Connie D.
Weaver
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Year Awarded: 2017
Connie Weaver, KPMG Professor of Accounting, joined the faculty of the Mays Business School in 2006. She earned her Ph.D. from Arizona State University. Her research investigates the effects of income taxes on financing, investing and financial reporting decisions. Dr. Weaver initially taught the basic tax course required for all Professional Program (PPA) and BBA accounting majors. While the technical course content is very challenging, she also focused on developing her student’s critical thinking and communication skills. Next, she developed and taught a master’s level tax course for PPA students that provides a comprehensive study of financial accounting for income taxes. For both, she consistently receives very high ratings on student evaluations, especially in the area of being an effective teacher. Moreover, she receives very positive feedback from students who say she consistently demonstrates that she cares about student learning. This is noteworthy because many of her students do not plan to focus on tax in their careers. Her students clearly appreciate the impact of her teaching on their knowledge of the challenging subject matter and their comments reflect her enthusiasm and obvious interest in ensuring that they learn. One student wrote, “Your love of teaching & of the material truly shines—even at 8 a.m.! You make corporate tax fun even for a non-tax person!” Another student wrote, “Honestly, at the beginning I thought this was going to be my least liked class, but it ended up my favorite.” Still another student wrote, “For someone who doesn’t like tax, I actually enjoyed this class! Arguably the best/most caring teacher I’ve had in my college experience.” To conclude, another student wrote, “You rock!! Definitely challenging to keep the class awake/motivated at 8 a.m. yet you did it every week.”
College: Department of Accounting
Award Level: Teaching
Earl
Webb
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Year Awarded: 1970
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Teaching
Bradley
Weeks
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Year Awarded: 2000
College: Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science
Award Level: Teaching
Finis
Welch
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Year Awarded: 1998
College: Liberal Arts
Award Level: Research
Jennifer
Welch
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Year Awarded: 2009
College: Dwight Look College of Engineering
Award Level: Teaching
Loris
Welhausen
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Year Awarded: 1965
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Extension/ Continuing Education
C. Jane
Welsh
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Year Awarded: 2012
Jane Welsh received her Ph.D. from London University in the United Kingdom and completed postdoctoral research at King’s College Hospital and Cambridge University. She joined the faculty of Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 1990. In addition to her faculty appointments, she serves the College as assistant dean for graduate studies. She is known as an outstanding scientist and teacher who fosters the love of science in her graduate students and strengthens their commitment to scientific discovery. She and her students have made substantial contributions to neuroimmunology and understanding of diseases in which the immune system attacks the nervous system, notably multiple sclerosis.
She is an exceptionally gifted mentor, who is currently serving as the major professor for one Ph.D. student, and has served as the major professor or co-chair for 13 master’s or Ph.D. students. She has also served on 58 graduate advisory committees in 10 departments in both Texas A&M University and the Texas A&M Health Science Center. In addition, she has served on 15 graduate advisory committees for the Master of Biotechnology and 20 non-thesis master’s degree committees. She serves on this remarkable number of committees because both students and their advisors know that she will provide students with practical and timely advice on their research problems, faithfully attend graduate committee meetings, and provide critical input on the content of students’ theses or dissertations.
Although Dr. Welsh is kind and generous with her time, she holds high expectations for her students to perform to the highest levels. Most students need much molding to reach their potential, but those who wrote in support for Dr. Welsh describe their experiences with delight and gratitude. Former graduate students who are now mentors and colleagues cite her as a role model for their own mentoring.
College: Veterinary Medicine
Award Level: Graduate Mentoring
David J.
