Bruno
Zwolinski
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Year Awarded: 1969
College: Science
Award Level: Research
David A.
Zuberer
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Year Awarded: 2003
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Teaching
Debra
Zoran '97
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Year Awarded: 2010
College: College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Award Level: Teaching
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
Lynn
Zimmerman
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Year Awarded: 1997
College: Business
Award Level: Student Relations
Hong-Cai "Joe"
Zhou '00
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Year Awarded: 2017
Hong-Cai “Joe” Zhou, professor of chemistry, materials science and engineering, and holder of the Robert A. Welch Chair in Chemistry, earned his doctorate from Texas A&M University under the direction of F.A. Cotton. After completing a postdoctoral position at Harvard University, he served on the faculty of Miami University. In 2008, Dr. Zhou moved to Texas A&M University and in that short time has developed a truly exceptional, internationally recognized research program. He ranks among the top three U.S. and top five worldwide researchers in the field of metal-organic frameworks (MOF). Known as a pioneer in ligand design and synthesis, he also is an expert in kinetic control of MOF preparation. Dr. Zhou has received a Research Innovation Award from Research Corporation, an NSF CAREER Award, a Cottrell Scholar Award from Research Corporation, the Miami University Distinguished Scholar-Young Investigator Award, the Faculty Excellence Award from Air Products, and the DOE Hydrogen Program Special Recognition Award. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Chemical Society, and the Royal Society of Chemistry. Dr. Zhou has published 216 peer-reviewed papers and was recognized as a “highly cited researcher” by Thomson Reuters in 2014, 2015, and 2016 — the only chemist in The Texas A&M University System who has achieved this distinction. As one supporter states, “Professor Zhou has demonstrated an outstanding ability to execute world class research and attract major research funding. There is no question but that his contributions have had a major impact on the field of materials chemistry.”
College: Department of Chemistry
Award Level: Research
Renyi
Zhang
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Year Awarded: 2012
Renyi Zhang joined the faculty in Texas A&M’s Departments of Atmospheric Sciences (College of Geosciences) and Chemistry (College of Science) in 1997. He earned a Ph.D. from MIT in 1993 and completed postdoctoral work at Caltech/NASA. He is holder of the Harold J. Haynes Endowed Chair in Geosciences. His early research contributed to the understanding of stratospheric ozone depletion and thunderstorm electrification.
His research at Texas A&M has led to breakthroughs and paradigm shifts in several atmospheric fields—photochemical oxidation of hydrocarbons; formation, growth, and properties of aerosols; urban and regional air pollution; ambient measurements of trace gases and aerosols; and assessment of aerosol-cloud-climate interaction—and provided critical insights into the impacts of human activities on the environment, weather, and climate. He has published 141 papers in peer-refereed journals and his work has been cited more than 3,800 times.
Currently, Dr. Zhang serves as director of the Center for Atmospheric Chemistry and Environment at Texas A&M, chairs the American Meteorological Society’s Atmospheric Chemistry Committee, is editor of the Journal of Geophysical Research–Atmospheres, and is a member of the International Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution. He has chaired 12 Ph.D. dissertations and 8 master’s theses. He has received several awards, including honorary professorships at Fudan University and Peking University in China, the Outstanding International Collaboration Researcher Award from the China National Science Foundation, the Bush Excellence Award for Faculty in International Research, and the Cheung-Kong Distinguished Scholar Award from the Ministry of Education–China. He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union.
