Bruce A.
McCarl
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Year Awarded: 2010
College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Research
Katherine I.
Miller
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Year Awarded: 2010
College: College of Liberal Arts
Award Level: Graduate Mentoring
William
Murphy
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Year Awarded: 2010
College: College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Award Level: Research
James
Olson
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Year Awarded: 2010
College: The Bush School of Government and Public Service
Award Level: Teaching
Chloe
Rape
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Year Awarded: 2010
College: Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academics
Award Level: Staff
John
Siebert
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Year Awarded: 2010
College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Teaching
Doug
Slack
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Year Awarded: 2010
College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Teaching
Richard L.
Street, Jr.
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Year Awarded: 2010
College: College of Liberal Arts
Award Level: Research
Karan
Watson
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Year Awarded: 2010
College: Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academics
Award Level: Administration
James
Womack
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Year Awarded: 2010
College: College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Award Level: Graduate Mentoring
Robert "Jay"
Woodward '97
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Year Awarded: 2010
College: College of Education and Human Development
Award Level: Extension/Outreach/ Continuing Edcuation/ Professi
Debra
Zoran '97
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Year Awarded: 2010
College: College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Award Level: Teaching
Nancy
Amato
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. Nancy Amato received her Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1995 and was hired as an assistant professor at Texas A&M University the same year. She received the National Science Foundation Faculty Early CAREER Development Award and the TEES Select Young Faculty Award. Additionally, she received the designation of IEEE Fellow and has been awarded a TEES Fellow three times, for which she now has the designation of being a TEES Senior Fellow. She has received several teaching awards, including the Department Award for Teaching Excellence, College of Engineering Lockheed Martin Excellence in Engineering Teaching Award and a Center for Teaching Excellence Scholar designation.
She sets high expectations and clear objectives for students, and is well prepared to assist them with questions and concerns dealing with course subject matter. Dr. Amato is a committed advocate for the students, and is responsible for creating a mentor pool comprised of senior faculty to answer questions concerning class work, career advice, research and graduate school information. Her contributions include significantly revising content in four specialized graduate courses and active participation in the recent undergraduate curriculum overhaul.
One graduating senior wrote of Dr. Amato, “In my first semester here at Texas A&M, I was one of the very few students who actually knew where they wanted to end up in life. In my case, I want to be a College Professor. I met with Dr. Amato that first semester, and one of the things that made her stand apart from other professors was her enthusiasm and excitement to help start a young advantageous student's career choice. I have currently been working with her for over a year, and am excited to be continuing with her for my senior year, where she will be the advisor on my Undergraduate Research Thesis.”
A former student wrote, “Nancy’s engaging and open teaching and mentoring style was the cornerstone of my education at Texas A&M. Her influence on my educational and professional development was significant.”
College: Engineering
Award Level: Teaching
Kemble
Bennett
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. G. Kemble (Kem) Bennett joined the Texas A&M Engineering Program in 1986 as Professor and Head of the Department of Industrial Engineering. He has served as Associate Dean of Research, Director and CEO of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), and Director and CEO of the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), where he founded Texas Task Force I. Currently, Dr. Bennett is the chief administrator for engineering programs of the Texas A&M University System, and, as such, serves as Vice Chancellor for Engineering, Director and CEO of TEES and Dean of the Dwight Look College of Engineering. As Vice Chancellor, Dr. Bennett administers research programs and extension services of TEES, TEEX, and the Texas Transportation Institute, and coordinates engineering, academic and research programs across the A&M System. As Dean of the Dwight Look College of Engineering, he administers one of the nation’s largest and highest ranked engineering programs. He has led the college through a period of tremendous growth, including the addition of 113 faculty positions, establishing the branch campus in Doha, Qatar, and increasing research expenditures. He has been chair of the National Advisory Council for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and chair of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers. He is a Fellow of both the Institute of Industrial Engineers and Society of Logistics Engineers, where he has been recognized for his professional and academic contributions with the Albert G. Holzman Distinguished Educator Award and the Eccles Medal. He was named Distinguished Engineer by the Texas Tech University, where he earned his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering in 1970.
