The University Awards Ceremony was launched in spring 2023 by President M. Katherine Banks to collectively recognize and celebrate the contributions of exceptional faculty, staff and students in academics, teaching, research and dedicated service across 11 award categories.
The invitation-only ceremony will be held on April 24, 2023, at 11 a.m. with an option to watch the recording.
2023 University Award Honorees
Student Employee of the Year
The Student Employee of the Year Award recognizes students who excel in communication, teamwork and problem-solving, and who possess an outstanding work ethic.
Award Honorees
Jordan Gomez
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Amanda Hoth
Student Activities, Division of Student Affairs
President's Meritorious Service Award
The President's Meritorious Service Awards, sponsored by the Office of the President and The Association of Former Students, are given to individuals who demonstrate their commitment to the Aggie Core Values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity and Selfless Service.
Award Honorees
Aggie Way
Alyssa Zarco
Admissions, School of Engineering Medicine
Kelley O’Neal
Byrne Student Success Center, School of Education & Human Development
New Employee
Alex Troyer
J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
Chandler Guardado Rivera
Enrollment Services, Aggie One Stop
Supervisor
Dr. Ashley Seabury
Research & Graduate Studies, School of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences
Chris Court
Technology Services
Individual
Jose Arrisola
Technology Services
Chad Barger
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Trudy Krenek Bennett
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Jen Bloom
J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
Florence Davies
University Writing Center, Academic Affairs
John Fellers
Environmental Health & Safety, Division of Operations
Andy Gibson
Transition Academic Programs, College of Arts & Sciences
Bethany Goodlett
Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine
Noeline Gunasekara
Division of Human Resources & Organizational Effectiveness
Dr. Sarah Jaks
MBA Program Office, Mays Business School
Sherri Jerzyk
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Bradley Matthews
Career Center, Division of Student Affairs
Kristi Mejias
Athletics
Heather Miller
Graduate Programs, School of Law
Pamela Moncayo-Morales
Undergraduate Strategic Partnerships, Division of Academic & Strategic Collaborations
Jason Muchow
Rudder Theater Complex, University Center & Special Events
Michael Outland
Enrollment Services, Aggie One Stop
Melanie McKoin Owens
Student Life, Division of Student Affairs
Erin Pope
Immigration Affairs, Faculty Affairs
Dr. Jing Wu
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Team
The Tex-TRAC Team, School of Nursing
Leslie Kallus, Bobbi Naylor, Kayce Ward and Dr. Kim Zemanek
The Undergraduate Advising and Operations Team, College of Arts & Sciences
Jake Clough, Terri Ferguson, Christine Farris, Amber Greer, Julia Jakab, Antonio Knox, Allison Rivera, Roxanna Russell, Kaileigh Carter and Sara Thigpin
University Professorships for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence
The University Professorships for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence (UPUTE) awards are conferred upon the most exemplary undergraduate faculty at Texas A&M University for their innovative teaching methods and continuous pursuit of inspiring and facilitating learning. Faculty members selected to receive this award exhibit excellence and devotion to undergraduate education.
Award Honorees
Dr. Arun R. Srinivasa
J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
Dr. James D. Herman
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Dr. James D. Pennington
Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences
Dr. Emily Cantrell
Department of Teaching, Learning & Culture, School of Education & Human Development
Dr. Kati I. Stoddard
Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence
The Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence is awarded to the most distinguished teachers at Texas A&M University. Recipients exhibit outstanding excellence and devotion to student education. The designation of Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence remains with the recipient throughout their career at Texas A&M, signified by a commemorative medallion.
Award Honorees
Dr. Bala Shetty
Department of Information and Operations Management, Mays Business School
Dr. Catharina Laporte
Department of Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences
Chancellor’s Academy of Teacher Educators Award
The Texas A&M University System Academic Affairs Office in partnership with the Chancellor's Century Council created this award to recognize individuals or university teams who are making noteworthy and exemplary contributions to quality, innovation, and continuous improvement in teacher preparation.
Award Honorees
Dr. Sharon Matthews
Department of Teaching, Learning & Culture, School of Education & Human Development
Regents Professor Award
The Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System awards this honor to individuals at the rank of professor or equivalent whose performance in teaching, research and service has been exemplary. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the A&M System on faculty members.
