Luciana R.
Barroso
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Year Awarded: 2008
Luciana Barroso holds BA. and B.S. degrees from Rice University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University. She joined the Texas A&M faculty in the fall of 1999. Her teaching talent and mentoring has been recognized both by her department and nationally; she has received the 2003 Zachry Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Department of Civil Engineering as well as the 2003 ExCEEd New Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award for Zone III from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). As one colleague states, “Dr. Barroso is regarded as someone who demonstrates “impressive skill, dedication and commitment to her students learning.” She has taught 11 different courses while at Texas A&M University and is constantly trying to refine and improve those courses. Her research interests have also expanded to include engineering education.
Dr. Barroso is known in the department as someone who will challenge her students to exceed their expectations and to actually understand the course material rather than “just get through it.” As one student states “while this is a notoriously difficult course in our department, with instruction and support from Dr. Barroso, I not only survived it, I thrived in it.” Another student declared that “one of the most important components to successfully completing the course is the availability of Dr. Barroso and her wonderfully structured and organized teaching style. She provided a really welcoming atmosphere where we could all work together.” Dr. Barroso is highly regarded both in and out of the classroom due to her dedication to her role as both teacher and mentor.
College: Engineering
Award Level: Teaching
David E.
Bergbreiter
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Year Awarded: 2008
David Bergbreiter joined the Texas A&M faculty in 1974 and currently holds the title of Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science and Engineering. An internationally recognized organic chemist, Dr. Bergbreiter has made seminal contributions in fields as diverse as asymmetric synthesis, enzymatic catalysis, polymer synthesis, surface chemistry, and metal-catalyzed organic reactions. He is particularly noted for innovative new catalyst recycling technologies, many of which involve polymers and/or biphasic systems, and have attracted intense interest from industry. He has over 225 refereed research publications, over 500 invited lectures at academic and industrial laboratories, meetings and symposia, and has served on numerous editorial board, government panels and advisory committees
According to his nominator, “Bergbreiter has always asserted that the best vehicle for teaching is research, and he has excelled as a mentor of undergraduates and graduate students.” He has trained 42 postdoctoral and 38 graduate students and supervised 48 undergraduate researchers, and his publications feature more than 32 undergraduate co-authors. He has been honored by Texas A&M with The Association of Former Students College-Level Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching (1983), The Association of Former Students University-Level Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching (1997), an Eppright University Professorship for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence (2002-2007), and the university’s most prestigious teaching award, the Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence, in 2006.
College: Science
Award Level: Research
Leonard L.
Berry
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Year Awarded: 2008
Leonard L. Berry came to Texas A&M in 1982. He presently is a Distinguished Professor of Marketing and holds the M.B. Zale Chair in Retailing and Marketing Leadership in the Mays Business School. He is also Professor of Humanities in Medicine in the College of Medicine, Health Science Center. He served as a Visiting Scientist at Mayo Clinic studying healthcare service in 2001-2002.
Professor Berry’s newest book is Management Lessons from Mayo Clinic which will be published in June 2008 by McGraw-Hill. He also is the author of Discovering the Soul of Service and On Great Service, among other books, as well as numerous journal articles. A former national president of the American Marketing Association, Dr. Berry received in 2007 the highest honor in the academic marketing discipline: the AMA/McGraw-Hill/Irwin Distinguished Marketing Educator Award. He also is a recipient of the Paul D. Converse Award, the Outstanding Marketing Educator Award from the Academy of Marketing Science, and the Career Contributions to Services Marketing Award.
This is Dr. Berry’s third Association of Former Students University-Level Distinguished Achievement Award. He has previously won in the category of Research (in 1996) and in Teaching (in 1990). The University also honored Professor Berry by selecting him as a University Distinguished Lecturer for 2002-2003.
College: Business
Award Level: Research
Paul S.
Busch
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Year Awarded: 2008
Paul Busch, Professor of Marketing, joined the Texas A&M faculty in 1986 as the Head, Department of Marketing, serving for 10 years. He was a 2002 Fish Camp namesake and received The Association of Formers Students College-Level Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching in 2007. Paul’s innovative teaching is evidenced by his incorporation of the StrengthsFinder program into his courses. This is a program that provides students and staff with the opportunity to discover natural talents and to gain insights into the development and utilization of those talents. Paul has also taught in the Executive MBA program since its inception in 2000.
