Florida State University announced on Apr. 15 that Laura Reina of the Department of Physics and Brad Schmidt of the Department of Psychology have been named as the university’s Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professors for 2026-2027, its highest faculty honor.
The award recognizes sustained excellence in research, teaching, and service among faculty members. It is considered significant because recipients are selected by their peers across the university.
FSU President Richard McCullough said, “These scholars have made lasting contributions to their disciplines, brought distinction to Florida State University and shaped generations of students through their teaching and mentorship. Together, they represent excellence at the highest level through discovery, teaching and service.” Provost Jim Clark said that the recognition “speaks to the respect they have earned across our academic community and to the impact they have made through their research, teaching and mentorship.”
Laura Reina is recognized internationally for her work in high-energy theoretical particle physics. Her research helps interpret data from major facilities such as the Large Hadron Collider and contributes to studies related to the Higgs boson. “We study the fundamental constituents of everything,” Reina said. “It’s about understanding the natural world at its most basic level.” She added that being selected by her peers makes this recognition especially meaningful: “I feel humbled and honored at the same time,” she said.
Brad Schmidt is a leading scholar in clinical psychology whose work focuses on anxiety disorders, PTSD, substance use, suicide prevention, and improving access to care using technology-based interventions. “It’s an amazing honor, especially coming from such an esteemed group of faculty,” Schmidt said about receiving this recognition. He also highlighted his commitment to student involvement: “Students are critical. Any award like this is not a solo pursuit,” he said.
Both professors will be invited to deliver future commencement addresses as part of a long-standing tradition associated with this distinction.
