USU Photography Professor Selected as 2025 Honors Outstanding Professor

LOGAN, Utah — Fazilat Soukhakian, an associate professor of photography from the Department of Art + Design in the Caine College of the Arts, was recently selected as the 2025 Honors Outstanding Professor.

The University Honors Program’s student committee selected Soukhakian from a strong pool of student-nominated faculty, all of whom inspired students to uphold the University Honors Program’s motto, from the poet Horace: “Sapere aude”— or “Dare to Know.”

Hazel Harris, co-chair of this year’s student-run Honors Last Lecture selection committee, said that Soukhakian’s thoughtful engagement with cultural perspectives and shared human experiences was a key reason the committee chose her for this honor.

“The photography work that she brought up to us in the interview focused on the untold stories of ordinary people from around the world,” Harris said. “One main point was that, at the end of the day, we share much more than we know.”

Additionally, Soukhakian’s ability to engage and connect with students from all backgrounds and disciplines made a strong impression on the selection committee.

“One of the things that really stood out to our committee was Dr. Soukhakian's ability to capture all of our attention, regardless of major or field of study, really adding to the University Honors Program’s interdisciplinary goal,” Harris said. “We appreciated her commitment to her field of study and how it impacts the University community and the world at large.”

Soukhakian began her career as one of Iran’s few female photojournalists, a path shaped by the country's complex social and political landscape. Her early experiences navigating these challenges influenced her artistic voice, which explores issues of identity, justice, and human connection.

After moving to the United States in 2011, she earned her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati and then completed her Ph.D. in architectural history while beginning her faculty position at Utah State University.

“When I came to Utah State, I was deeply moved by the work of our art students,” Soukhakian said. “Despite being in a sometimes challenging environment socially and politically, these students were interested in creating art that truly mattered, art that was personal, purposeful and connected to the world around them. I saw in their work a desire to uncover important stories, to give voice to experiences that are often overlooked. I felt a strong sense of connection to that mission, because those are the kinds of stories I’ve always been drawn to as well.”

Soukhakian’s passion for understanding human experiences and her dedication to connecting with students are at the core of her work.

“I’ve received other titles and recognition throughout my career, but this honor is especially meaningful to me because the selection was made entirely by the Honors Last Lecture committee composed of students,” Soukhakian said.

As the 2025 Honors Outstanding Professor, Soukhakian will deliver this fall’s 50th annual Honors Last Lecture.

“Each year, honors students nominate professors who have made a lasting academic impact on their lives for the award of Honors Outstanding Professor of the Year,” said University Honors Program Executive Director Kristine Miller. “A committee of honors students interviews finalists and selects one exceptional professor, who then imagines and delivers what might be their ‘Last Lecture,’ if that professor had only one more to give here at USU. We are so pleased that Dr. Fazilat Soukhakian from the Department of Art + Design in the Caine College of the Arts has been selected as the 2025 Honors Outstanding Professor who will deliver the 50th Annual Honors Last Lecture this fall.”

Soukhakian’s selection as the 2025 Honors Outstanding Professor reflects her personal dedication and the Caine College of the Arts’ commitment to fostering excellence and integrity in the arts.

For more information about the Honors Last Lecture, visit the University Honors Program website.