The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has named Dr. Nitin Agarwal as the recipient of the 2026 Faculty Excellence Award in Research and Creative Works, the university’s highest honor for scholarly achievement.
The Award recognizes Agarwal for his international leadership in social computing and cognitive security. As the Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair and Donaghey Distinguished Professor of Information Science, Agarwal has transformed the university’s research profile through his investigation into digital influence and information ecosystems.
A native of India, Agarwal’s academic journey reflects a rigorous foundation common among top-tier researchers in the Indian diaspora. After completing his initial studies in India, he moved to the United States to pursue advanced degrees, eventually earning his PhD from Arizona State University before joining the UA Little Rock faculty in 2009. His success underscores the significant contributions of Indian-born scholars to American technological innovation and national security.
Agarwal is the founding director of the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS). Under his leadership, the center has become a vital hub for analyzing how misinformation spreads across online networks.
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His work is particularly critical in the modern era, as he develops tools to identify adversarial influence campaigns and online scams, technology currently utilized by global organizations including NATO and the World Health Organization.
“Understanding how digital information ecosystems influence society is one of the defining challenges of our time,” Agarwal said. “I’m fortunate to work alongside talented students and colleagues who are committed to advancing knowledge and developing solutions that strengthen communities.”
His financial impact on the institution is equally substantial. Over the past five years, Agarwal has secured more than $60 million in federal funding. This includes major grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), DARPA, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Nearly $30 million of that funding has directly supported research initiatives at UA Little Rock, providing students with rare opportunities to engage in high-level cybersecurity projects.
The impact of his scholarship is documented in 12 books and more than 400 articles, which have earned 26 “best paper” awards. Recently, his expertise was tapped at the state level when he was nominated to serve on the Arkansas AI task force established by Governor Sarah Sanders.
Besides Agarwal, several other distinguished faculty members were honored with faculty excellence awards in various categories. Each winner receives a $5,000 prize funded through private donations, selected by the UA Little Rock Board of Visitors.