A former Master’s degree student says: “His presence commanded the attention and the respect of every person in the room, yet his heart shined with compassion and caring making him easy to approach, ask questions of, or reach out to.” A former Ph.D. student comments: “I have adopted his style of preparation in my teaching, and have won numerous Excellence in Teaching awards as a result. Dr. Busch is the reason why I attended Texas A&M University, and the major reason why I earned my Ph.D. and entered the teaching profession myself.”
College: Business
Award Level: Teaching
Leland
Carlson
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Year Awarded: 2008
Lee Carlson joined the Aerospace Engineering Department of Texas A&M in 1969. In addition to teaching and research, he has served as Assistant and then Associate Dean of Engineering from 1981 thru 1984, and as Undergraduate Advisor and Director of Undergraduate Aerospace Engineering Programs from 1996 until 2004. Dr. Carlson is widely recognized for his research on transonic airfoil design methods and high altitude entry vehicle flow fields. He is a Fellow in both the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the American Society of Engineering Education.
Dr. Carlson’s first love, however, has always been teaching. In the endorsement letters, one individual wrote, “His passion for teaching is unparalleled…In the classroom he is exceedingly articulate and inexhaustibly energetic…It is not uncommon to find him helping students with challenging assignments beyond the hours expected of even the best professors.” Another wrote, “He puts in many extra hours preparing course materials as well as interacting with students. His classroom demeanor is that of a teacher who truly cares, and his door is always open…I have never known a professor who could so easily keep my attention and show the importance of the subject matter…He brings real-world applications into the learning environment.” Finally a colleague said of him, “His teaching style is really quite simple: Take teaching seriously, be prepared, create a classroom climate where students want to learn, expect the best of students, encourage classroom participation, and make the course content interesting and relevant to engineering practice.”
College: Engineering
Award Level: Teaching
Jerald A.
Caton
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Year Awarded: 2008
Professor Caton has been teaching at TAMU since September 1979 in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He teaches in the areas of thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid mechanics with applications concerning engines and power plants. Over this period of time, Professor Caton has continued to strive to be a more effective instructor, to share his passion for these subjects, and to motivate his students. He is highly regarded by his students, and his evaluations reflect his conscientious and rigorous teaching style. Comments typically made by his students are that Professor Caton is well-organized, enthusiastic, and knows his material. Some students rate him highly even though they note that his grading is uncommonly strict. A Fellow of both ASME and SAE, he manages to blend results from his research with the subject material to both illustrate relevance and to provide motivation, and his student appreciate the helpfulness of the “real-world” examples.
Professor Caton is a leader who has developed new courses, teaches undergraduates well, mentors graduate students and junior faculty, and excels with nationally important research and study. He is an award-winner who has received the Society of Automotive Engineers national Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award (1990) and the departmental Peggy L. and Charles L. Brittan (’65) Teaching Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching (2000).
College: Engineering
Award Level: Teaching
Frank D.
Cervantez ’92
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Year Awarded: 2008
Frank Cervantez is one of those exceptional individuals who goes well beyond the realm of their normal job responsibilities and promotes good working relationships among faculty, staff and students. He served in the United States Marine Corps for over 29 years, reaching the rank of Chief Warrant Officer IV, and he is a veteran of Desert Storm/Shield. A 1993 graduate of Texas A&M University, Mr. Cervantez worked part-time as a laboratory technician while pursuing his degree and then joined the full-time technical team of the ETID department immediately after completing his degree in Engineering Technology. As a former student, he has a great appreciation for the importance of the laboratory work as it supports the theory learned in the classroom instruction and firsthand experience in the challenge of maintaining the equipment in these labs. Receiving several promotions throughout his career, he now holds the position of Technical Laboratory Manager.
Mr. Cervantez has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of the laboratories while maintaining a safe working environment. He uses his military training expertise to improve the training of student workers and graduate students in the operation of equipment and lab procedures. Dr. Richard Alexander, former department head, states “from time to time his leadership training and experience in the Marine Corps came in handy when he was dealing with particularly challenging people or situations.” Mr. Cervantez is committed to ensuring that the students gain valuable experience in the laboratory and that the faculty can pursue research in a functional and safe environment. “He is a truly outstanding role model for what hard work and determination can do in achieving one’s goals, states Dr. Joseph Morgan, Victor H. Thompson Endowed Professor.
College: Engineering
Award Level: Staff
Patricia D.
Collins
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Year Awarded: 2008
Patti Collins is a shining star in the Texas A&M University community and specifically the Texas A&M University at Qatar community. She holds degrees from Western Kentucky University and the University of Cincinnati. Patti is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor in the state of Texas and a nationally certified counselor. Patti started her career as a school psychologist and then began serving college students in university counseling centers in 1994. She has held counseling center positions at Western Kentucky University and Texas A&M University and most recently has served as the Coordinator of Counseling and Wellness at Texas A&M University at Qatar for the past three years.