Wentling ’13
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Year Awarded: 2018
David Wentling earned a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University, master’s degrees from St. Thomas University and Texas A&M University, and a doctorate from the University of Tulsa. He joined the staff of the College of Architecture in 2012 and has worked for Texas A&M University for 22 years. He currently serves as director of the Office of Student Services. His responsibilities include: supervising office staff consisting of eight academic advisors, one program coordinator, and five student workers; counseling and providing academic advice to students who are scholastically deficient; processing administrative information flow between the College of Architecture and other university administrative units; providing information to the associate dean for academic affairs; and monitoring the academic progress of all undergraduate students in the College of Architecture. Before joining the College of Architecture, Dr. Wentling worked in the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies and at Texas A&M University at Galveston. During his career at Texas A&M, he has received a number of honors and awards, including the George W. Kunze Award from the Texas A&M Graduate Student Council and being selected as a Fish Camp namesake. In 2017, Dr. Wentling was inducted in Phi Kappa Phi, which is the nation’s oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society recognizing superior scholarship. He currently serves as the secretary and treasurer for the Texas A&M chapter.
College: College of Architecture
Award Level: Staff
Mark E.
Westhusin '83
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Year Awarded: 2015
Mark Westhusin is a professor in the Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, joining the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences in 1992. He earned his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. His research program has successfully cloned bulls, goats, the world's first cat and first white-tailed deer. As a result of his and his colleagues’ efforts, Texas A&M is now recognized as having cloned more different animal species than any other institution in the world (6 species - cow, goat, pig, horse, cat, white-tailed deer). The goal of all this once futuristic and now mainstream activity is to produce genetic copies of world-class animals and genetically engineer livestock with improved production characteristics, such as increased muscle development and resistance to disease. Dr. Westhusin has received numerous honors, including the National Institutes of Health Director’s Award, the American Society of Animal Sciences Scholarship Award, Pfizer Research Award, and Richard H. Davis Teaching Award. He was picked as one of Texas Monthly’s “35 People who Will Shape Our Future.” He has authored more than 75 scientific publications in prestigious journals, given more than 60 invited talks through the world, and contributed to several books. Here are a few comments from his supporters. “Mark has been at the forefront of developing and applying reproductive technologies to real world problems.” “Dr. Westhusin has an excellent and balanced record with strengths in multiple areas including research publications and extramural funding, excellent teaching skills in both the classroom setting and individual mentoring, and a high level of collegiality as supported by his multiple collaborative projects.” “Dr. Westhusin has clearly changed the world with his research and will continue to do so for a very long time.”
College: College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Award Level: Research
Logan
Weston
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Year Awarded: 1972
College: Staff
Award Level: Student Relations
Clifford L.
Whetten
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Year Awarded: 2003
College: Education and Human Development
Award Level: Continuing Education/Extension
Merrill
Whitburn
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Year Awarded: 1979
College: Liberal Arts
Award Level: Teaching
Lynn
White
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Year Awarded: 1999
College: TAEX
Award Level: Extension/ Continuing Education
Ralph
White
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Year Awarded: 1990
College: Engineering
Award Level: Research
Robert
Whiting
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Year Awarded: 1982
College: Engineering
Award Level: Extension/ Continuing Education
Lisa
Whittlesey '89
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Year Awarded: 2011
Ms. Lisa Whittlesey received her bachelor and master’s degrees in horticulture from Texas A&M University and has been employed by AgriLife Extension for 20 years. The primary focus of her work is providing leadership and management for the Junior Master Gardener® (JMG) program, which “ignites a passion for learning, success, and service through a unique gardening experience." Under her leadership, the JMG program was created and trademarked in 1999. The program is a recognized 4-H curriculum project and targets youth ages 9 to18. By 2000, the program had 50 JMG groups in Texas, representing over 3,500 children. In 2010, children enrolled in the JMG program numbered more than 260,000. She has received several honors, including the Superior Service Award, the highest award presented by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Her grants total more than $6.2 million from organizations such as Houston Endowment, Meadows Foundation, Dora Roberts Foundation, Heep Foundation, Minute-Maid, Inc., and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). That includes a $5 million 2011 grant from the new USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, for which she serves as a coinvestigator. In 2009, Ms. Whittlesey was contacted by the Office of the First Lady, Michelle Obama, to provide information about the JMG program to her staff. The children who participated in the much-publicized White House Kitchen Garden were in fact youth who participated in the JMG program conducted by Washington, DC Cooperative Extension at local elementary schools.
