September 19, 2025
The Kansas Board of Regents has named Sufi Thomas, PhD, and Dinesh Pal Mudaranthakam, PhD, among its 2025 Faculty of the Year award recipients. This recognition highlights their outstanding contributions to research, education and service within the state’s higher education system.
Each year, the Kansas Board of Regents selects exemplary faculty from state universities who demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence and community impact. Drs. Thomas and Mudaranthakam were chosen for their leadership, innovation and dedication to improving lives through science and scholarship.
Dr. Sufi Thomas, professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery and associate director for Basic Science at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, is a leading researcher in head and neck cancer. She has made significant strides in understanding the biological mechanisms that drive tumor progression. Her work at KU Cancer Center focuses on facilitating the translation of basic science cancer research in the cancer center to improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Mudaranthakam, assistant professor of Biostatistics and Data Science and director of Research Information Technology, builds and manages complex research databases, informatics platforms and data systems to support cancer research. He also leads projects focused on health policy and financial burden in oncology, using patient-reported outcomes and clinical data to identify drivers of financial toxicity and inform strategies that improve access, affordability, and equity in cancer care.