October 26, 2026
International Professor's Day, observed each year on October 26, is a global recognition of the professors whose work powers higher education. Behind every graduate, every breakthrough, and every published discovery is a professor who taught, questioned, mentored, and persevered.
It is a day to move appreciation from the abstract to the personal — to name the educators who changed the trajectory of a career, and to renew America's collective commitment to a thriving academic community.
The professoriate sits at the intersection of teaching and discovery — a dual role that few other professions carry.
Professors prepare the doctors, engineers, teachers, and leaders every society depends on.
University research led by professors underpins advances in medicine, technology, and policy.
PhD candidates and early-career academics grow under the guidance of experienced professors.
As trusted experts, professors bring evidence and rigor to the issues shaping our world.
Four meaningful ways students, institutions, and communities can mark October 26.
Send a personal message, email, or handwritten note to a professor who shaped your thinking or career. Be specific about the impact they had.
Amplify a professor’s research, publication, or teaching online with #InternationalProfessorsDay so their contribution reaches a wider audience.
Put forward an outstanding professor for a faculty, teaching-excellence, or research award within your institution or discipline.
International Professor's Day is observed annually on October 26. The next observance falls on October 26, 2026. It is a global moment for students, institutions, and communities to recognize the lasting impact professors have on knowledge, research, and society.
Whether you thank a mentor, nominate a colleague, or help your institution attract world-class faculty — International Professor's Day is a chance to invest in the people who advance America's academic future.
AcademicJobs.com — Connecting talented academics with institutions worldwide.
Encourage talented students to consider the professoriate, and help institutions across America attract and retain world-class faculty.
A thoughtful, honest review is one of the most lasting tributes a student can leave. Celebrate the ones who made a difference on Rate My Professor, or explore the top-rated professors shaping America's classrooms.
The day exists to celebrate and thank professors for their dedication to teaching, mentorship, and the advancement of human knowledge. Professors do far more than deliver lectures — they supervise research, publish discoveries, guide early-career academics, and prepare each generation of graduates for the workforce.
Across America, it is also an opportunity to highlight the value of academic careers and to encourage greater public and institutional support for higher education and faculty.
Students can write a thank-you note to a professor who made a difference, leave an honest, constructive review on Rate My Professor, nominate them for a teaching or research award, share a tribute on social media using #InternationalProfessorsDay, or simply attend a lecture with renewed appreciation. Small gestures of gratitude carry real meaning for the educators who invest in student success.
American institutions can host recognition ceremonies, feature faculty achievements across campus channels, fund teaching and research excellence awards, and spotlight the careers of standout academics. Promoting open faculty positions on the day is also a powerful way to signal an institution's commitment to building a world-class academic community.
Professors are at the center of nearly every major advance in medicine, technology, policy, and culture. They train the doctors, engineers, teachers, and leaders of tomorrow, and their research underpins innovation that improves lives globally. Recognizing them is recognizing the engine of long-term human progress.
World Teachers' Day (October 5) honors educators across all levels of education. International Professor's Day focuses specifically on the higher-education professoriate — the academics who combine advanced teaching with original research and the supervision of postgraduate and early-career scholars.
Honoring United States' Professors
1. Bova Rufo
Technical and Career
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Amazing Feedback
“Greatest”
2. R. Scott Kemp
Engineering
MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Amazing Feedback
“Prof. Kemp is the best professor I've had at MIT. He doesn't just teach you stuff, he teaches you how to think.”
3. Arthur Brooks
Harvard University
Amazing Feedback
“Professor Arthur Brooks is hands-down one of the best professors I’ve had at Harvard. This class was genuinely life-changing. Dr. Brooks doesn’t just teach about happiness, leadership, and human flourishing — he embodies it. Every lecture felt like a masterclass in wisdom delivered with warmth, humor, and zero pretension. He has this incredible ability to blend rigorous research (he drops data and studies effortlessly) with deeply personal stories that actually stick with you. What sets him apart is how approachable and caring he is. Despite his massive reputation, he remembers students’ names, stays after class to chat, and seems truly invested in how you’re doing. His feedback on papers was thoughtful and encouraging — he actually wants you to grow. I left every single class feeling more hopeful about life, work, and my future. The concepts we covered (especially the science of happiness and building meaning) have already helped me in my personal life and internships. If you’re even remotely considering one of his courses, take it. You will not regret it. Easily one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had in college. Thank you, Professor Brooks!”