Award Honorees
Dr. Bradford P. Wilcox
Department of Ecology & Conservation Biology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Dr. Reza Langari
J. Mike Walker ‘66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
Dr. Malatesha Joshi
Department of Teaching, Learning & Culture, School of Education & Human Development
Professor Irene Calboli
School of Law
Dr. Samba Reddy
Department of Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine
Dr. Jay Maddock
Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, School of Public Health
Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award
The SEC Faculty Achievement Award honors those with outstanding records in both teaching and research, and who serve as role models for junior faculty and students.
Award Honorees
2023 Recipient
Dr. Donald J. Darensbourg
Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences
2022 Recipient
Dr. Bruce McCarl
Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Community Impact Award
The inaugural Community Impact Award is presented by the Student Government Association in collaboration with the Department of Economic Development and Community Impact. This award recognizes individual students, faculty and staff for outstanding selfless service through volunteerism and improving local and university communities as part of our land-grant mission.
Award Honorees
Student
Mason Holmes
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Staff
Dr. Catherine Cole
Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Faculty
Dr. Deanna Kennedy
Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management, School of Education & Human Development
R.A. "Murray" Fasken ’38 Partner in Philanthropy Award
The R.A. "Murray" Faskin ’38 Partner in Philanthropy Award was established by the Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees. It acknowledges an individual faculty member’s effort to build long-term productive relationships between the university, former students and other private partners in philanthropy.
Award Honorees
Professor Luz E. Herrera
School of Law
The Association of Former Students Distinguished Graduate Student Award
The Association of Former Students Distinguished Graduate Student Award represents one of Texas A&M’s highest honors for outstanding achievements by graduate students in research or teaching.
Award Honorees
Excellence in Research
Akanksha Baranwal
Department of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
Bryton Praslicka
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
Kunyu Wang
Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences
Matthew Vaughan
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
Michelle Jonika
Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences
Dr. Peter Renner
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
Seoin Yoon
Department of Management, Mays Business School
Excellence in Teaching - Doctoral
Audrey Earnhardt-San
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Hadear Hassan
J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
Janet Eunjin Cho
Department of English, College of Arts & Sciences
Jeffrey Cragin
Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences
Meaghan Devlin
Department of Educational Psychology, School of Education & Human Development
Miriam Catalan
Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Nathan Lanning
Department of Oceanography, College of Arts & Sciences
Shelby Blair
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
The Association of Former Students University-Level Distinguished Achievement Award
This award honors Texas A&M University faculty and staff members in the areas of teaching, research, student relations, graduate mentoring, extension/outreach/continuing education/professional development, administration and support staff.
Award Honorees
Administration
Professor Luz E. Herrera
School of Law
Dr. Darby Roberts
Division of Student Affairs
Extension, Outreach, Continuing Education & Professional Development
Dr. Robin Murphy
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
Graduate Mentoring
Dr. Mark Hoekstra
Department of Economics, College of Arts & Sciences
Dr. Bruce A. McCarl
Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Individual Student Engagement
Rachel M. Ball
Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston
Sherree D. Kessler
Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Arts & Sciences
Research
Dr. Bruce A. McCarl
Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Dr. Malatesha Joshi
Department of Teaching, Learning & Culture, School of Education & Human Development
Dr. Binayak P. Mohanty
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Dr. Cheryl Craig
Department of Teaching, Learning & Culture, School of Education & Human Development
Dr. Stephen Maren
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
Dr. Larry J. Suva
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Staff
Kurt P. Felpel
Department of Economics, College of Arts & Sciences
Maria Ortega
Division of Student Affairs
Teaching
Dr. Adrienne Brundage
Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Dr. Andy D. Herring
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Dr. Johanna Heseltine
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Anton G. Hoffman
Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Anne B. McGowan-Schooler
Department of Construction Science, School of Architecture
Dr. Sarah McNamara
Department of History, College of Arts & Sciences
Dr. Robin Rackley
Department of Teaching, Learning & Culture, School of Education & Human Development
Dr. Scott Shafer
Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Professor Aric Short
School of Law
Dr. Kristi Shryock
Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering, College of Engineering