Posted on April 23, 2021 by College of Sciences

#CollegeNews
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COS Well Represented at the 2021 University Excellence Awards Ceremony

By Drew Vincent

UTSA is proud to announce this year's University Excellence Awards ceremony details and award nominees.

The awards program celebrates the achievements of Roadrunner faculty and staff, ranging from exceptional teaching and innovative research to exemplary team spirit and impactful advocacy. The university received a record number of nominations this year—a testament to the outstanding work on the part of so many faculty and staff during a year of extraordinary circumstances.

UTSA's University Excellence Awards encompass three categories:

  • President's Distinguished Faculty Achievement Awards
  • President's Distinguished Diversity Awards
  • University Excellence Staff Awards

In addition to revealing the award winners, the ceremony will acknowledge those faculty and staff celebrating milestone years of service to UTSA in both 2020 and 2021.

Here are The College of Sciences nominees in each category:

President's Distinguished Faculty Achievement Awards

HOWE Teaching Award

  • Hector Aguilar, Distinguished Senior Lecturer, Chemistry

Teaching Excellence Award

  • Victoria Dougherty, Lecturer III, Chemistry
  • Matthew Gibson, Associate Professor, Computer Science
  • Alexis Godet, Associate Professor, Geological Sciences
  • Eddie Hernandez, Assistant Professor in Practice, Biology
  • Janet Jordan Vote, Lecturer II, Geological Sciences
  • Terri Matiella, Assistant Dean & Senior Lecturer, Environmental Science and Ecology
  • Wei Wang, Assistant Professor, Computer Science

Core Curriculum Award

  • Jessica Beckham, Lecturer II, Environmental Science and Ecology
  • Mariah Hopkins, Lecturer II, Biology

University Service Award</p

  • Keegan Gold, Lecturer III, Chemistry
  • Jennifer Smith, Assistant Professor, Environmental Science and Ecology

Innovation & Impact Award

  • Stanton McHardy (and team), Associate Professor, Chemistry and Director of Center for Innovative Drug Discovery
  • Gwen Young (and team), Lecturer II, Environmental Science and Ecology

Research Achievement Award

  • Murtuza Jadliwala, Assistant Professor, Computer Science
  • Oleg Larionov, Associate Professor, Chemistry
  • Isabel Muzzio, Associate Professor, Biology
  • Elizabeth Sooby, Assistant Professor, Physics and Astronomy

Mentoring Award

  • John Quarles, Associate Professor, Computer Science
  • Charles Wilson, Professor and Endowed Chair, Biology

President's Distinguished Diversity Awards

Students

  • Suyapa Muoz, Junior, Biology

University Excellence Staff Awards

Extra Mile Award

  • Sandra Cardona, Assistant Professor of Research and Special Research Associate, Biology
  • Cheryl Negrete, Business Service Center Specialist II, College of Sciences-Dean
  • Daniel Wherritt, Lecturer II and Special Research Associate, Chemistry
— College of Sciences