(Sept. 5, 2017) -- The UTSA Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs announces the promotion of 34 faculty members. The promotions were approved by the UT System Board of Regents in late August and are effective Sept. 1, 2017.
Ten faculty members were promoted to associate professor with tenure. Tenure is awarded to faculty who distinguish themselves in the areas of teaching; research, scholarship or creative activities; and service to the university and community; and who further demonstrate strong potential for continued excellence in these areas. Twenty-four faculty members were promoted to full professor in recognition of sustained professional accomplishment.
“These faculty members have made significant contributions both to the body of knowledge in their respective fields and to UTSA’s mission as a top-tier educational institution,” said C. Mauli Agrawal, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “The process of promotion and tenure review is rigorous, and each of these individuals is to be commended for their exemplary work as teachers and scholars.”
Also this year, 12 retired faculty members have been awarded emeritus status in honor of their years of valued service and contribution to the university mission. Lastly, for the first time in UTSA history, emeritus status was granted posthumously to a faculty member who passed away suddenly during the spring 2017 semester.
Promotion to associate professor with tenure:
Krystel Castillo, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Jerry Gonzalez, Department of History
Brian Hermann, Department of Biology
Chin-Hsing (Annie) Lin, Department of Biology
Charles Mahood, Department of Communication
Annette Portillo, Department of English
Arturo Sotomayor, Department of Political Science and Geography
Marina Suarez, Department of Geological Sciences
Dengfeng Yan, Department of Marketing
Xiaowei Zeng, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Promotion to professor:
Sonia Alconini, Department of Anthropology
Richard Boon, Department of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching
Samer Dessouky, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Sara DeTurk, Department of Communication
Matthew Dunne, Department of Music
Lucila Ek, Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies
Matthew Gdovin, Department of Biology
Rhonda Gonzales, Department of History
Richard Hartley, Department of Criminal Justice
Judith Haschenburger, Department of Geological Sciences
Myung Ko, Department of Information Systems and Cyber Security
Marie Miranda, Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies
Sharon Nichols, Department of Educational Psychology
Jianwei Niu, Department of Computer Science
John Nix, Department of Music
Carlos Paladini, Department of Biology
Mariela Rodríguez, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Patricia Sánchez, Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies
Scott Sherer, Department of Art and Art History
Heather Shipley, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Boyka Stefanova, Department of Political Science and Geography
Firat Testik, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Heather Trepal, Department of Counseling
JingYong Ye, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Associate professor emeritus:
Felicia Briscoe, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (retired May 31, 2017)
Gerry Dizinno, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (retired May 31, 2017)
Michael Gilbert, Department of Criminal Justice (retired May 31, 2017)
Professor emeritus:
James Balentine, Department of Music (retired Aug. 31, 2017)
Steven Boyd, Department of History (retired Aug. 31, 2017)
Youn-Min Chou, Department of Mathematics (retired Aug. 31, 2017)
Anthony Chronopoulos, Department of Computer Science (retired Jan. 9, 2017)
Blanche Desjean-Perrotta, Department of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching (retired May 31, 2015)
Mark Lengnick-Hall, Department of Management (retired Aug. 31, 2017)
John Morris, Department of Political Science and Geography (passed away Feb. 16, 2017)
Carolyn Orange, Department of Educational Psychology (retired Aug. 31, 2017)
Christopher Wickham, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures (retired May 31, 2017)
Lawrence Williams, Dean of the University College and Professor, Department of Mathematics (retired Aug. 31, 2017)
Learn more about the UTSA Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
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