’Brien is a member of the Board of Directors of Miracle of Innocence, a nonprofit organization that advocates for innocent prisoners and helps restore them to the community. Since 1983, O’Brien has supervised clinics at UMKC Law that provide pro bono legal assistance to innocent and condemned prisoners with the help of UMKC Law interns.

A UMKC School of Law alumnus himself, he was recognized as the 2023 Alumnus of Year by the UMKC Alumni Association.

“I have such wonderful faculty colleagues campuswide,” O’Brien said. “I am deeply honored by this recognition just for doing what I love to do.”

In addition to Lee and O’Brien, this year’s recipients also include:

• Cody Ding, University of Missouri-St. Louis
• David Kimball, University of Missouri-St. Louis
• Xuemin (Sam) Wang, University of Missouri-St. Louis
• Merilee Krueger, Missouri University of Science and Technology
• Ming C. Leu, Missouri University of Science and Technology