UTSA community members to be honored April 14 at University Excellence Awards

Top faculty and staff recognized for their contributions to UTSA and beyond

(April 12, 2016) -- UTSA faculty and staff members are invited to the 2016 University Excellence Awards Ceremony at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 14 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 a 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, 2015 service milestones and retirees will be recognized.

Kathryn Funk-Baxter, vice president for business affairs, will open the program followed by Marjie French, vice president for external relations, who will recognize retirees and those with five or more years of service.

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

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UTSA University Excellence Awards 2016

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

• William Glenn, head of reference services, Libraries

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)

Prefreshman Engineering Program

• Ainan Bauvas, program coordinator
• Pamela Garza, program coordinator
• Martha Gomez-Gonzalez, senior program coordinator
• Tonya Locke, fiscal specialist
• Diana Rivas, administrative associate II
• Richard Rodriguez, senior info technology associate

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)

• Victor Guerrero, senior administrative associate in the Department Art & Art History, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

The Leadership Award (recognizes a superior supervisor)

• Jovany Vega, sergeant, University Police

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

• Barry McKinney, associate dean of students and director of Student Activities

Quantitative Literacy Program Faculty Excellence Award

• Dixie Shaw-Tillmon, lecturer III in the Writing Program, University College

President’s Distinguished Diversity Award
Student category
Individual winner: Francis Garner, College of Business

Faculty/staff category
Individual winner: Sonia Saldívar-Hull, professor of English and director of the Women’s Studies Institute, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
Group winner: African American Studies Symposium Committee

• Rhonda Gonzales, associate professor of history, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• Sonja L. Lanehart, professor and Brackenridge Endowed Chair of Literature and Humanities, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• Joycelyn K. Moody, professor and Sue E. Denman Distinguished Chair in American Literature, director of the African American Literatures and Cultures Institute, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• Scott Sherer, associate professor of art & art history, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• Deborah Thomas, assistant to the dean, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

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)

• Hector R. Aguilar, lecturer II in chemistry, College of Sciences
• Ian Caine, assistant professor of architecture, College of Architecture, Construction and Planning
• Michael L. Cepek, 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)

• Gregory Hazleton, lecturer III in the Writing Program, University College

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)

• Rhonda Gonzales, associate professor of history, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• Martha Smith, lecturer III and associate director of the Writing Program, University College

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

• Jill Fleuriet, associate professor of anthropology, 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)

• Robert J. Hard, professor of anthropology, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• Ram Krishnan, assistant professor of electrical engineering, College of Engineering

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)

• Ben V. Olguín, associate professor of English, 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)

• Bridget Drinka, professor of English, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• Jamie Newsome, assistant professor of criminal justice, College of Public Policy

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)

• Yilmaz Hatipkarasulu, associate professor and chair of the Department of Construction Science, College of Architecture, Construction and Planning

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