Conference USA (CUSA) has named Dr. Noël C. Barengo, associate professor at FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, the 2025 CUSA Professor of the Year.
“CUSA’s recognition affirms what we at FIU have long appreciated—Dr. Barengo is an outstanding educator, researcher, and leader,” said Dr. Juan Cendan, dean of FIU Medicine. “His impact on students, peers, and the broader public health community is both meaningful and far-reaching.”
An internationally recognized epidemiologist, Barengo has over two decades of experience teaching epidemiology, public health, and research methods in undergraduate and graduate programs in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America.
His research has significantly influenced global public health strategies, particularly chronic disease prevention. He has published over 170 peer-reviewed articles, nearly half co-authoring with students he mentored. His work has been cited over 16,000 times, with an H-index between 26 and 38, reflecting its international reach and impact.
Conference USA is an NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic conference comprising ten Southern and Western United States institutions. Members include Florida International University, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State, UTEP, and Western Kentucky.
Barengo was chosen from a group of 10 finalists previously selected by their own institutions as their Faculty Achievement Award winners. Provosts from the ten CUSA institutions voted on the final winner.
Beyond the classroom, Barengo serves as chair of the FIU Faculty Senate, advocating for faculty governance and academic excellence. He also represents FIU Faculty as a FIU Board of Trustees member. His national service includes leadership roles in the American Public Health Association and the American Diabetes Association. Internationally, Barengo has been influential in chronic disease surveillance through his leadership in America's Network for Chronic Disease Surveillance, where he served as President and is now Vice-President. He has also worked closely with the Pan American Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to strengthen public health research and policy implementation across Latin America.