Ralf Spatzier has been named the Gopal Prasad Collegiate Professor of Mathematics by the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. It is one of the highest honors bestowed by the college.

Spatzier’s research lies on the interface of differential geometry, dynamical systems, and ergodic theory and discrete subgroups of Lie groups. His research publicaitons span a variety of subjects with numerous co-authors. He was instrumental in the establishment of Inquiry Based Learning in the Department, and has been the program's director for 20 years. As the chair of the personnel committee for various terms totaling nearly 15 of the last 30 years, Spatzier has been instrumental in recruiting talented faculty to our department.

The collegiate chair is named in honor of Gopal Prasad, the Raoul Bott Collegiate Professor Emeritus of Mathematics who joined UM in 1992 and reitred in 2017.