Aerial view of TAMU

University Awards Ceremony

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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