College: Geosciences
Award Level: Research
Asghar
Zardkoohi
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. Asghar Zardkoohi is the T.J. Barlow Professor of Business Administration in the Department of Management at Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. He came to Texas A&M in 1981. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. His research and teaching interests are in the areas of organizational architecture, corporate governance, decision making, business and public policy, industrial organization, financial intermediaries, and law and economics. His current research interests are in corporate governance, decision making under uncertainty, and executive compensation. His research has appeared in a variety of academic journals including American Economic Review; Journal of Finance; Journal of Law and Economics; Northwestern Law Review; Economic Inquiry; Journal of Banking and Finance; Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization; Harvard Journal on Legislation; Strategic Management Journal; and Academy of Management Review. He has received numerous teaching awards at Mays Business School, Texas A&M University: Mays Teaching Fellowship Award, 2010; Mays Teaching Performance Award, 2010; Executive MBA Teaching Excellence Award, 2009; Mays Business School MBA Teaching Excellence Award, 2009; Mays Business School, Executive MBA Faculty Recognition Award for Teaching, 2006; Association of Former Students, Mays Business School, Distinguished Teaching Award, 2003; Association of Former Students, Mays Business School, Distinguished Teaching Award, 1989. Dr. Zardkoohi team teaches a course on the economic analysis of contract law at EDHEC, a business school in Lille/Nice, France. In addition, he teaches an executive class in Saudi Arabia for Aramco's executives, at the company's Headquarters in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. He has received research grants from NASA, the American Banking Association, AT&T, and the Small Business Administration. He has won the Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University Distinguished Research Award, 1985. He is a Research Fellow at Texas A&M University's Private Enterprise Research Center
College: Mays Business School
Award Level: Teaching
David
Youngblood
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Year Awarded: 1982
College: Science
Award Level: Research
Ryland F.
Young III
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Year Awarded: 2002
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Research
Ryland
Young
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Year Awarded: 2011
Dr. Ryland F. Young III earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology in 1975 for his studies as an NSF Pre-doctoral Fellow at U.T. Dallas and MIT, bracketing service as a line officer in the U.S. Navy during the Viet Nam era. After a NIH Post-doctoral Fellowship at Harvard, his 33 years at Texas A&M began in 1978 as an Assistant Professor in Medical Biochemistry in the College of Medicine, after which he transferred to his current department, Biochemistry and Biophysics in 1986. Dr. Young’s research, focused on the molecular biology of bacteriophages, the viruses of bacteria, has resulted in more than 120 publications and book chapters, as well as in excess of 125 invited talks at conferences, universities and biotechnology industry sites. He was the first COALS recipient of an NIH MERIT Award and has been honored as a TAES Faculty Fellow as well as the Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement in Research Award. Elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Science and also the Academy Society for Microbiology, he has served as Editor of the Journal of Bacteriology. He is currently the Sadie Hatfield Professor of Agriculture and Director of the Center for Phage Technology, a translational science center created in 2010 by the System Board of Regents.
He has taught undergraduates, graduate students, and medical students in a variety of courses, including Medical Biochemistry, for which he was selected as Instructor of the year in 1982, General Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics. He is now teaching a nationally-unique undergraduate course in viral genomics funded by the National Science Foundation. Twenty-six students have earned Masters or Doctorates under his mentorship and have gone on to careers in teaching, business, biotechnology, and research, including individuals now holding faculty positions at Harvard and Imperial College London.
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Teaching
Sherry
Yennello
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Year Awarded: 2012
Sherry Yennello has taught students and led an internationally recognized research program at in Texas A&M’s College of Science for the past 19 years. She is passionate about ensuring equity and access to education and professional advancement for all, both creating opportunities and motivating students to take advantage of existing opportunities.
After earning her Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry from Indiana University, Dr. Yennello served as a research associate at Michigan State University. She joined the Texas A&M faculty in 1993. Her research in accelerator-based, heavy-ion reactions is supported by six federal grants and has been recognized by numerous awards. She is a Fellow of both the American Chemical Society and the American Physical Society.
Dr. Yennello teaches a dynamic range of courses from first year chemistry for non-science (predominately elementary education) majors and a freshman seminar course in Kitchen Chemistry to graduate courses in nuclear chemistry. Over the course of her career, she has involved 31 undergraduate and 16 graduate students plus 14 postdoctoral fellows in her research. She also has initiated and runs several programs aimed at increasing educational opportunities for students from groups that have not traditionally been part of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce.
Uniformly, Dr. Yennello is known for making chemistry meaningful to her students. For example, one of her classroom activities, “Chemistry in My Life,” requires each student to give a 3 to 5 minute presentation on an everyday application of chemistry. These have included how vapor pressures affect the application of nail polish to the optimum oxygen mix in fuel for cars.