One colleague wrote, “On any given day during any given week, Dr. Bennett is called upon to make hundreds of non-trivial decisions and each decision effects programs, individuals and students in multiple ways.” He adds, “It is difficult to fully describe the breadth and depth of administrative and management talents of this dedicated leader.” In addition, he stated, “I have served Texas A&M University for over 35 years, and I have seen presidents, provosts, deans and administrators come and go. I have never known anyone to possess the administrative and judgmental skills of Dr. Kemble Bennett.”
College: Engineering
Award Level: Administration
Robert
Chapkin
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. Robert Chapkin’s outstanding research program has been recognized repeatedly with an impressive list of awards which places him in the highest echelons of his profession including: NIH "First Award", July 1989 June 1994; PEW National Nutrition Program Faculty Scholar, 1991-1992; American Society for Nutritional Sciences (ASNS) Bio Serv Award in Experimental Animal Nutrition, 1996; Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Faculty Fellow Award (TAES), 2000; Texas A&M University Faculty Fellow Award, 2001-2005; Sigma Xi Distinguished Scientist Award, Texas A&M University Chapter, 2006; Senior Faculty Fellow Award, TAES, 2007; Vegetable & Fruit Improvement Center, Texas AgriLife Research Director’s Award, 2009; and the Texas A&M University System Regents Fellow, 2010.
His expertise spans the fields of integrative nutrition, cancer biology, and immunology. He has published 167 peer reviewed manuscripts, including 12 invited reviews, written 21 book chapters, and published 216 abstracts. The fact that his papers have been cited over 4,500 times and have an h-index of 37 clearly demonstrates that he has had a significant impact and has achieved the highest level of scholarship and academic leadership. Dr. Chapkin has also served on the editorial boards of five scientific journals, i.e., Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids (1989-Present), Journal of Nutrition (2002-2004), Chemistry and Physics of Lipids (2005- present), Cell Communication Insights (2008-present), and the British Journal of Nutrition (2010-present). He has given 85 invited talks at academic institutions, as well as national and international meetings. His research program is one of the most well-funded, innovative and productive programs in the College. He has received $10.5 million as PI ($32+ million as PI, co-PI and collaborator combined) in funding from the NIH, USDA and other agencies. Over the past five years, Dr. Chapkin has received funds that amount to over $6 million as PI and $22 million overall.
College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Research
Gerard
Cote
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. Gerard L. Coté has been with the university for 20 years. He is recognized as a world-wide expert in optical sensing for diagnostic and biomedical sensing applications. His most notable research accomplishment is in the area of optical glucose monitoring for determining blood sugar levels in diabetes. He has been asked to give several technical talks within the US and abroad, has consulted with companies providing his expertise in this technology area, and received attention from the popular press including segments on Fox News and in Readers Digest. More specifically, beyond his publication record in these areas, he is the co-inventor, with four patents issued and one pending, of two potentially revolutionizing glucose sensing methods. In addition to glucose sensing, he has developed optical technology for the diagnostics area. Specifically, he has co-authored several research papers in top journals describing his collaborative innovative approaches toward optically monitoring perfusion and oxygenation for tissue liver transplant patients and for the development of point-of-care nanosystems based on surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy for detection of blood biomarkers. He has a patent pending on the point-of-care technology that has been licensed by a small medical device company that he co-founded, MedAutomate Diagnostics, Inc. He has also spun off two other companies (BioTex, Inc. and Visualase, Inc.) that develop optical medical technologies. The bulk of the research that Dr. Coté has performed is described in over 240 publications; including refereed journal papers, proceedings, presentations, patents, and book chapters. To perform this work, he has received funding from NIH, NSF, DOE, NASA, private foundations and industry. He currently has over $6M in NIH research funding. He has also established collaborations world-wide including faculty from Strathclyde University in Scotland, the University of Pittsburgh, University of Maryland and Oak Ridge National Lab.