Over the past eight years, Patti has been helping Aggies to grow and develop and has helped many to reach their potential through their connection and interactions with Patti through the services she provides. She also has developed an area of expertise in biofeedback training to better serve the students in Qatar. One colleague wrote, “She has incredible empathy with students; she can so easily imagine what it is like for the student, and communicate that understanding.” Patti’s dedication and determination to always do what is best for the students shows in her every day interactions with students from various cultures. One student wrote, “she made me realize how important I am to myself and others, in short she enhances one’s self-esteem.”
Patti lives and works in Doha, Qatar with her husband Michael and ten year old daughter, Madeline. Patti enjoys running in her free time and most recently ran her fifth marathon in Venice, Italy. When not serving students, Patti is spending time with her family and four pets who were adopted in Qatar. She has been on the forefront of developing Aggies in Qatar and strives to connect them to the university while at the same time providing the gift of herself to TAMUQ Aggies, creating the space for safe, holistic self exploration and growth.
College: Texas A&M University at Qatar
Award Level: Student Relations
Leslie H.
Feigenbaum ’80
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Year Awarded: 2008
Leslie Feigenbaum received both his Bachelor’s degree in Building Construction and Master’s degree in Construction Management from Texas A&M University. He has been on the faculty in the Department of Construction Science for 20 years. His teaching and publishing emphasis is in construction project planning and controls. In addition, Leslie has authored one of the most adopted textbooks in the area of construction estimating.
Peers laud Leslie’s ability to mentor countless students on academic and career planning, and former students praise him for his interest in their personal and professional development, and the time that he dedicates to make them successful. One colleague says, “Leslie – if he can in any way be of assistance to any student, he will do so, no matter when or where.” The nomination letter from the College of Architecture Student Advisory Council states “a unique moment occurs when a faculty member takes the time to listen to a student and show genuine interest in their wellbeing. The effort it takes to be available, the willingness to come early and stay late to help a student, the readiness to mentor student activities … these actions speak louder than the letters you will read.”
College: Architecture
Award Level: Student Relations
James D.
Herman ’86
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Year Awarded: 2008
James Herman’s teaching excellence is evidenced by the numerous recognitions he has received, including The Association of Former Students College-Level Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching (2006), Montague--Center for Teaching Excellence Scholar (2004-2005), Outstanding Professor of Biomedical Science Teaching Award (1999), and the Richard Davis Teaching Award (1997).
His teaching philosophy can be summed up as follows: “The student drives the educational process; we must design a learning environment and situations which enhance the student’s educational experience….As an educator, my role is not simply to impart knowledge, but to train students to learn, to teach students to think, and provide students with valuable tools that can be used in the classroom and their future careers.” This philosophy is exemplified in comments on student evaluations. A former student stated, “Dr. Herman stood out from all my other professors as someone with a genuine interest in me individually, and in his passion for teaching.”
James Herman is married and has 3 sons. When he is not in the classroom, he is busy with his son’s activities and serves as a Young Life leader. Dr. Herman feels that he can have the greatest impact on the world by challenging future veterinarians, physicians, dentists, etc., to think, understand, and reason in their careers. He has been in the classroom fulltime for 12 years, and enjoys it all tremendously.
College: Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science
Award Level: Teaching
Michael A.
Hitt
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Year Awarded: 2008
Michael A. Hitt is a Distinguished Professor of Management at Texas A&M University and holds the Joe B. Foster Chair in Business Leadership. He joined Texas A&M in 1985. He has over 260 publications including 26 books. His research focuses on the strategies employed by multinational firms to be successful in a changing global competitive landscape. He is a former Editor of the Academy of Management Journal and is currently co-editor of the Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal. He has received several awards for his research including the Award for Outstanding Academic Contributions to Competitiveness and the Award for Outstanding Intellectual Contributions to Competitiveness Research from the American Society for Competitiveness. Dr. Hitt has received awards for the best article published in the Academy of Management Executive, Academy of Management Journal and the Journal of Management. He has received the Irwin Outstanding Educator Award and the Distinguished Service Award from the Academy of Management. He is a Fellow in the Academy of Management and in the Strategic Management Society. He is a former President of the Academy of Management and the current President of the Strategic Management Society. As an extension of his commitment to scholarship and the broader academic community, Dr. Hitt has worked with a number of Ph.D. students, many of whom are now successful scholars in the field.
