Sherali Zeadally, Ph.D., University of Kentucky Alumni Association Endowed Professor and University Research Professor in the College of Communication and Information's School of Information Science, has been named winner of the 2024 SEC Faculty Achievement Award for the university this spring.

Zeadally was awarded with 13 other SEC university professors, which is given to faculty with outstanding records in research and scholarship at each of the Southeastern Conference's member universities.

"It is a great honor to be selected for this prestigious award together with my colleagues from 13 other SEC universities," Zeadally said. "I dedicate this award to my family and talented research collaborators from around the world I have been fortunate to work with. I thank my undergraduate and graduate students for always motivating me to excel in my teaching activities. Finally, I express my gratitude to my chair, Professor Young Choi, the acting Dean, Professor Brandi Frisby, colleagues and the leadership team at UK for their continued support."

Zeadally has significantly shaped the university’s research around cybersecurity, privacy, the internet of things and computer networks. He has published more than 500 peer-reviewed publications out of which over 374 have appeared in peer-reviewed academic international journals/magazines. He has received more than 65 awards, honors and prestigious fellowships for his research, teaching and service in his career.

Recently he appeared on Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers list, which identifies scholars whose work has been cited most often in papers over the past decade. Those chosen for the 2023 list authored studies that rank in the top 1% in the number of scholarly citations worldwide within their disciplines. Zeadally has appeared on Clarivate’s list in the field of computer science for the past four consecutive years. In 2023, 98 highly-cited researchers in the world were selected in the field of computer science by Clarivate, and among them Zeadally was one of only nine selected from the United States.

“Dr. Zeadally embodies the University of Kentucky’s mission as a public, land-grant institution to advance our Commonwealth and its people,” said UK Provost Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. “His robust record of scholarship and research serves to propel UK forward as a leader in our region and on the global stage. His impact on all aspects of our mission — research, teaching and service — helps to transform lives. We are incredibly proud to count him as a member of our community.” 

For over a decade, the Southeastern Conference has used its SEC Faculty Achievement Award to honor these essential members of the campus community. The unique awards program was established in 2012 by the conference’s presidents and chancellors and celebrates success in teaching, research and service.