College: College of Engineering
Award Level: Research
Ann
Eastwood
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Year Awarded: 2011
Ms. Ann Eastwood has been employed at Texas A&M over 17 years. She attended Business College and received her degree in business administration. She has worked in several departments across campus including the Department of Construction Science, International Programs Office, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Ms. Eastwood's career highlights include in the Texas A&M Traditions of Excellence Staff Award, the Staff Star Award from International Programs Office, the Linda J. Todd Outstanding Support Staff Achievement Award, the Construction Industry Advisory Board's Special Recognition Award, and the "Mother Hen Award" from the Staff Development Committee in the College of Architecture. Ann's most proud and honored career highlight was in 2005 when the graduating class in Department of Construction Science endowed a scholarship in her name.
One dean from Texas A&M-Galveston wrote of Ms. Eastwood, “In my 30 years of working in higher education, I can say that Ann Eastwood is one of the finest people I have ever had the privilege of working with. Since I came to the University of Oklahoma to be the Dean of the College of Architecture, I have continued to hear high praise for her good work there in the Dean's office at Texas A&M. This is precisely what I would have predicted.” Another colleague wrote of Ms. Eastwood, “Unfortunately last fall one of our students died. Ann worked with the family for a special evening prior to Silver Taps. She gathered the young man's classmates and faculty so they could visit with the family and have dinner together in the Wright Gallery. Since the family spoke little English, she made sure that there were translators at the tables and a pianist in the lobby of the building. This was the parent's first visit to Texas A&M University. Ann gathered pictures of the young student with his competition team and with his teachers and had the teachers and students write about their time with him to his parents. I am confident that this made a lasting and special impression of our University.”
College: Architecture
Award Level: Staff
John
Edwards '00
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. John F. Edwards has been at Texas A&M University for 27 years. He earned his B.A. (Microbiology, University of New Hampshire) in 1966, DVM (The Ohio State University) in 1974 and Ph.D. (Cornell University) in 1983 and is board certified in Veterinary Pathology. Dr. Edwards was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Brazil. His awards include: Samuel F. Scheidy Memorial Award " Best Presentation on", American Veterinary Medical Association Foundation, World Veterinary Congress; Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Clinical Service Award, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University; The Robert L. Farrell Distinguished Lecturer Award: CL Davis Foundation for Service. Of the TAMU students he has assisted in training, 96% have completed the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and Clinical Pathologists board examination, an international examination with a 25-40% pass rate. Dr. Edwards was a major organizer of the annual CL Davis Foundation Southwest Region Meeting of Pathology. Dr. Edwards was a member of the original advisory board and is presently a member of the Board of Directors of The Charles Louis Davis, DVM Foundation for the International Advancement of Veterinary & Comparative Pathology. He maintains the Foundation Study Center at TAMU. For 15 years, he was the lead instructor of red meat pathology for the USDA FS IS Training Center and has presented red meat and avian pathology courses for institutions worldwide. Dr. Ed wards' area of funded research is in viral-induced malformations of the ruminant fetus. He collaborates internationally with veterinarians on a variety of projects, especially those involving reproduction and infectious diseases.
One former student wrote, “If anyone deserves an award (or knighthood) for graduate student mentoring it would ABSOLUTEL Y be the incomparable Dr. John Edwards…. His efforts to prepare residents for the gross portion of the exam and for their careers afterward are no less than legendary; not only here at TAMU but also around the world.” In addition, the former student states, “He has an answer for every question and without hesitation gives generously of his time, knowledge, patience, and energy to residents, vet students, and colleagues a like. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from him during my time here at Texas A&M."
