Masterson Earns Fulbright Award, Council on Undergraduate Research Appointment

Mon, 07/28/2025 - 09:30am | By: Dr. David Tisdale

A longtime and valued member of The University of Southern Mississippi’s faculty and leadership team has earned global and national recognition for his exceptional administrative skills and contributions to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research.

Dr. Douglas Masterson, senior associate provost for institutional success and professor of chemistry, has been awarded a Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Award and selected to serve as a Chemistry Division representative for the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR).

The Fulbright IEA Award is a two-week funded seminar for U.S. higher education administrators to learn about other countries’ higher education systems, share best practices, and explore potential partnerships with host institutions. Through the program, participants build their institution’s capacity for international education, gain cross-cultural perspectives, raise their university’s profile abroad and at home, and open doors to global collaboration.

Dr. Masterson will spend two weeks in Germany participating in Fulbright programming in the country’s higher education sector.

“I’ve had a longstanding collaboration with another chemist in Germany, and I’m intrigued by the opportunities our students should be making use of in that country,” he said. “I hope to bring back information to share with students and faculty regarding educational experiences and opportunities there and encourage our students to participate in study abroad in Germany and to compete for DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) funding, which would allow them to obtain a graduate degree there.”

Dr. Kelly Lester, associate provost for faculty success at Southern Miss, also received a Fulbright IEA Award and will travel to France to participate in similar programming. 

Masterson’s election as a CUR Chemistry Division representative entails a three-year term during which he will help shape the national conversation around undergraduate research. He was an early advocate for undergraduate research at Southern Miss, serving on the inaugural steering committee for the university’s Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research. His new role reflects his sustained commitment to fostering research opportunities that engage and empower students.

“I have had a longstanding commitment to research at all levels––high school, undergraduate, and graduate––and this role aligns with my commitment to the inclusion of undergraduates in meaningful research experiences,” he explained.

Masterson joined the Southern Miss faculty in 2004. He is a professor of chemistry and biochemistry and has previously served as associate chair of chemistry and biochemistry and associate dean of science and technology. He currently serves on the American Chemical Society’s national Project SEED committee, has twice received the Science Advocate Award from the Society for Science, and has served as a lead advocate for the organization. In 2016, he was named Mentor of the Year by the Southern Conference of Graduate Schools.

“Dr. Masterson has long been recognized as a thought leader both within his discipline and as an effective higher education administrator, and his selection for the Fulbright IEA Award and CUR Chemistry Division representative is further evidence of that,” said Dr. Lance Nail, Southern Miss provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.

Masterson says he loves doing his part to help the university provide quality educational experiences for its students.

“My work in institutional effectiveness (broadly) is influenced by my motivation to serve our students and give them the skills and tools they need to achieve their goals in life,” he said. “I still believe my biggest accomplishments have been in the students I’ve taught in my laboratories over the years.”