Promoting Excellence at UTSA: Past Award Recipients

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Promoting Excellence at UTSA: Past Award Recipients

2024 Promoting Excellence Award Winners

College Excellence Awards

College of Education and Human Development Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Dr. James R. Spears, Counseling Outstanding Non-Thesis/Capstone Project Lauren Gonzales, Applied Behavior Analysis Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Ivan Duarte, Educational Psychology Outstanding GAR – Master’s Dr. Hannah MacNaul, Applied Behavior Analysis Outstanding GAR – Ph.D. Dr. Vanessa A. Sansone, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Outstanding Program Coordinator Diana Pirhala, COEHD Dean's Office	Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Caroline Schilling, Biomedical Engineering Outstanding Graduate Mentor Dr. Sara Ahmed, Electrical and Computer Engineering
College for Health, Community and Policy Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Dr. Chelsea Sterne, Psychology Outstanding Thesis Carah Porter, Psychology Outstanding GAR – Master’s Emily Perez, Social Work Outstanding Program Coordinator Jana Schwartz, HCAP Dean's Office	College of Sciences Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Dr. Yi Xie, Chemistry Outstanding Thesis Felipe Villanueva, Integrative Biology Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Zhongxiu Yang, Computer Science Outstanding Graduate Mentor Dr. Lindsay MacPherson, Nueroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology Dr. Nicolas Large, Physics and Astronomy Outstanding GAR – Master’s Dr. Valerie Sponsel, Integrative Biology Outsanding GAR - Ph.D. Dr. John R. McCarrey, Nueroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology Outstanding Program Coordinator Janice Marshall, Nueroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology Magda Riveros, College of Sciences
Alvarez College of Business Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Dr. Pallav Routh, Marketing Outstanding Non-Thesis/Capstone Project Aleck Nash, Information Systems and Cyber Security Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Ericka Zuloaga Cosme, Marketing Outstanding Graduate Mentor Dr. Zhechao (Charles) Liu, Information Systems and Cyber Security Outstanding Graduate Mentor Dr. Jennifer Yin, Accounting Outstanding GAR – Master's Dr. Keying Ye, Management Science and Statistics Outsanding GAR - Ph.D. Dr. Richard T. Gretz, Marketing	College of Liberal and Fine Arts Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Dr. Anna Paula Casselli Pena, Anthropology Outstanding Thesis Lauren Nowakowski, Anthropology Outstanding Non-Thesis / Capstone Project Petunia Mashke, Art Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Amanda Micek, Anthropology Outstanding Graduate Mentor Dr. Bryan Gervais, Political Science Outstanding GAR – Master’s Dr. Bridget Drinka, English Outstanding GAR – Ph.D. Dr. Kenny Walker, English Outstanding Program Coordinator Dr. Stephanie Brock Gonzalez, Modern Languages and Literatures Jenny Stokes, COLFA BSC

2023 Promoting Excellence Award Winners

College Excellence Awards

College of Education and Human Development Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Dr. Nguyên Đào, BBL Outstanding Non-Thesis/Capstone Project Victor "Trey" Ximenex, Applied Behavioral Analysis Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Victor "Trey" Ximenex, Applied Behavioral Analysis Outstanding Graduate Mentor Dr. Mariela Rodriguez, ELPS Dr. Gilberto Lara, Culture, Literacy and Language Outstanding GAR – Master’s Dr. Leslie Neely, Behavior Analysis Outstanding GAR – Ph.D. Dr. Barbara Herlihy, Counselor Education and Supervision Outstanding Program Coordinator Don Carrington, Dean's Office	Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Dr. Rui Hu, Electrial Engineering Outstanding Thesis Garrett Hall, Electrical Engineering Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Maria Del Mar Prado Gutierrez, Biomedical Engineering Outstanding bGraduate Mentor Dr. Teja Guda, Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering Dr. Ruyan Guo, Electrical Engineering
College for Health, Community and Policy Outstanding Graduate Mentor Dr. Monica Lawson, Psychology Dr. David Pillow, Psychology	College of Sciences Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Dr. Ritaful Islam, Computer Science Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Jishnu Banerjee, Computer Science Outstanding Graduate Mentor Dr. Ravi Sandhu, Computer Science Outsanding GAR - Ph.D. Dr. Dakai Zhu, Computer Science Outstanding Program Coordinator Susan Allen, Computer Science
Alvarez College of Business Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Dr. Yi Yin, Marketing Outstanding Non-Thesis/Capstone Project Christian Castellanos, Management Science and Statistics Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Emma Gibbons, Marketing Outstanding Graduate Mentor Dr. Min Wang, Management Science and Statistics Outstanding GAR – Ph.D. Dr. Dina Krasikova, Management Outstanding Program Coordinator Tammy McDaniel, Office of Graduate Studies	College of Liberal and Fine Arts Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Dr. Johnathan Martinez, English Outstanding Thesis Ashleigh Ervin, Political Science Outstanding Non-Thesis / Capstone Project Emily Myers, Music Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Xandr Fernandez, Art Outstanding Graduate Mentor Christie Blizard, Art Mark McCoin, Art Outstanding GAR – Master’s Catherine Clinton, History Outstanding GAR – Ph.D. or Terminal Degree Ovidio Giberga, Master's in Fine Arts Outstanding Program Coordinator Reina Vargas, Dean's Office Annie Herrera, Dean's Office