He is proud of his two children who are both Aggies and successful professionals, Shawn (Class of ‘92) and Angie (Class of ‘96). He also has two grandchildren who are the light of his life, Mason (Class of 2023) and Michelle (Class of 2026).
College: Business
Award Level: Research
John L.
Junkins
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Year Awarded: 2008
John Junkins (Ph.D., UCLA, 1969) holds the Royce E. Wisenbaker Chair and also the title of Regent’s Professor. Prior to joining Texas A&M in 1985, he held academic appointments at the University of Virginia and at Virginia Tech. He has also held positions at McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and has consulted with over two dozen laboratories. Dr. Junkins is the author of over 370 publications, including 6 textbooks and several patents. He is a prolific mentor, having directed over 100 graduate students and post-doctoral researchers. Over a third of his 38 Ph.D. students are on leading faculties worldwide and have given rise to three generations of Ph.Ds. His former students constitute a significant school of thought in industry and academia.
Dr. Junkins is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the International Academy of Astronautics; he is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the American Astronautical Society. He has received a dozen national and international honors, including the AIAA Pendray Aerospace Literature Award and the International Astronautical Federation’s Frank Malina Medal.
College: Engineering
Award Level: Graduate Mentoring
Charles W.
Lafon
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Year Awarded: 2008
Charles Lafon joined the faculty of Texas A&M in 2000 after earning his Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee. He was named a Montague-Center for Teaching Excellence Scholar in 2004–05, and he received The Association of Former Students College-Level Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching, in 2006. He teaches an introductory course in physical geography; upper-level undergraduate courses in regional climatology, biogeography, and field geography; and a graduate course in biogeography. To promote his students’ academic and professional development and to stimulate their enthusiasm for geography, Dr. Lafon has designed a number of field, laboratory, and computer-based assignments, one of which led to a publication in a top geographic education journal.
Dr. Lafon serves as the Undergraduate Director and chair of the Undergraduate Committee in the Department of Geography. Currently he is leading the department’s efforts to revise and improve its undergraduate program.
Dr. Lafon has taken numerous graduate and undergraduate students with him on field research expeditions to the Appalachian Mountains, northern Sweden, and East Texas. He enjoys fieldwork and can think of no better way for students to learn and become excited about geography than to participate in field research activities. He also works closely with students to help them publish their research.
College: Geosciences
Award Level: Teaching
Joe L.
Outlaw ’87
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Year Awarded: 2008
Joe Outlaw is a Professor and Extension Economist with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Department of Agricultural Economics. He also serves as the Co-Director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center, consulting with Congress about the likely consequences of agricultural policy changes.
Dr. Outlaw is a leader in agricultural and renewable energy policy analysis and education. He also is on the leading edge of farm-level agricultural policy analysis, biofuels, alternative technology assessment, and development of risk-based farm management decision aids. His work has made significant impacts on the viability of agriculture and rural communities across the nation. Wayne Cleveland, Executive Director, Texas Grain Sorghum Association, writes, “Joe’s ability to convey a non-sugar coated review of policy and its effect is really what sets him apart…His analyses and presentations leave very little room for misinterpretation and for these reasons he is a highly sought after speaker and has a very high acceptance level in the country as well as Washington, D.C.”
In 2002, he led a team of Extension economists who received awards for their 2002 farm bill education efforts from the American Agricultural Economics Association, the Southern Agricultural Economics Association, the National Public Policy Education Committee, USDA-FSA, and the Texas A&M University System Vice Chancellor for Agriculture.
Dr. Outlaw is originally from Devine, Texas. He received his B.S (1987), M.S. (1988), and Ph.D. (1992) degrees from Texas A&M University, all in agricultural economics. He is married to Natalie (’98) and has three children, Stephanie, Layne, and Dylan.
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Continuing Education/Extension
James C.
Sacchettini
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Year Awarded: 2008
James C. Sacchettini joined Texas A&M University in 1996 and currently serves as a Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and holder of the Welch Chair of Science. Dr. Sacchettini is fundamentally involved in using structural biology in structure-based drug design. His research program focuses on eventually abating one of the worst diseases afflicting the third world, tuberculosis. An undisputed leader in the area of structural biology of tuberculosis, Dr. Sacchettini co-founded the TB Structural Genomics Consortium in 2002 and recently assumed leadership of this exciting international project. He was also elected to serve as one of the early chairs of the Gordon Conference on TB Drug Development, the biennial meeting that brings together all of the leading researchers in the fields.