College: College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Award Level: Graduate Mentoring
Anthony "Shady"
Groves '68
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Year Awarded: 2011
Colonel Anthony "Shady" Groves has been employed with Texas A&M for twelve years serving first as a Cadet Training Officer then as the Assistant Commandant for Operations and Training and currently as the Assistant Commandant for Academics and Discipline for the Corps of Cadets. Prior to his employment with Texas A&M, he served thirty years in the Air Force with his final assignment as the colonel in charge of Air Force ROTC. Shady had a very distinguished career as an Air Force fighter pilot. In addition to his BS in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M, he holds a MS in Operation Research from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Col Grove's dedication to the operations and welfare of the cadets in the Corps is an integral part of the organization's survival. A very important part of Col Grove's job is in counseling and mentoring cadets in the corps. Col Groves has created a culture of respect, care and trust amongst the cadets and staff and is held in great admiration by all. It has been written that the intensity of vision, coupled with commitment is magnetic. Col Groves exemplifies this concept through his interaction with all the Office of the Commandant Staff and Corps of Cadets.
The Vice President of Student Affairs wrote, “He is affectionately known as ‘Shady’ Groves across our campus, although most do not know that it is because he once wore dark sunglasses to a mission briefing while serving in Vietnam. Instead it now symbolizes to many of our students that if you need a staff member with whom to find some shade to seek guidance from, or to talk to about how to live up to high expectations, that ‘Shady’ Groves is your best bet. The expectations that he sets are indeed high and he has never compromised on our institutional core values or principles. He is equally firm in ensuring that students face their responsibilities and understand and accept consequences. This is an important and often overlooked part of student development.”
College: Vice President of Student Affairs
Award Level: Individual Student Relationships
Kim
Hill
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. Kim Quaile Hill is the Cullen-McFadden Professor of Political Science. He has been a faculty member at Texas A&M since 1988. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from Rice University. Professor Hill has published widely on national, state, and local government in the United States. His most recent research advances general theory on the process of democratic representation in American government. He is the President of the Southern Political Science Association, and he previously served as editor of the American Journal of Political Science, widely considered the leading scientific journal in his discipline. Professor Hill also teaches one or more 200 or 300-level undergraduate courses every long semester. He has published several peer-reviewed articles on teaching political science in the American Political Science Association's leading journal of teaching and the discipline, PS: Political Science and Politics. One of these articles was subsequently profiled in The Chronicle of Higher Education: The Chronicle Review (Section 2, May 31, 2002). In 2007 Professor Hill was awarded the University Writing Center award for exceptional achievement in writing-intensive courses for undergraduates. That year he was also awarded the College of Liberal Arts Research Award for "Distinguished achievement in the study of empirical democratic theory and American politics."
College: Liberal Arts
Award Level: Teaching
Daniel
Jennings '86
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. Dan Jennings has been employed at Texas A&M for fifteen years after serving as an endowed professor at Baylor University where he gained an international reputation in corporate entrepreneurship. He redesigned the course content for numerous undergraduate courses at TAMU to develop higher order thinking skills and developed courses to relate industrial distribution theory to practice for MID courses. He has served as advisor to numerous doctoral and master students. He received the Outstanding Educator Award from the Federation of Business Disciplines. Professor Jennings has published 309 articles in academic and practitioner publications, authored or co-authored twenty-two textbooks and has written twenty-one chapters in textbooks authored by others. His research has been published in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times and he has received seventeen Best Paper Awards including the National Academy of Management. He has served as member of Editorial Review Boards of academic journals, president of an academic society, editor of academic publications, and contributing editor for practitioner publications. Dr. Jennings has been either Principal or Co-Principal Investigator for applied research projects totaling $2.1 Million and has obtained over $5 million in endowments, scholarships and laboratories for TAMU. Professor Jennings has served as Visiting Professor at universities in Russia, France, Canada, Mexico, Italy, and Australia and has conducted executive development programs in the U.S., Canada, France, Mexico, and Italy. He is an active labor arbitrator and a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators.
