Top horizontal narrow cropped photo banner of Dr. William Acree, UNT professor of analytical chemistry and 2026 CUR-Goldwater Faculty Mentor Award recipient, engages with a group of female students wearing white lab coats and safety goggles in a University of North Texas research laboratory, with laboratory equipment and storage shelving visible in the background.

Dr. William Acree, UNT professor of analytical chemistry engages with a group of students

DENTON (UNT), Texas 鈥� Since joining the in 1988, has mentored 250 graduate, undergraduate and (TAMS) students. Together, he and his students have contributed more than 1,100 publications and many have earned national awards, including 10 Goldwater Scholarships. Now, his decades of dedication have earned him the 2026 Council on Undergraduate Research Goldwater Scholar Faculty Mentor Award.

鈥淚 just couldn鈥檛 believe it at first,鈥� said Acree, a professor of analytical chemistry, associate chair and graduate advisor. 鈥淔or four consecutive years, I was a finalist. It feels quite nice to have won the award.鈥�

With this award, the University of North Texas is now the first university to have multiple recipients. .

鈥淒r. Acree鈥檚 recognition as a reflects exactly what UNT is about 鈥� opening doors to transformative mentorship and educational experiences for students to create enduring value for the public good,鈥� said UNT President Harrison Keller.

Photo of UNT's Dr. William Acree, professor of analytical chemistry and 2026 CUR-Goldwater Faculty Mentor Award recipient, stands in the foreground of his University of North Texas research laboratory wearing a white lab coat and round wire-rimmed glasses, smiling at the camera, while two female students in white lab coats and blue gloves work at laboratory benches in the softly blurred.

UNT's Bill Acree has mentored more than 250 students, 10 of which earned Goldwater Scholarships.

Acree credits his award to the hard work of his students, many of whom have been members of TAMS. The program is the nation鈥檚 first early college residential program and allows high school students to enter university life early. Some also join the TAMS Early Summer Research program, which allows them to gain research lab experience even earlier.

鈥淢any of them come up with their research project on their own, and I鈥檓 happy to support their curiosity,鈥� Acree said. 鈥淚 find myself learning alongside them.鈥�

Acree and his students research solutions related to environmental or pharmaceutical challenges. For example, one of his students 鈥� who earned a this year 鈥� studies how inorganic frameworks such as sand can absorb pollutants from natural waterways, which can then be picked up by a filter. Another group project explored better ways to synthesize and purify organic drug molecules.

鈥淲hen I look at undergraduate students, I see the next generation of scientists, engineers, legislators and corporate leaders,鈥� Acree said. 鈥淩arely does someone work in the same research area for their entire career. I encourage every one of my students to obtain the best education possible to prepare them for successful careers in today鈥檚 ever-changing society.鈥�

In his lab, Acree strives to create a sense of community, making sure his students have a sense of belonging. His philosophy is that the senior members of his lab should also become mentors to newer ones. Former student Shrika Eddula, a 2021 Goldwater Scholar now studying at MIT, credits this environment for her growth.

鈥淚 have always considered the lab group to be a second family,鈥� Eddula said. 鈥淣ot only does it give junior members someone to help ease the transition into a university laboratory, but it also builds communication and leadership skills within the senior members.鈥�

Full uncroped photo of of Dr. William Acree, UNT professor of analytical chemistry and 2026 CUR-Goldwater Faculty Mentor Award recipient, engages with a group of female students wearing white lab coats and safety goggles.Many of Acree鈥檚 students have gone on to prestigious universities such as MIT, Stanford and Harvard. One of his first graduate mentees, Sheryl Tucker, followed him from Kent State and became the first doctoral recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship to enroll at UNT in 1990.

鈥淥ver the years, I have often been asked why I chose UNT when the fellowship allowed me to go anywhere in the country. The answer is quite simple 鈥� Professor William Acree,鈥� said Tucker. 鈥淢y undergraduate research experience with Bill set the stage for my entire career.鈥�

Acree鈥檚 attention to his students shows in his office. His shelves are covered in gifts, and his walls are adorned with custom portraits and art created by his students. Acree gets to invite 10 VIPs to his upcoming award ceremony, many of whom are past and present students, including Tucker and Eddula.

鈥淭his award is in large part about the work they did in my laboratory. I鈥檓 grateful to all of them who wrote letters for me.鈥� Acree said. 鈥淢y undergraduate research experience was instrumental in my deciding to seek a graduate degree, so I want my students to know they鈥檙e not alone in facing the challenges in their life.鈥�

 


From 鈥� Education