Program Excellence Awards

Outstanding Enrollment Growth in a Master’s Program Winners Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) MS in Cybersecurity Science	Innovation in Doctoral Program Admissions Winner PhD in Information Technology Honorable Mention PhD in Biomedical Engineering
Innovation in Master's Program Admissions Winner MS in Biomedical Engineering Honorable Mention MS in Business

Graduate Student Professional Development Mini-Grant Program

Applied History: Career Paths for Alternative – Academic Historians

Cristobal Lopez, History

Rebecca Gonzalez, History

Dr. Omar Valerio-Jimenez, History

Combating Contributors to Graduate Student Well-being Problems

Kaytlin West, Psychology

Dr. Michael Baumann, Psychology

2022 Promoting Excellence Award Winners

*Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation* Dr. Rebecca Friedel, Anthropology Dr. Lina Martín Corredor, Culture, Literacy, and Language Dr. Colton Daniels, Applied Demography Dr. Xueling Zhang, Computer Science	Outstanding Thesis Jordan Arnold, Geology Jaime Gillis, Geology Luis Marín, Bicultural Studies
*Outstanding Non-Thesis/Capstone Project* Adebayo Dave Ogunlana, Mechanical Engineering Anahita Younesi, Art	*Outstanding Graduate Mentor* Dr. Jainwei Niu, Computer Science Dr. Vikram Kapoor, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Management Dr. Yufang Jin, Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. Walter Wilson, Political Science Dr. Matthias Hofferberth, Global Affairs Dr. Iliana Alanis, Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning Dr. Curtis Brewer, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Dr. Heidi Rueda, Social Work
*Outstanding GAR – Master’s* Andrea Aleman M.A., Political Science, Global Affairs, and Geography Dr. Felicia Castro-Villarreal, Educational Psychology Dr. Heather Trepal, Counseling Dr. Patricia Jaramillo, Public Administration	*Outstanding GAR – Ph.D.* Libby Rowe, Master's in Fine Arts
*Outstanding Program Coordinator* Janice Marshall, Neurosciene, Developmental and Regenerative Biology LiPing Bien, KCEID Dean's Office Jo Ann Jones, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Dr. Shelby Scott, Psychology

2021 Promoting Excellence Award Winners

Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation

Dr. Lori Barkwill Love, Anthropology
Dr. Nancy Castellon, Counseling
Dr. Stephanie Hernandez, Applied Demography
Dr. Mohsen Jozani, Information Systems and Cyber Security
Dr. Ricardo Ramirez, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Dr. C. Vance Thompson, Chemistry

Outstanding Thesis

Diane L. Goettsch-Melendez, Mechanical Engineering
Rebecca Nunu, Geology
Corby Sidebottom, Health and Kinesiology
Ananda Tomas, Political Science

Outstanding Non-Thesis/Capstone Project

Tapsya Nayak, Electrical and Computer Engineering
David Robinson Jr., Urban and Regional Planning
SGT. Joseph Samuel, Music
Reisa Widjaja, Management Science and Statistics

Outstanding Graduate Mentor

Dr. Nehal I. Abu-Lail, Biomedical Engineering and Computer Engineering
Dr. Nazgol Bagheri, Political Science and Geography
Dr. Michael Baumann, Psychology
Dr. M. Kathryn Brown, Anthropology
Dr. Vincent B. Canizaro, Architecture
Dr. Raymond Choo, Information Systems and Cyber Security
Dr. Mark Giles, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Dr. Claudia Garcia-Louis, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Dr. Chunjiang Qian, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Dr. Johnelle Sparks, Applied Demography
Dr. Keying “Key” Ye, Management Science and Statistics

Outstanding GAR – Master’s

Dr. Evangeline “Vangie” Aguilera, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Dr. John Alexander, Architecture
Dr. Dan Davied, Master’s of Science, Business; Master’s of Business Administration
Dr. Jamie McDonald, Communication
Dr. Derek Plantenga, Social Work
Dr. Jennifer Smith, Environmental Science

Outstanding GAR – Ph.D.