One former student wrote, “After graduating from the Master of Industrial Distribution program, Dr. Jennings' commitment to me, his student, did not stop. Continually throughout my career, I have had the advantage of presenting my plans to Dr. Jennings, and he has provided his input that has helped me develop successful strategies.”
Another former student wrote, “… the greatest gift I received as an Aggie, was the positive influence Dr. Jennings had on virtually every aspect of my life. While I have advanced in my career since graduating with an MID in 2009, I have become a better father, husband, son, friend, manager and employee. I owe much of this to Dr. Jennings.”
College: Engineering
Award Level: Teaching
Eluned
Jones '87
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. Eluned Jones’ is the Director of the Master of Agribusiness (MAB) program, an intercollegiate degree program with the Mays Business School, and chairs the Intercollegiate Faculty of Agribusiness. Jones holds Honors BS (University of Bath, UK) and MS (N.C. State University) degrees in horticultural crop production and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M. She was a faculty member at Virginia Tech for 14 years before joining the Texas A&M faculty in August 2002. Jones is a co-recipient of awards for excellence from the Southern Agricultural Economics Association and the American Society of Agronomy, and is a fellow of the Kellogg-funded Leadership Development Program at the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy. She chaired numerous regional and national academic committees relating to food and agribusiness marketing and policy including the American Agricultural Economics Association Sections on Extension and on Food and Agricultural Marketing Policy. She served on the Federal Grain Inspection and Packers and Stockyards Administration Industry Advisory Committee and chaired the Wheat Industry Resource Committee of the National Association of Wheat Growers. Jones is advisor to all MAB students and also teaches two of the core courses in the program. Since fall 2002 she has advised 116 MAB graduates and currently advises 38 students in the MAB program. Jones has taught and given presentations worldwide, and has helped establish an undergraduate agribusiness degree in El Salvador and a Master of Agribusiness in Armenia. Jones research analyzes the political and economic influence of institutions on the food system, in particular the public/government versus private role in assuring transparency, traceability and food safety across global supply chains.
One colleague wrote, “She is a strong and passionate advocate for her students. She sets her sights on transforming their lives, a true challenge to accomplish within the short time-frame of the professional master’s degree. Life transformations do not come easy and they only are possible with the application of multiple approaches to teaching and guidance. Dr. Jones begins by helping students understand concepts, engaging them in new ideas, opening their minds to new solutions or opportunities, and then energizing and rewarding them to follow through.”
College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Graduate Mentoring
Joyce
Juntune '97
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. Joyce Juntune has been a member of the faculty for thirteen years. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Bethel College, a M. S. in Curriculum and Instruction from St. Cloud State University and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. During her time at Texas A&M she has taught Child Development for Educators, Adolescent Development, and Educational Psychology. She spearheaded the development of the undergraduate minor in Creative Studies. The first class in the spring of 2004 had 13 students. Today Dr. Juntune has 80 - 90 students in each of her Creative Studies classes: Personal Creativity and Giftedness, Creativity and Creative Problem Solving, and Lateral Thinking: Systematic Innovative Thinking. Dr. Juntune also teaches the following graduate classes: Nature and Needs of the Gifted, Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted, Programming for the Gifted, Creative Thinking, Intelligence and Creativity, Educational Psychology, Child and Adolescent Development, and Learning Theories. Dr. Juntune has taught at the preschool, elementary, and middle school levels and conducts professional development training for school districts across the state. Her ability to make theoretical concepts applicable to the classroom has led to her being known as "The Teacher's Teacher". She has received the Texas A&M SLATE Award for teaching, the President's Award by the Texas Association for Gifted and Talented, and the David Tanner Champion of Creativity Award by the American Creativity Association. She has been selected as a 2011 Fish Camp namesake and was named to the Hall of Fame at her former high school.
The following are comments from teaching evaluations that demonstrate students' appreciation for Dr.
Juntune's teaching style: “Thank you for being such a great teacher! Your guidance and mentorship has made all the difference for me during my time at TexasA&M. You believed in my ability even when I did not. You have taught me so much and I am forever indebted to you.”