Her nominator—a former student—concludes, “if I can become half the teacher Sherry is now, my students and I will benefit immeasurably.”
College: Science
Award Level: Teaching
Ping
Yang
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Year Awarded: 2017
Ping Yang, professor and holder of the David Bullock Harris Chair in Geosciences in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences with a joint appointment in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, received his doctorate from the University of Utah. Before joining College of Geosciences in 2001, he held research scientist positions at the University of California, Los Angeles; the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; and the University of Maryland. An internationally renowned expert in the propagation of light throughout atmosphere, Dr. Yang specifically focuses on the scattering of light by particles — ice and water clouds and other atmospheric particles, generally referred to as aerosols. The outcomes of his research have made an enormous impact on remote sensing of ice clouds and dust aerosol by satellites and the broadband radiation parameterizations for application to climate models. In 2013, he received the Ascent Award from the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Atmospheric Sciences Section for “fundamental research in radiative transfer and remote sensing.” Dr. Yang has published 284 peer-reviewed journal articles, 11 invited book chapters, and 3 textbooks on atmospheric radiation. He was elected a fellow of the Optical Society of America, the American Meteorological Society, and the AGU. A 2005 paper by Yang et al., which documents an ice crystal scattering database in infrared spectrum, is the eighth most highly cited paper in applied optics over the past ten years. As one supporter states, “Some amazing scientists go the extra mile beyond being highly productive. They leave a legacy. This is the stature that I think Ping Yang has now achieved; he has taken the atmospheric radiation field in new directions and become a leader in shaping the future of the field. It has been immeasurably enriched by his contributions.”
College: Department of Atmospheric 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
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
X. Ben
Wu
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Year Awarded: 2016
X. Ben Wu, professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management and Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence, earned his Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Tennessee and did postdoctoral research at The Ohio State University before joining the faculty of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 1995. He has taught more than 8,400 undergraduates in Fundamentals of Ecology. Dr. Wu is well known for his enthusiasm and genuine care for students, as well as his engaging approaches to teaching, including technology-mediated active learning and ecological inquiry projects that focus on understanding the process of science and developing critical thinking and communication skills. He has had more than 270 graduate students in his demanding yet very popular Landscape Analysis and Modeling course and is praised for his exceptional ability to make complex concepts and quantitative methods clear and relevant. His passion motivates students to learn. Dr. Wu is an internationally recognized expert in landscape ecology and has published 79 peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters. He has been recognized for his achievements with numerous awards, including the Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence award, the John Kincaid University Professor for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence award, The Association of Former Students College-Level Teaching Award, and the SEC Faculty Achievement Award. A current graduate student wrote, “Dr. Wu exemplifies superior teaching and excellence . . . . He inspires me to be curious and disciplined.” A former student wrote, “Dr. Ben Wu’s commitment to the learning process exemplifies the meaning of teaching in its highest sense.”
College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Teaching
Willard
Worley ’43
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Year Awarded: 1982
College: Engineering
Award Level: Student Relations
Alvin
Wooten ’45
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Year Awarded: 1964
College: Liberal Arts
Award Level: Teaching
J.J.
Woolket
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Year Awarded: 1965
College: Liberal Arts
Award Level: Teaching
Karen
Wooley
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Year Awarded: 2016
Karen Wooley is a University Distinguished Professor and holds the W. T. Doherty-Welch Chair in Chemistry, with joint appointments in the Departments of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering. She earned her Ph.D. in polymer/organic chemistry from Cornell University. Before joining the faculty of the College of Science in 2009, she served on the faculty of Washington University in St. Louis. Her research interests include degradable polymers derived from natural products, unique macromolecular architectures and complex polymer assemblies, and the design and development of well-defined nanostructured materials. The development of novel synthetic strategies, fundamental study of the materials’ properties, and their functional performance in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, as non-toxic anti-biofouling or antiicing coatings for the marine environment, as materials for microelectronics device applications, and as pollutant remediation systems are particular foci of her research activities. Her recent awards include the American Chemical Society Award in Polymer Chemistry, Royal Society of Chemistry Centenary Prize, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Honorary Fellow of the Chinese Chemical Society, Oesper Award, and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Wooley served as an Editor for the Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry from 2003-2014, and she currently serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of the American Chemical Society. She directs a National Heart Lung and Blood Institute-supported Program of Excellence in Nanotechnology, and serves on advisory boards for several journals, universities, companies, and programs within the broader international scientific community. She is regarded as one of the most internationally influential and innovative organic polymer chemists in the world.]
