UTSA community members honored April 16 at University Excellence Awards

(April 14, 2015) – UTSA faculty and staff members are invited to the 2015 University Excellence Awards Ceremony at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 16 in the H-E-B University Center Ballroom (HUC 1.104) on the Main Campus. Additionally, the ceremony will be simulcast to the Meeting/Assembly Room (BV 1.338) in the Buena Vista Building at the Downtown Campus.

The ceremony will include presentation of the University Excellence Awards, President's Distinguished Achievement Awards, President's Distinguished Diversity Awards, Quantitative Literacy Program Faculty Excellence Award and Richard S. Howe Excellence Awards. In addition, 2014 service milestones and retirees will be recognized.

Sam Gonzales, vice president for student affairs, will open the program followed by Jude Valdez, vice president for community services, who will recognize retirees and those with five or more years of service.

John Frederick, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and President Ricardo Romo will present the awards.

UTSA University Excellence Awards 2015

The Rising Star Award (recognizes a new employee who has made significant contributions to his or her area, or to the university community)

• Matt Keneson, academic advisor I, Art & Humanities Advising

The Team Spirit Award (recognizes a group of staff employees who have demonstrated exceptional ability to foster collaboration, communication, and cooperation among colleagues internal and/or external to their department)

Faculty Center Operations team

• Carolyn Ellis, tech project MGT librarian, Libraries
• Denise Villarreal, senior events manager, Libraries
• Anne Peters, director of communications, Libraries
• Jaclyn Shaw, assistant director for Faculty Development, Research Support
• Rebecca Luther, director of communications, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Jenny De Los Santos, senior management analyst, Academic & Faculty Support
• Diane Elizondo, program coordinator, Research Support
• Vicki Weber, assistant to the senior vice provost, Academic & Faculty Support

The Extra Mile Award (recognizes an individual who has performed at a level above and beyond normal job requirements that have resulted in furthering the department's and UTSA's goals and mission)

• Pauline Janert, senior administrative associate, Honors College

The Leadership Award (recognizes a superior supervisor)

• Raymond Mauldin, assistant director/research science associate V, Center for Archeological Research

Order of the Roadrunner Award (the highest honor that a UTSA staff member can receive for his or her dedication to the UTSA community)

• Michelle Rocha, assistant director, Student Activities – Downtown Campus

Quantitative Literacy Program Faculty Excellence Award

• Bryan Gervais, assistant professor of political science and geography, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

President's Distinguished Diversity Award Student category

• Individual winner: Diego Mancha
• Group winner: Feminist@s Unite
• Megan Michelle Moran
• Gemetria Williams
• Solae Villarreal
• Natasha Villalobos

Faculty/staff category

• Individual winner: Mimi Yu, associate director, East Asia Institute, and senior lecturer, modern languages
• Group winner: TEAM: Teacher Education Autism Model Center
• Lee Mason, assistant professor, interdisciplinary learning and teaching
• Alonzo Andrews, specialist, interdisciplinary learning and teaching
• Notable student staff:
• Jennifer Alaniz
• Melissa Kaplan
• Vanessa Cox
• Vanessa Gutierrez
• Victoria Escobedo
• Katherine Golden
• Lauren Ortega
• Laura Joann

President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching Excellence (recognizes faculty whose command of their respective disciplines, teaching methodologies, communication skills and commitment to learning translate into a superior learning experience for students)

• Amy Chanmugam, assistant professor of social work, College of Public Policy
• Andria Crosson, lecturer II in history, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• Jill Fleuriet, associate professor of anthropology, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Core Curriculum Teaching (recognizes distinguished performance in teaching one or a set of core curriculum courses)

• Sue Hum, associate professor of English, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• Jodi Peterson, lecturer II in history, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in University Service (recognizes faculty who are exemplary in their commitment to service within the university whose service has had major impact on the opportunities, lives and future of UTSA students)

• Elaine Sanders, associate professor of accounting, College of Business

President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Community Service (recognizes faculty who are exemplary in their service outside of the university, providing leadership and making significant contributions in external civic organizations and settings)

• William McCrary, associate professor of music, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Research Achievement (recognizes faculty who have conducted high-quality, high-impact research and has made a substantial contribution to the faculty member's field)

• Joanna Lambert, professor of anthropology, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• Oleg Larionov, assistant professor of chemistry, College of Sciences

President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Performance, Creative Production or Other Scholarly Achievement (recognizes individuals whose performance, creative production or other scholarly achievement in the arts or other appropriate disciplines has manifested unusual excellence and merit)

• Kasandra Keeling, associate professor of music, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Advancing Globalization (recognizes faculty who have significantly expanded UTSA's involvement in the global arena)

• Sonia Alconini, associate professor of anthropology, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

The Richard S. Howe Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award (recognizes UTSA faculty for developing signature learning experiences for undergraduates outside the traditional classroom environment)

• James Johnson, senior lecturer in mechanical engineering, College of Engineering

The Richard S. Howe Excellence in Service to Undergraduate Students Award (recognizes a faculty or staff member who has shown exemplary commitment towards UTSA undergraduates)

• Donovan Fogt, associate professor of kinesiology, health and nutrition, College of Education and Human Development, and director, Office of Undergraduate Research

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