“Wow! What a wonderful, dynamic learning experience you provided me! I am so glad that I took your classes. You helped me find my passion - teaching children. You have such a gift Dr. Juntune!”
College: Education and Human Development
Award Level: Teaching
Joseph
Pasciak
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. Joseph E. Pasciak received his Ph.D. in 1977 from Cornell University. He was an Assistant Mathematician at Brookhaven National Laboratory from 1977 to 1979, Associate Mathematician from 1979 to 1982, and Mathematician from 1982 to 1996. He was Visiting Scientist with the Department of Computer Science at Yale University from September to December 1983, and with the Mathematical Sciences Institute at Cornell University in August 1989 and again in July 1994. He held Adjunct Professorships at the State University of New York at Stony Brook from 1986 to 1996 and at Texas A&M University from 1994 to 1996. Dr. Pasciak is the recipient of the 2007 Computational and Mathematical methods in Science and Engineering Prize for 'Excellence in Research', and of the Outstanding Science Communicator Award of the Texas A&M University chapter of Sigma Xi. He is regarded as a world leader on these topics. His work in these areas is very deep, highly innovative, mathematically complete, and it has enormous practical impact. It has been very influential for both theoretical numerical analysis and practical techniques for large scale computing of solutions to partial differential equations. Several methods which are widely used by the applied mathematics community bear his name: the Bramble/ Pasciak method for preconditioning a class of problems known as saddle point problems, the BPX (Bramble/Pasciak/Xu) preconditioner in multi-level methods, and the BPS (Bramble/Pasciak/ Schatz) preconditioner in the so called non-overlapping domain decomposition method.
Two noted scholars and colleagues of Dr. Pasciak wrote, “Joe Pasciak is a pillar of the group in numerical analysis at Texas A&M. He has been instrumental in developing this group to a size and strength that now puts it among the best in the country. His research and his related educational work have enhanced the reputation of Texas A&M University worldwide.”
College: College of Science
Award Level: Research
John
Penson
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Year Awarded: 2011
Since Dr. John Penson joined the faculty in 1975, he has taught several courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, including teaching the department’s introductory course to more than 7,000 students. He has also provided teaching leadership by co-chairing the committee appointed by the deans of COALS and Mays Business School that developed our popular Agribusiness major and cochaired the joint committee to explore establishing the recently approved Ph.D. program in Agribusiness with the Mays Business School. A prolific author of textbooks and research publications, he has received many prestigious awards for research and teaching, including the national Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award from the American Agricultural Economics Association. He has advised seven students completing their senior honors thesis in the University Undergraduate Fellows Program and tutored the department’s Academic Quiz Bowl teams preparing for national competition. Dr. Penson served as technical advisor to the Bryan High School Federal Reserve Challenge Team, which won the national Federal Reserve Challenge championship multiple times. Internationally, he served as Visiting Foreign Distinguished Professor at Korea University, presented an invited short course at Japan’s Kyushu University, has taught in the joint Masters Program between TAMU and Universidad Del Valle De Guatemala the past 15 years, and has taught in similar programs in Ecuador and Nicaragua. He received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from Southern Illinois University and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
One former student wrote, “The best learning tool that Dr. Penson implements in his class is the team concept of learning. Dr. Penson breaks his class into small groups to work on team projects that he assigns. This technique allows students to build relationships outside of class and learn from one another.”
Another former student wrote, “… I developed a significant interest in economics and its impact on agriculture as Dr. Penson took us through the first semester of our introductory class. His course had a great deal to do with the fact that I never once changed my major and graduated with a degree in Agribusiness in the fall of 2009.”