One colleague wrote, “Perhaps the most important vision she has realized is proving the value and educational impact of the JMG curriculum and activities on youth. Millions of children, millions of dollars, and highly-recognized programming are not enough in today's environment of accountability. She has helped guide and support research to measure the impact of JMG on children. Research faculties at Texas A&M University, Purdue University, and Louisiana State University have shown increased science achievement among children in schools using the JMG program.”
College: Texas AgriLife Extension Service
Award Level: Extension, Outreach, Continuing Education, and Pro
Robert
Wick
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Year Awarded: 1969
College: Engineering
Award Level: Teaching
James
Wild
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Year Awarded: 1981
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Teaching
Lawrence
Wilding
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Year Awarded: 1995
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Research
Thomas
Wilheit
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Year Awarded: 2000
College: Geosciences
Award Level: Research
Sharon
Wilkerson
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Year Awarded: 2016
Sharon Wilkerson came to Texas A&M in 2007 and is the founding dean of the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Nursing. She received her R.N. from the Hermann Hospital School of Nursing, her B.S in psychology from the University of Houston, her B.S.N. from the University of Hawaii, her M.S. in pediatrics and nursing education from the University of Pennsylvania, and her Ph.D. in nursing of families from Wayne State University. She completed a postdoctoral clinical nurse scholar fellowship with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation at the University of Rochester. Before coming to Texas A&M, she was director of doctoral program development and a faculty member at the Purdue University School of Nursing. She has also served in various faculty positions at Indiana University, Wayne State University, University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Ottawa, Canada. She has worked in undergraduate and graduate nursing education for more than 30 years. It is her belief that nurses should be educated at the highest possible level, as this is paramount for advancing the field of nursing. Her nominators are students—the members of the 2015 Class Council. They describe her as “an exceptional administrator who has gone above-and-beyond in her service to students, the college and Texas A&M University. Dean Wilkerson oversaw the development and implementation of the nursing program and the establishment of the CON (College of Nursing) in 2008. She literally helped build the college from the ground up, she established a culture of service learning, she is helping to raise external funding to support students and faculty and she has set a high bar for the CON’s future.” Her supporters uniformly credit her administrative leadership for elevating the college, the university, and the nursing profession.
College: College of Nursing
Award Level: Administration
Ruby
Williams
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Year Awarded: 2012
Ruby Willams’ outstanding loyalty, commitment to excellence, and vivacious personality have made her a favorite among not only University Dining personnel but also among her customers—both student and staff alike. She has dedicated 24 years to Texas A&M University Dining, starting as an entry-level food service worker and working her way up to a managerial position in one of University Dining’s busiest and most profitable units—The Grill at the Pavilion. At The Grill, Ms. Williams and her team have achieved revenue growth of more than 65 percent since their new menu launch and facility facelift in 2010, providing more than 3,300 customers a week with exceptional food and service. It is not rare for customers to her as their friend, Ruby. Her superior customer service and commitment to going the extra mile set her apart from others.
Her energy and enthusiasm have earned her an ongoing invitation to be a part of the staff for the President’s suite during each home football game for the past 11 years. She brings to the suite the same commitment to excellence and cheerful disposition that is in evidence at The Grill each week. In addition, the student volunteers who help her in the suite feel comfortable and well-trained to offer their best for some of the university’s most important guests and dignitaries. In recognition of her outstanding service, University Dining has awarded Ruby Williams with notable awards, such as the Grand Employee of the Year in 1992, Employee of the Year in 2000. Ms. Williams is an invaluable asset to the university community.
College: Facilities
Award Level: Staff
Jack
Williams
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Year Awarded: 1979
College: Administration
Award Level: Staff
Vickie M.
Williamson
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Year Awarded: 2014
Vickie M. Williamson earned her Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. She joined the faculty of the College of Science in 1997. She has been recognized with a Student-Led Award for Teaching Excellence and a college-level Teaching Award from The Association of Former Students, and was named a Fish Camp namesake. She serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Science Education and Technology, as a reviewer for the Journal of Chemical Education and as regional director for the Associated Chemistry Teachers of Texas.
