Dr. Thonhauser has been awarded the title Wright Family Professor in Physics, effective July 1, 2019. Thonhauser is the founding Director of the new Center for Functional Materials and has been promoted to the rank of Full Professor effective July 1, 2019. The Wake Forest Professorships are endowed positions and are among the highest honors the institution can bestow on our faculty members. The selection criteria included: exceptional skill and sustained dedication in the classroom; outstanding commitment to student learning and growth beyond the classroom; a wide-reaching and significant record in scholarly and creative work; and sustained exemplary service to the department, the discipline, the College, the University, and the broader scholarly community.