The Department of Linguistics is delighted to announce that Jonathan Brennan was promoted to Associate Professor of Linguistics with tenure. He was also named the recipient of the Class of 1923 Memorial Teaching Award.

The Class of 1923 Memorial Teaching Award recipients are selected each year by the U-M College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) Executive Committee from among those recommended for promotion from assistant professor to associate professor with tenure. Award recipients have demonstrated outstanding teaching during their first years on the faculty. While this award recognizes teaching, it is only given to individuals whose achievements and promise auger well for a productive career as a scholar.

Dr. Brennan joined the Linguistics Department in 2012 and is the director of the Computational Neurolinguistics Lab. He studies the mental structures and computations used to understand words and sentences, and how these processes are implemented in the brain. His research uses formal computational models of language comprehension to investigate the neural correlates of basic cognitive computations such as lexical access, syntax, and semantics with electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Jon’s promotion and teaching award are a testament to the excellent work he has done in building interest and engagement in linguistics, cognitive science, and neuroscience, said Linguistics Department Chair Robin Queen.

Congratulations, Jon, on this well-deserved recognition!

See the complete list of promotions approved by the U-M Board of Regents on May 16.