In the words of her nominator, Dr. Williamson has an “uncommon ability as a classroom teacher.” Since joining the department, she has taught large lecture sections of Chemistry 101 and 102. Remarkably, during the 16 academic years that she has been at Texas A&M, she has worked with almost 19,000 students! Students give the highest praise for these courses, as reflected in student evaluations which are always high and among the best in the department. In particular, her classroom demonstrations of chemistry concepts consistently win high marks from students. A former student wrote that she “knew it was going to be an exciting day in chemistry class when [Dr. Williamson] rolled in her cart with the protective shield.” From demonstrating exothermic reactions by igniting aluminum and iron oxide in a soda can to creating a rainbow with indicators to visualize acid and base reactions, she engages her students in learning that makes the point hard to forget. Another former student commented that “waking up early for her lectures was never a problem” and added that “her enthusiasm and teaching style made General Chemistry nothing to be afraid of.”
A former student, now a Chemistry teacher herself, sums it up, “Dr. Williamson is incredibly intelligent, has a heart for her students, and a talent for teaching. I am thankful for all that she did to prepare me for my career in teaching science.”
College: College of Science
Award Level: Teaching
Kirk O.
Winemiller
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Year Awarded: 2015
Kirk Winemiller is Regents Professor in the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences. Earning his Ph.D. from the University of Texas—Austin, he joined the faculty of the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences in 1992. He has published more than 200 papers and has been cited nearly 11,000 times. His research focuses on enhancing understanding of populations and communities of freshwater and estuarine fishes and has contributed significantly to the development of food web theory in basic ecological research. He has applied this research to enhancing the management and conservation of these fisheries in Texas and around the world. He has received a number of very significant honors, including the Vice Chancellor’s Graduate Teaching Award and the Vice Chancellor’s Undergraduate Teaching Award at Texas A&M, the Outstanding Fisheries Research Award and the Special Recognition Award from the Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, and the Ecological Society of America’s prestigious Mercer Award. In 2007, he was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His nominator says that Kirk Winemiller’s name is “synonymous with fisheries ecology and management worldwide.” A former student credits his research with clarifying many aspects of the very complex ecology of freshwater fishes, “from the evolution of life history strategies (i.e., how and when fishes allocate resources into reproduction) and the evolutionary origin of tropical fish diversity, to the structure of food webs in aquatic communities, the flow of nutrients in large tropical river ecosystems and the human impacts on aquatic systems from invasive species and altered surface flow to gold mining, hydroelectric dams, and overfishing.” A colleague concludes, “Without doubt he is contributing to consolidate the TAMU reputation in general ecology, fish ecology and aquatic ecosystems management around the World.”
College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award Level: Research
Gary
Wingenbach
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Year Awarded: 2018
Gary Wingenbach earned a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees from Oregon State University and his doctorate from Iowa State University. He joined the faculty of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 2009 and was appointed as a senior scientist in the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture in 2011. He has more than 30 years' experience in international agriculture and extension education, starting as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala. Currently, Dr. Wingenbach develops international education and research opportunities for students and faculty. He teaches courses on international agriculture issues, field research methods, and adult education strategies. Dr. Wingenbach's interests in study abroad began when he led more than 100 Aggies to Mexico for rangeland restoration workshops. He established and now co-leads programs to Guatemala, Namibia, and Costa Rica. These high-impact experiences help students gain valuable intercultural understanding, combined with service learning and research. He is very proud of the research published nationally and/or internationally by more than 25 former students. Dr. Wingenbach received the Kenneth L. Clinton Study Abroad Award from The Texas A&M University System. His research focuses on international agriculture and human resource development issues and has resulted in more than 80 refereed articles. He has successfully managed federally funded international projects totaling more than $2.4 million and worked as a bi-lingual (Spanish) educator and professional development specialist from Mexico to South America for the U.S. Agency for International Development, USDA-Foreign Agriculture Service, and the U.S. Departments of State and Labor.
College: Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications
Award Level: Teaching
Donna
Wiseman
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Year Awarded: 1993
College: Education and Human Development
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
Alice
Wolf
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Year Awarded: 1989
College: Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science
Award Level: Teaching