Dr. Sacchettini has co-authored approximately 87 publications over the past 5 years, and his research grant expenditures during last fiscal year alone totaled over $4.3M. His research efforts have clearly benefited many students directly including 36 graduate students who earned their Ph.D. degree under Dr. Sacchettini’s supervision during the 11 years he has been at Texas A&M. A similar number of postdoctoral fellows have trained in his laboratory as well as a large number of undergraduate students.
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Research
Dorothy E.
Shippen
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Year Awarded: 2008
Dorothy Shippen joined the Texas A&M faculty in 1991 and serves as a Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics. She is recognized for her pioneering research in the exciting field of telomerase, an enzyme that has special significance to aging and cancer. In the last 5 years, Dr. Shippen has published 18 papers with 4 or more “in the pipeline.” These articles chronicle a movement of her research focus using the simple plant organism Arabidopsis. Dr. Shippen is rapidly carving a unique scientific niche as she essentially pioneers this specific telomerase subfield which may serve as an important model of mammalian behavior.
An active member of the Faculty of Genetics, Dr. Shippen’s work is signified by her many invitations to speak at major scientific conferences as well as her 2001 publication in Science that essentially made the case for the relevance of plant telomers to human health. She currently enjoys over $1.7M in research grant support from NIH, NSF and the State of Texas. Eight students have received their doctoral degree under her mentorship, and over 30 undergraduates have trained under her tutelage. Her laboratory has attracted 6 other Ph.D. students, 3 postdoctoral fellows and 4 undergraduates.
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Research
Daniel A.
Singleton
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Year Awarded: 2008
Daniel Singleton joined the faculty of Texas A&M in 1987 and currently holds the rank of Professor of Chemistry and Davidson Professor of Science. He received The Association of Former Students College-Level Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching in 1995, was a University Faculty Fellow (2001-2006), has served as associate editor of the Journal of Organic Chemistry since 2005, and in 2008 was named an Arthur C. Cope Scholar by the American Chemical Society for excellence in organic chemistry. He is the quintessential teacher-scholar, a truly outstanding chemical educator who also has a worldwide reputation in research.
His nominator and supporting letter writers all praise the excellence of his teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, his innovative development of inquiry/discovery methods with an emphasis on green chemistry for the sophomore organic laboratory, his creation of a new graduate course on computational chemistry, and his exceptional involvement in student mentoring activities. One current undergraduate researcher sums it up with a Chinese proverb, “I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand,” in describing how “Doc” has helped her to understand - not just remember – the important things she needs to know to become the organic chemist she intends to be one day.
College: Science
Award Level: Teaching
Joe D.
Townsend ’67
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Year Awarded: 2008
Joe Townsend serves as Associate Dean and Director of Student Development in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences where he actively serves the academic, advising and development needs of over 5,400 undergraduate students. He is also an Associate Professor of Leadership Development in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications. During his eleven year tenure in the Dean’s Office, Dr. Townsend has administered the College’s scholarship program, directed the Agricultural Career Exposition, and coordinated student recruiting, career planning and internship experiences. He has received numerous accolades to include, but not limited to, the John J. Koldus Award; Honor Professor by the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences Council; and the Texas A&M Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award for Individual Student Relations.
As one student has commented, “His heart’s only purpose is to see students succeed in their endeavors and grasp the depth of the Aggie Spirit. He fully understands Texas A&M University exists to educate and serve the students who attend, the citizens of the state of Texas and to better the world at large by producing capable leaders.” Yet another student sums it up as follows, “Dr. Joe is there to empower students,” and give daily encouragement to “Make it Happen!”
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Administration
John
Valasek
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Year Awarded: 2008
John Valasek has been with Texas A&M University since 1997, where he is currently an Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Director, Vehicle Systems & Control Laboratory. He is a Member of the Honors Faculty, and a Montague--Center for Teaching Excellence Scholar who has taught a total of nine different undergraduate and graduate courses in his department, four of which he created. One of his students has said of him, “It was evident both inside and outside the classroom that he cared deeply that we understood the material and that we learned, not just the theory and the details, but more importantly the responsibility inherent with being called an engineer.”
Dr. Valasek conveys to his students that the only thing they can really control is their attitude, and he challenges them to improve and get the very best out of themselves. A former student, who is now leading a product development team in industry, notes that “Dr. Valasek is very perceptive when it comes to his students, and works in subtle ways to nudge each of us into the position where we shine best. Being a shy person I rarely found myself in a leadership position, but with his encouragement and direction by the end of his courses I discovered that I had become one of the leaders in my class.”
