Ugandan academic Dr Moses Khisa has been named a University Faculty Scholar at North Carolina State University (NC State) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to teaching, research, and service.
The honour, announced on February 2, 2026, places him among 20 early- and mid-career faculty nationally recognised for their academic achievements.
Dr Khisa, an associate professor of public and international affairs at NC State and a weekly columnist for Uganda’s Daily Monitor, shared the news on social media with his characteristic wit.
“Named a 'University Faculty Scholar' in recognition of outstanding academic achievements and contributions to NC State University through teaching, scholarship and service to the university and beyondm," he posted.
He then cheekily added: "Apparently, 'University Faculty Scholar' is a new title to affix to my name for as long as I work at this institution, unfortunately for someone who doesn't use the titles he already has!”
The University Faculty Scholar designation, established in 2012, honors faculty for excellence in teaching, scholarship, mentoring, leadership in professional societies, and public service initiatives.
Those selected carry the title for the duration of their faculty appointment and receive an increase to their base salary.
To qualify, faculty must be assistant professors in their second term, associate professors, or professors within the first three years of their appointment, with nominations evaluated by senior faculty.
Dr Khisa, who earned his undergraduate degree in political science and philosophy from Makerere University in Kampala, followed with a Master’s in Human Rights from the same institution.
He then spent a pre-doctoral year at the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta (CSSSC), India, under the mentorship of Patha Chatterjee, before completing his PhD at Northwestern University in 2016.
At Northwestern, he worked closely with Professors William Reno and James Mahoney.
He was appointed adjunct lecturer there before moving to NC State in August 2017, where he received early tenure in 2022.
A researcher with the Centre for Basic Research in Kampala, Dr Khisa’s scholarly work focuses on African state-building, political crises, and global politics.
His first journal article, “The Making of the Informal State in Uganda” (published in Africa Development, 2013), examined post-independence African state challenges.
The NC State announcement highlighted Dr Khisa alongside other scholars across fields ranging from physics and engineering to social sciences and public health, marking him as part of a distinguished cohort contributing to the university’s teaching and research mission.
As a University Faculty Scholar, Dr Khisa now carries an additional academic title reflecting both his research achievements and his ongoing contributions to NC State’s academic community.
