UTSA Update - The University of Texas at San Antonio

UTSA Athletics 2006-07 season tickets are available for UTSA faculty, staff and friends at $60 per pass. As a special offer, each additional pass is $40. The offer is good while reserved seats are available. The season pass provides reserved tickets to regular season athletics event on the UTSA 1604 Campus during the 2006-07 year. The pass includes all men's and women's events including basketball, baseball, volleyball, softball, tennis, soccer and golf. With a value of $400, tickets are transferable and can be given to family members or friends.

UTSA names Brooks Thompson men's basketball coach

UTSA Athletic Director Lynn Hickey recently announced the hiring of Brooks Thompson as head men's basketball coach. Thompson played in the NBA from 1995 to 1998 including stints with the Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz and New York Knicks.

Coordinating Board approves 19th Ph.D. program

UTSA's 19th doctoral degree program recently was approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The Ph.D. degree in anthropology will be implemented in spring 2007 and housed in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. The addition of a Ph.D. in anthropology is consistent with the goals of UTSA to become a top-100 research university and will address the shortage of educated and qualified candidates for leadership positions in anthropology-applied areas such as cultural resource management, museums and state agencies.

NSF renews UTSA $20 million grant for biophotonics research

Through the efforts of UTSA physics professor Dhiraj Sardar, the National Science Foundation recently funded UTSA's second five-year, $20 million grant to study applications of light and radiant energy in biology and medicine. Known as biophotonics, the technology uses laser light to study biological tissues and cells to assist in developing medical equipment for clinical and therapeutic applications. UTSA is one of 10 institutions in a collaborative partnership including Stanford University, University of California - Berkeley, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Louisiana State University.

Linguistics scholar is first Brackenridge Chair in Literature and Humanities

A $100,000 challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and a $500,000 match from the George W. Brackenridge Foundation have culminated in the recruiting of a nationally renowned linguist as the inaugural holder of the Brackenridge Endowed Chair in Literature and the Humanities at UTSA. Sonja Lanehart, author of "Sista, Speak! Black Women Kinfolk Talk About Language and Literacy," recently joined the faculty of the Department of English, Classics and Philosophy to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in English literature and linguistics, humanities and African American studies.

UTSA Alumni Association Rising Star Gala, Aug. 19

The UTSA Alumni Association hosts its seventh annual Alumni Rising Star Gala Saturday, Aug. 19 at the Westin La Cantera Resort. A silent auction and cocktail reception with music by the UTSA Marimba Ensemble begins at 6:15 p.m., with dinner at 7:30 p.m. Table sponsorships are available. To volunteer or make reservations, visit the Alumni Association Web site or call (210) 458-4133.

Roadrunner Days Vendor Fair, Aug. 22 and 24

Roadrunner Days, the official UTSA kickoff for the new year with a week of events to welcome students, will include two vendor fairs on Aug. 22 and 24. Through sponsorship opportunities, vendors will provide information to students about services and products, distribute promotional items and enroll students for applicable services. A fair is set for 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Aug. 22 in the Recreation Center, 1604 Campus, and 3-5 p.m., Aug. 24 at Bill Miller Plaza, Downtown Campus. For information on how to participate, contact Lisa Blazer at (210) 458-7820.

President's Scholarship and Awards Dinner, Oct. 17

This year's President's Dinner is 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 17 at the Marriot Rivercenter Hotel. With the theme "Maps, Markers and Milestones," the annual event hosted by President Ricardo Romo and Dr. Harriett Romo is an evening celebrating extraordinary commitment to higher education. Honorees this year are Carlos Alvarez, (Tom C. Frost Award) and Bernard Rapoport (Gold Star Award). Co-chairs are John T. Montford and Kenny Wilson. For more information, visit the President's Dinner Web site, call (210) 458-4129 or e-mail rsvppresident@utsa.edu.

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Editor: Tim Brownlee, Assistant Director of Public Affairs