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Teaching
Christopher
Pope
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. Christopher N. Pope has been at TAMU for 22 years. His earned his Ph.D. from Cambridge University in 1980. He was the recipient of the Tv son Medal and the Rayleigh Prize, from the University of Cambridge, and was awarded First Prize by the Gravity Research Foundation. He has been the recipient of the TAMU Physics Department Graduate Teaching Award four times, and the TAMU College of Science Award for Teaching Excellence. He was appointed as Honorary Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge. His research is principally concerned with the unification of the fundamental forces in nature, and especially attempts to unify quantum theory with Einstein’s general theory of relativity to give a consistent theory of quantum gravity. This work included some of the earliest applications of topological methods to the area of quantum gravity in the l970s; the spontaneous dimensional reduction of supergravitv and superstrings to obtain four-dimensional physics from higher dimensions: and the derivation of string-theory corrections to Einstein’s general relativity. Subsequent research has included studies of duality symmetries in supergravities: the construction of manifolds of exceptional holonomy and their applications in M-theory compactifications; obtaining the exact solutions for rotating black holes in supergravity and higher-dimensional general relativity; the construction of the largest known class of Einstein-Sasaki manifolds for applications in string-theory compactifications; and new results on black-hole thermodynamics in higher dimensions. He has over 340 publications, with more than 275 in refereed journals: more than 11.800 citations to published work: and an index” exceeding 53.
One student wrote, “Dr. Pope’s problems are challenging and help develop physical intuition and mathematical comfort. Students seeking guidance to homework problems find Dr. Pope’s office door wide open. In his office he calmly guides student thinking. He answers questions patiently but demands that students solve the problems themselves.”
Another former student wrote, “It was his teaching that made me finally decide on a career in physics, and what I learned in his class is till beneficial to me today. Now I am teaching physics myself.”
College: Science
Award Level: Teaching
Edward
Rister '74
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. M. Edward Rister ’74 has been on the Texas A&M faculty since June 1981 after receiving his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University. His teaching and research relate to Rural Entrepreneurship and Production Economics, with emphases on water and energy. He has been recognized for teaching excellence at the department, college, and university level, including The Association of Former Students’ University Level Distinguished Teaching award in 2002. His current teaching activities focus on the Rural Entrepreneurship capstone courses where students develop comprehensive business plans for rural business ventures. Because of the individual attention he gives to each student, these courses are recognized as not only being rigorous and applied, but serving an important role in their professional development. Appreciative former students have helped secure endowments to support student-learning activities in the courses and annual donations to support scholarships. During 2002-2006, he served as Associate Head for Undergraduate Programs in the Department of Agricultural Economics, leading curricular revisions and expanding development activities for students outside the classroom. His publication list includes 47 refereed journal articles; 80 research bulletins; 18 invited presentations; 173 presented papers and posters; 17 international presentations; and numerous other presentations, grant reports, and computer software programs. He has chaired 35 graduate programs plus involved 11 undergraduate students in his research programs. He has served as a committee member on an additional 38 graduate committees.
One former student commented, “You might include his uncanny and infamous ability to keep up with and regularly visit former students – those who have traveled with Dr. Rister know ... it doesn’t matter what state or what county, Ed has a former student there and he will call to touch base and arrange a visit! Though we affectionately harass Ed over this, it is a testament to the lasting impact and relationships Ed has with many of his former students ... including myself. ... He continually proves himself invaluable to the education, careers, and lives of many students.”
College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Individual Student Relationships
Daniel
Romo '86
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. Daniel Romo started his career at A&M seventeen years ago and has since been continuously funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Welch Foundation. One of his truly outstanding achievements was the total synthesis of the marine spongederived natural product, pateamine A (PatA), along with a designed and simplified but equally potent derivative. The synthesis of a PatA-biotin conjugate enabled identification of the protein receptor of PatA as eIF4A, an initiation factor involved in protein synthesis that has become an important target for the development of anticancer agents. Elegant and concise syntheses of fatty acid synthase and proteasome inhibitors have enabled numerous collaborations that continue to garner interest from pharmaceutical companies. In the area of synthetic methodology, his research is synonymous with a class of heterocycles known as beta-lactones given his contributions to asymmetric routes and applications of these strained ring compounds. A recent project is directed toward novel methods for natural product derivatization for mode-of-action studies. He has published close to a hundred papers and has five patents related to natural product-based therapeutic agents; such parents have led to research partnerships with several pharmaceutical companies. His awards include an NSF CAREER Award, an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, a Zeneca Award for Excellence in Chemistry, a Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, a Novartis Lectureship, a Pfizer Award for Creativity in Organic Synthesis, and an Excellence in Innovation Award. He served as a regular NIH Study Section Member since 2004. A recent honor is the NIH Method-to-Extend-Research-In-Time (MERIT) Award.
