UTSA community members honored April 18 at University Excellence Awards

(April 16, 2019) – UTSA faculty and staff members are invited to the 2019 University Excellence Awards Ceremony at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 18 in the H-E-B Student Union Ballroom (HSU 1.104) on the Main Campus. Additionally, the ceremony will be broadcast live to the Meeting/Assembly Room (BVB 1.338) in the Buena Vista Street 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, and Richard S. Howe Excellence Awards. New this year is a faculty-led team award recognizing highly innovative and impactful work as well as the announcement of the 2018 Innovator of the Year. In addition, 2018 service milestones and retirees will be recognized.

>> Download a copy of the ceremony program.

President Taylor Eighmy will open the program followed by Myron Anderson, vice president for inclusive excellence, who will recognize retirees and those with five or more years of service.

Anderson, Kimberly Andrews Espy, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Veronica Mendez, vice president for business affairs will present the awards.

Refreshments will be available at both campuses immediately following the ceremony.

UTSA President's Distinguished Achievement Awards 2019

President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching Excellence

• Mark Blizard, associate professor, architecture, College of Architecture, Construction and Planning
• Jessica Lloyd-Hazlett, assistant professor, counseling, College of Education and Human Development
• Karen Williams, professor in practice, information systems and cyber security, College of Business

President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Research Achievement

• Hongjie Xie, professor, geological sciences, College of Sciences
• Kathryn Brown, professor, anthropology, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• Xiaoyin Wang, assistant professor, computer science, College of Sciences
• Kellie Lynch, assistant professor, criminal justice, College of Public Policy

President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Core Curriculum Teaching

• Todd Wright, lecturer III, writing program, University College

President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for University Service

• Jill Fleuriet, associate professor, anthropology, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• Max Kilger, associate professor in practice, information systems & cyber security, College of Business

President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Community Engagement

• David Bojanic, professor, marketing, College of Business

President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Performance, Creative Production, or Other Scholarly Achievement

• Rita Linard, associate professor, music, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Advancing Globalization

• Matthias Hofferberth, associate professor, political science and geography, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Innovation & Impact (I²)

• PerSim^tm
  • John Quarles, associate professor, computer science, College of Sciences
  • Sohail Baig, student, computer science, College of Sciences
  • Sharif Shahnewaz Ferdous, student, computer science, College of Sciences
  • Kevin King, MD, UT Health San Antonio
• Program for the Integrated Training of Counselors in Behavioral Health (PITCH)
  • Heather Trepal, professor, counseling, College of Education and Human Development
  • Jessica Lloyd-Hazlett, assistant professor, counseling, College of Education and Human Development
  • Stacy Ogbeide, assistant professor, UT Health San Antonio
  • Nancy Amodei, program evaluator, University Health System

Innovator of the Year Award 2018

• John Quarles, associate professor, computer science, College of Sciences

UTSA President's Distinguished Diversity Awards 2019

• Kathleen Carter-Stiggers, employee relations advisor II, Human Resources
• Sara DeTurk, professor, communication, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• Black Faculty & Staff Association
  • Wanda Guntz, senior academic administrative manager, Department of Biology
  • Brian Kelley, associate professor, electrical and computer engineering, College of Engineering
  • Sonja Lanehart, professor and endowed chair, English, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
  • Michelle Skidmore, senior communications specialist, College of Public Policy
  • Yolanda Williams, academic advisor IV, Advising-Student Placement
• Taylor Waits, student

Richard S. Howe Excellence Awards 2019

Howe Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award

• Jill Fleuriet, associate professor, anthropology, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• John Drew Stephen, associate professor, music, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

Howe Excellence in Service to Undergraduate Students Award

• Sonja Lanehart, professor and endowed chair, English, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

UTSA University Excellence Awards 2019

Rising Star Award

• Jessica Hodgson, wellness assistant, Environmental Health Safety and Risk Management

Leadership Award

• LT Robinson, interim dean of students, Student Life

Team Spirit Award

• UTSA Event Centralization Team
  • Andrea Brown, senior events manager, Student Union
  • Lydia Bueno, assistant dean of students, Student Center for Community Engagement and Inclusion
  • Douglas Carter, senior information tech associate, Student Union
  • Jessica Dawson, assistant director, Student Center for Community Engagement and Inclusion
  • Charlin Jones-Chavez, senior associate director, Student Activities
  • Nikki Lee, senior associate director, Student Union
  • Amanda Perez, assistant director, Student Activities
  • Roberto Ramon, assistant director, Campus Recreation

Extra Mile Award

• Jan McKinney, executive director of communication and administration, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

Order of the Roadrunner Award

• Lorenzo D. Sanchez, director of business continuity and emergency management, UTSA Police Department

— KC Gonzalez

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