Dix Hills resident earns SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence

Renu Balyan, a resident of Dix Hills, New York, and an assistant professor of mathematics and computer information sciences at SUNY Old Westbury, has been awarded the 2026 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities.

The award recognizes the pursuits of faculty that serve as a foundation for sustaining the intellectual growth of SUNY institutions. Those who earn the award are selected based on scholarship and creativity, among other eligibility criteria categories.

"Dr. Balyan is an exceptional scholar whose interdisciplinary expertise bridges Artificial Intelligence, education, and healthcare," said SUNY Old Westbury President Timothy E. Sams while recognizing Balyan during the campus' 2026 commencement. "Furthermore, Dr. Balyan effectively integrates her scholarship with high-impact teaching and mentorship."

Across her five years on campus, she has published 52-peer reviewed works, mentored more than 30 undergraduate and graduate students, and earned 10 grant awards totaling over $1 million. She works to provide transformative experiences for her students, with 50 percent of her conference publications including student co-authors.

Balyan’s scholarship and teaching bridges artificial intelligence, education, and healthcare. She serves on the AI Task Force at SUNY Old Westbury, designed to respond to and prepare our students for the technological shift. She also serves as a SUNY AI For Public Good Fellow and as a reviewer on multiple National Science Foundation grant review panels.