One Distinguished professor wrote, “Consistent high regard has followed the research accomplishments of Daniel throughout his career. This can be gleaned from the abundance of awards that have been bestowed on him.” He continues, “The impact of Daniel's research extends beyond pure science. Daniel’s spectacular accomplishments, not only in chemical research but also in science education, help Texas A&M University fulfill its ambition for national and international prominence.”
College: College of Science
Award Level: Research
Courtney
Schumacher
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. Courtney Schumacher came to Texas A&M in 2003 after receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Washington. Dr. Schumacher studies tropical and radar meteorology with the overall goal of understanding how storm systems interact with the large-scale atmospheric circulation and climate. She is the recipient of the NSF CAREER award and NASA's New Investigator Program award. Both of these awards require demonstrated dedication to the pursuit of being an exemplary teacher-scholar. She also actively works on projects funded by the Department of Energy and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Dr. Schumacher has been a strong advocate of students and has been recognized for these efforts through the College of Geosciences Dean's Distinguished Teaching Award and Robert C. Runnels Excellence in Advising Award. Her university-wide recognition includes being a Fish Camp Namesake and special recognition by the Women Former Students' Network. Dr. Schumacher has served on numerous national committees dealing with student awards and fellowships, is active in minority recruitment in the STEM fields, and was chosen as a science hero by the MY HERO project.
One former student wrote, “…her enthusiasm, energy, and passion for teaching and research are infectious and inspiring. She has the ability to get students excited about class material, challenge them to go beyond the classroom, and even inspire them to pursue research, which are qualities that only great professors possess.”
Another former student wrote, “Dr. Schumacher has demonstrated to me that she is an extraordinary communicator and an advocate for undergraduate research and training opportunities. On top of this, she is an amazing mentor and dedicated role model who is always just an email, phone call, or office visit away.”
Another student commented, “Her priority is clearly her students, and it is evident through the time and effort she devotes in making sure they succeed. She appeals to all learning styles through the use of her clear and concise notes, explanation of concepts, and visual aids such as radar images. Her lab assignments push students to think beyond the classroom and "think outside the box" by applying techniques and ideas learned in lecture to actual real time data.”
College: Geosciences
Award Level: Teaching
Jairo
Sinova
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Year Awarded: 2011
Following his Ph.D. in condensed matter physics at Indiana University (1999) and two postdoctoral appointments in condensed matter physics at the University of Tennessee and the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Jairo Sinova joined the physics faculty at Texas A&M University in 2003. His research interests lie primarily in the fields of spintronics, magnetism, spin transport, ferromagnetic semiconductors, and spin thermoelectric effects. Dr. Sinova is one of the leading researchers in spintronics, a field of physics with strong potential for future technologies. He and coworkers proposed the notion of intrinsic spin Hall effect and formed part of one of the teams that discovered the Spin Hall Effect. He has published in the top journals in science and is among the most prolific scientists in his field with over 60 publications in the past five years and close to 50 invited talks in international meetings around the world. He has mentored several students and postdoctoral fellows, most of who have gone on to academic careers and positions. He was recently elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society in recognition for his ground breaking studies in spintronics. He has also received The Association of Former Students’ College-level Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching, the NSF CAREER Award, the Montague-Center for Teaching Excellence Scholar, and the Cottrell Scholar Award from the Research Corporation.
College: Science
Award Level: Research