Dr. Jamon Halvaksz, Anthropology
Dr. Wei-Ming Lin, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Dr. Corey Sparks, Applied Demography
Dr. Ram Tripathi, Applied Statistics

Outstanding Program Coordinator

Susan Allen, Computer Science
Lisa Ho, Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence
Caron Kiley, Office of Graduate Studies and Research
Shandra Rinckoard Bigler, Environmental Science and Ecology
Janie Marshall, Psychology
Khanh Nguyen, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Tara Thompson, History/Academic Advising
Mary Tutor, COLFA Dean’s Office
Diane Wood May, Architecture

Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant

Colton Daniels, Sociology
Samantha Galvan, Marketing
Emily Myers, Music
Shantayan (Kinu) Panda, Applied Statistics

Innovation in Ph.D./Terminal Degree Program Admissions

Winner: Master of Fine Arts – Studio Art
Honorable Mention: PhD in Culture, Literacy and Language

Outstanding Growth in a Master’s Program

Winner: Master of Arts in Global Affairs

Innovation in Master’s Degree Program Admissions

Winner: Master of Arts in School Psychology
Honorable Mention: MS in Business

*Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation* Dr. Lori Barkwill Love, Anthropology Dr. Nancy Castellon, Counseling Dr. Stephanie Hernandez, Applied Demography Dr. Mohsen Jozani, Information Systems and Cyber Security Dr. Ricardo Ramirez, Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. C. Vance Thompson, Chemistry	Outstanding Thesis Diane L. Goettsch-Melendez, Mechanical Engineering Rebecca Nunu, Geology Corby Sidebottom, Health and Kinesiology Ananda Tomas, Political Science
*Outstanding Non-Thesis/Capstone Project* Tapsya Nayak, Electrical and Computer Engineering David Robinson Jr., Urban and Regional Planning SGT. Joseph Samuel, Music Reisa Widjaja, Management Science and Statistics	*Outstanding Graduate Mentor* Dr. Nehal I. Abu-Lail, Biomedical Engineering and Computer Engineering Dr. Nazgol Bagheri, Political Science and Geography Dr. Michael Baumann, Psychology Dr. M. Kathryn Brown, Anthropology Dr. Vincent B. Canizaro, Architecture Dr. Raymond Choo, Information Systems and Cyber Security Dr. Mark Giles, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Dr. Claudia Garcia-Louis, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Dr. Chunjiang Qian, Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. Johnelle Sparks, Applied Demography Dr. Keying “Key” Ye, Management Science and Statistics
*Outstanding GAR – Master’s* Dr. Evangeline “Vangie” Aguilera, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Dr. John Alexander, Architecture Dr. Dan Davied, Master’s of Science, Business; Master’s of Business Administration Dr. Jamie McDonald, Communication Dr. Derek Plantenga, Social Work Dr. Jennifer Smith, Environmental Science	*Outstanding GAR – Ph.D.* Dr. Jamon Halvaksz, Anthropology Dr. Wei-Ming Lin, Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. Corey Sparks, Applied Demography Dr. Ram Tripathi, Applied Statistics
*Outstanding Program Coordinator* Susan Allen, Computer Science Lisa Ho, Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence Caron Kiley, Office of Graduate Studies and Research Shandra Rinckoard Bigler, Environmental Science and Ecology Janie Marshall, Psychology Khanh Nguyen, Electrical and Computer Engineering Tara Thompson, History/Academic Advising Mary Tutor, COLFA Dean’s Office Diane Wood May, Architecture	*Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant* Colton Daniels, Sociology Samantha Galvan, Marketing Emily Myers, Music Shantayan (Kinu) Panda, Applied Statistics
*Innovation in Ph.D./Terminal Degree Program Admissions* Winner: Master of Fine Arts – Studio Art Honorable Mention: PhD in Culture, Literacy and Language *Outstanding Growth in a Master’s Program* Winner: Master of Arts in Global Affairs	*Innovation in Master’s Degree Program Admissions* Winner: Master of Arts in School Psychology Honorable Mention: MS in Business

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Promoting Excellence at UTSA: Past Award Recipients

2024 Promoting Excellence Award Winners

2023 Promoting Excellence Award Winners

2022 Promoting Excellence Award Winners

2021 Promoting Excellence Award Winners