"I am a teacher... and I thank God for it every day." – John Valasek
College: Engineering
Award Level: Teaching
Marguerite
Van Dyke
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Year Awarded: 2008
Ambassador, cheer leader, graduate recruiter, confidant – all are qualities which describe Marguerite Van Dyke in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences. As the department’s “unofficial goodwill ambassador,” Ms. Van Dyke’s role as Clerk III extends far beyond a support staff function. Acknowledged as one of the top programs in its field, the department’s success in graduate recruiting is attributed to Ms. Van Dyke’s contributions in recruiting excellent cadres of graduate students. MVD, as she is known by faculty and friends, handles almost all contacts with prospective graduate students from the initial contact through their acceptance and arrival on campus. In fact, numerous graduate students have cited Marguerite’s “sincere concern for their well-being, her warmth and her friendship” as key factors in their electing to come to Texas A&M. In recognition of her selfless service and dedication, two departmental graduate student and international student alumni groups have each established $25,000 named endowments in her honor.
Celebrating her 30th anniversary with the department this year, Marguerite is revered by all. One former student sums it up as follows, “Marguerite embodies everything held near and dear to Aggies. Simply put, she represents a tradition of above average performance for nothing in return beyond intrinsic rewards.”
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Staff
Michael D.
Willard ’74
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Year Awarded: 2008
Michael Willard is a 1975 graduate of Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Willard held teaching appointments at Mississippi State University and Michigan State University before returning to TAMU in 1988. He received The Association of Former Students College-Level Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching in 1993, The Association for Former Students University-Level Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching in 1995, and two national teaching awards. Dr Willard has also delivered over 2,000 hours of continuing education lectures to veterinarians both nationally and internationally.
Dr. Willard has a unique style of teaching. One of his students writes that, “At first, Dr. Willard terrifies many students. He makes us think hard and defend our own ideas. He makes us speak in public! He did not teach us simple facts. Rather, he very effectively taught us critical thinking and made us discover the facts on our own. We began his course scared, and finished it capable and inspired.” A colleague states that, “His whole purpose is to enhance critical thinking and to teach students to be problems solvers. He spends an incredible amount of time outside of the classroom in reading and analyzing the student’s responses to his questions. Even when he is traveling for research or scientific meetings, he is often in contact with his students by email.”
He credits much of his success to his wife of 34 years, Gladys, without whom he simply could not have done it—period!
College: Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science
Award Level: Teaching
Guoyao
Wu
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Year Awarded: 2008
A Professor of Animal Science, Guoyao Wu joined Texas A&M University in 1991. His research focuses on the role of amino acids in ameliorating diabetes, improving vascular function and enhancing conceptus development and survival. An extremely prolific scientist, Dr. Wu has published over 188 journal articles, including over 28 refereed articles in 2007 alone. Since 1991, he has secured more than $12 million in contract and grant funding as PI, Co-PI or Co-Investigator. Dr. Wu’s research talent is seamlessly integrated into his graduate education program as evidenced by his excellent record of service as Chair, Co-Chair or member of more than 42 graduate committees. He currently serves on seven graduate advisory committees representing students in four different majors.
As evidence of his national and international research reputation, Dr. Wu’s peers selected him to membership on several editorial boards; he has served as an ad hoc reviewer for 37 scientific journals. Peer recognition is also reflected in his membership on the Medical Research Council of Canada, USDA National Research Initiative and Cardiovascular Science National Grant Review Committees. Dr. Wu was recognized as an “Established Investigator” in 1998 by the American Heart Association and received the Nonruminant Nutrition Research Award in 2004 from the American Society of Animal Science.
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Research
Bernd G.
Wursig
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Year Awarded: 2008
Bernd Würsig, Professor of Marine Biology, joined the Texas A&M at Galveston faculty in 1989. He was invited to start a new Marine Mammal Research Program and became the director of the Texas A&M University’s Institute of Marine Life Sciences in the mid-1990’s. His specialty is the behavior and behavioral ecology of whales and dolphins. Currently, he is working on the 2nd edition of the critically-acclaimed Academic Press Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals and a new book on the lives of dusky dolphins. Bernd has been a leader in the field of marine mammal science for nearly three decades. His involvement in the development of the field has included pioneering field research, helping to bring rigor to cetacean behavioral studies and teaching, and serving as President of the Society for Marine Mammalogy.