College: College of Science
Award Level: Research
Robert "Jay"
Woodward '97
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Year Awarded: 2016
Jay Woodward, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, is a three-time graduate of Texas A&M University, holding a B.A. in psychology and both an M.S. and a Ph.D. in educational psychology. He joined the faculty of the College of Education and Human Development in 2005. Dr. Woodward leads instruction in several core curriculum classes at the undergraduate level along with his specialized courses at the graduate level. His nominator described Dr. Woodward’s strong commitment to students like this: “He views his role as one of helping students secure the futures they envision for themselves after graduation by facilitating their applications and acceptance into specialized programs and internships and fostering their research and writing skills through guided undergraduate fellowships.” In addition to teaching, Dr. Woodward serves as the faculty advisor for two student organizations: Educational Psychology Student Organization and Camp Keseme Advisory Board—an organization committed to supporting children through and beyond their parents’ cancer. Through these organizations, he has worked with students on marketing, fundraising, membership recruitment, and developing fun-filled activities. He also is the director of the Youth Adventure Program (YAP), a career-exploration program for middle school and high school students. Over the last five years, YAP has welcomed more than 1,200 students from 17 states and 6 foreign countries, many of whom have gone on to attend Texas A&M. Dr. Woodward not only has developed relationships with current Aggies but also with future Aggies! In recognition of his dedication to students, he has been honored as both a Fish Camp Namesake and a T-Camp Namesake. In sum, his nominator wrote, “Jay epitomizes what it means to be student-centered at this university.”
College: College of Education and Human Development
Award Level: Individual Student Relationships
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
David
Woodcock
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Year Awarded: 1980
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Teaching
Wendy
Wood
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Year Awarded: 2001
College: Liberal Arts
Award Level: Research
James
Womack
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Year Awarded: 1987
College: Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science
Award Level: Research
James
Womack
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Year Awarded: 2010
College: College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Award Level: Graduate Mentoring
Alice
Wolf
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Year Awarded: 1989
College: Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science
Award Level: Teaching
Patsy
Witter
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Year Awarded: 2011
Ms. Patsy Witter has served the Galveston campus since March of 2002. She is instrumental in the day to day operations of the largest academic department on campus. As the department front line, she is the primary interface for all students, prospective students and their families, faculty, and staff. She is a dedicated employee who performs above expectations but also goes beyond her job scope to care for the students, faculty, and the campus community. She has the broad and unanimous support of the faculty. During Hurricane Ike, Ms. Witter consistently served above the level of any expectation. She relocated to College Station for the full duration where she served as the administrative support for all faculties in the area. She was often the sole point of coordination to maintain office, faculty, and class schedules, which was no small feat with classes tucked in churches, dinning halls, classrooms, and even museums as well as faculty transiting between the campuses. She coordinated office supplies, copies, test proctors, parking issues, amongst many other important matters which were escalated in difficulty due to the extreme situation. More importantly, she created a port in the storm that offered both her students and her faculty a sense of continuity and stability.
The department head of Marine Biology at Texas A&M University-Galveston wrote, “I have observed Patsy's student interactions and am amazed at the patience and sincerity that comes forth. She displays a ‘motherly demeanor’ in guiding students most times, but if the situation warrants, will gently scold them while pointing out the error of their ways. Even when other advisors are immediately available, I have seen students wait for an hour or more to see ‘Ms. Patsy’. When a recent illness kept her out of the office, the concern of students for her well-being was very evident as judged by their numerous inquiries to the MARE office.
College: Texas A&M University at Galveston
Award Level: Staff
Donna
Wiseman
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Year Awarded: 1993
College: Education and Human Development
Award Level: Teaching