He has trained (as undergraduates, graduates, or post-doctoral fellows) many of the experts in the field today. His support of the graduate students he mentored always encouraged them to do more than they thought was possible. He is well loved by all former students for his dedication, highest integrity, and promoting the development and potential of young scientists and students. He is extremely generous with his time and energy never hesitating to meet with the students one-to-one and listen to their questions and concerns. Sixty-two graduate students have graduated with him over the past 26 years. He has been essential in developing the student’s research ethics, teaching, communication skills, and in expanding their horizons. In November 2006, he was voted a Regents Professor, Texas A&M System. Quite simply, Bernd sets the benchmark of excellence as a student advisor and mentor.
College: Texas A&M University at Galveston
Award Level: Graduate Mentoring
Behbood B.
Zoghi ’93
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Year Awarded: 2008
Ben Zoghi is a professor and Director of RFID/Sensor Laboratory at Texas A&M University. He was Leonard & Valerie Bruce Leadership Chair Professor, Director of the Thomas & Joan Read Center for Distribution Research & Education, and Program Coordinator in the Industrial Distribution Program, at Texas A&M University. Dr. Zoghi’s recent research focuses on RFID/sensor integration and emotional intelligence leadership. A member of the Texas A&M University faculty for 20 years, he has distinguished himself as a teacher, writer and researcher, and has been honored for his teaching excellence by the College and the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students. Dr. Zoghi has served as a Motorola Faculty Fellow and Faculty Fellow with Applied Materials. He became a registered professional engineer in the state of Texas in 1992. Dr. Zoghi holds a Bachelor's degree from Seattle University and a Master's degree from The Ohio State University, both in electrical engineering. He also holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. He is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, Tau Alpha Pi and the American Society for Engineering Education.
One former student, Jeb Bell (CEO of Equipment Controls Company , Inc) said about Dr. Zoghi’s class "I am experiencing the difference between wanting to be a great leader and actually becoming one! ‘Dr Z’ breaks the mold on traditional engineering education by including the emotional intelligence."
In his professional training on Emotional Intelligence Leadership, former student John Lyons, Sr. (Marketing Engineer, CapRock Communications) said, “I have had many training opportunities throughout my career but none have left a deeper or more lasting impact. I know that many lessons I learned will continue to challenge me to be a better leader, coworker and person. ‘Seminar’ is such a lacking word to describe the profound experience that this training comprised and that was expertly conveyed by [Dr. Zoghi]. [His] work and passion for the lessons we learned are beyond compare. [He is] immensely gifted and has shared those gifts with us without reservation.”
Dr. Zoghi is married to Dr. Arezu Daftarian, a local family physician; they have two daughters, Sara, 8 and Lara 6.
College: Engineering
Award Level: Teaching
Sherry
Adams
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Year Awarded: 2007
A native of Caldwell, Ms. Adams attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. Her first assignment in Aggieland was with the Office of the Commandant for the Corps of Cadets. Life called, and Ms. Adams left Texas A&M, knowing that she would return one day. In 1990, she returned as an Administrative Assistant for the Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery. After a brief move to Laredo, Ms. Adams returned to the College of Veterinary Medicine, this time as the Assistant to the Dean. One CVM administrator says, “Sherry typifies what being a leader and team player is all about. She is extraordinarily dedicated to Texas A&M University and the CVM.”
In addition to supporting the many functions of the Dean’s office, Ms. Adams is responsible for the Office of Continuing Education, overseeing the Gentle Doctor Benefit and Auction that raises more than $120,000 each year for veterinary medical scholarships, coordinating college events, and supporting the faculty, staff, students and programs of the CVM. Through her tireless and selfless efforts, Ms. Adams is leaving an indelible mark on the lives and legacy of the college and those who work and study here. One admirer said, “Just being in Sherry’s presence, one cannot help but to see what a dignified, upstanding, honest and sincere person she is. She has dedicated her life to helping others.”
College: Administration
Award Level: Staff
J. Amanda
Adkisson
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Year Awarded: 2007
J. Amanda Adkisson holds both Master’s of Science and Ph.D. degrees in Finance from Texas A&M University. She is a 2005 winner of the Association of Former Students College-Level Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching, and in 2006 was nominated by the Texas A&M Student Government Association for the Presidential Professor Award for Teaching Excellence. Her teaching areas include investments, corporate finance, international finance, and money and capital markets. In a career that thus far spans a quarter of a century, she is honored to have taught approximately 8500 university students, including both undergraduates and graduates. Dr. Adkisson has also published numerous articles in refereed academic journals on the subjects of commercial banking, government regulation of the financial system, and most recently, mutual funds.
Dr. Adkisson comes from a farming family. She developed her interest in business and finance while computerizing the records of a dairy. She lives on a small horse farm near College Station with her husband, Dr. William Crockford, where they enjoy outdoor activities such as bicycling, gardening, and exploring nature.
College: Business
Award Level: Teaching
Alexandru
Balaban
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Year Awarded: 2007
Alexandru T. Balaban was born in Romania, where he taught organic chemistry for 40 years. He began collaborating with scientists at Texas A&M University in Galveston in 1991, and became a tenured professor here in 2000. For three years he was a Senior Research Scientist at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna for radio-pharmaceuticals. Dr. Balaban’s scientific achievements include the discovery of a new synthesis of pyrylium salts by diacylation of alkenes (the Balaban-Nenitzescu-Praill reaction), a new syntheses of oxazoles and indolizines, demonstration of the catalytic automerization (a term Dr. Balaban coined) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the development of new donors of nitric oxide, and the introduction of new molecular descriptors(one of which is known as the Balaban topological index, used for molecular modeling). Dr. Balaban edited the first book on the chemical applications of graph theory, and he published his studies on graph-theoretical characteristics that predicted the structure of fullerene cages, and predicted the existence of graphitic cones before they were observed.
Dr. Balaban is the author/coauthor of 700 research papers (peer-reviewed journals), 60 chapters (edited books), and 16 authored or edited books. He is a member of Academies in Romania and Hungary, and is on the editorial board of over 10 scientific journals.
College: Marine Sciences (TAMUG)
Award Level: Research
Richard
Bartoskewitz
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Year Awarded: 2007
Richard E. Bartoskewitz, a native of San Antonio, Texas, received his B.S. in civil engineering in 1969 from Texas A&M University. After receiving his M.S. in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M in 1970, he worked for the Texas Transportation Institute. His research interests were in the area of soil-structure interaction, with emphasis on deep foundations for highway bridges and soil pressures on earth-retaining structures and culverts. In 1973, he began teaching for the Civil Engineering Department, and in 1992 was assigned to his current position of Senior Academic Advisor in the undergraduate office.
In 1999, Mr. Bartoskewitz was selected as a T-Camp namesake. He received an Outstanding Staff award in 2002, and currently volunteers as the Academic Mentor for Company E-2 in the Corps of Cadets. He was selected as an Outstanding Academic Volunteer by the Corps of Cadets in 2006. He and his wife, Polly, have two children: a son Rick ’92 and a daughter Laura ’95, and two grandchildren, future Aggies, Jacob ’23 and Caleb ’25.
College: Engineering
Award Level: Student Relations
William
Bryant
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Year Awarded: 2007
William R. Bryant, Professor of Oceanography in the College of Geosciences, has been with Texas A&M University for a total of 44 years. During this time, he has held positions such as Research Scientist, Assistant, Associate, and full Professor. He served as Oceanography Department Head from 1998-2000. Dr. Bryant received his Masters and Doctors degrees at the University of Chicago after serving in the United States Air Force during the Korean War.
Dr. Bryant's students have a genuine admiration and respect for him personally, as well as for his efforts on their behalf both in and out of the classroom. He is unassuming and approachable and always willing to talk with and spend time helping students and other geologists. Dr. Bryant has also helped elevate the teaching of other faculty members. He generously provides materials and suggestions to younger faculty to help them improve their teaching. This type of mentoring truly makes a difference to the younger faculty and ultimately enhances the education of their students. Bill's example fosters a general spirit of goodwill and cooperation within his department.
College: Geosciences
Award Level: Graduate Mentoring
Jianer
Chen
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Year Awarded: 2007
Jianer Chen received a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science from the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences (New York University) in 1987, and a Ph.D. degree in Mathematics from Columbia University in 1990. At that time he joined the Department of Computer Science at Texas A&M University where he is currently a Professor and the Head of Graduate Admissions. Dr. Chen assisted Department Head, Dr. Valerie Taylor, in initiating a Graduate Student Annual Review program and an Invited Graduate Admission program for the department. He has developed a teaching technique MIIP (Motivation-Intuition-Interaction-Application) that successfully motivates students’ desire to learn.
Dr. Chen’s research interests include theoretical computer science, computer graphics, computer networks, and bioinformatics. He has published over 150 research papers in these areas, including over 60 journal papers and over 80 referenced conference papers. His research has been continuously supported by the National Science Foundation. He has received numerous research and teaching awards, including being a four-time recipient of the Graduate Teaching Excellence Award, which is voted on by graduate students in the department.
College: Engineering
Award Level: Teaching