4 from Texas State honored with TSUS Regents' Awards for 2026

The Texas State University System Foundation Board of Directors has named three Texas State University faculty members and one student recipients of the 2026 TSUS Regents’ Awards.

The annual Regents’ Awards recognize outstanding faculty, staff, and students from the seven TSUS member institutions. The honorees were announced at the TSUS Board of Regents meeting in Huntsville on Aug. 7.

Anne Hee Hiong Ngu, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Computer Science, has been named a Regents’ Professor. Ewa Siwak, Ph.D., a professor of instruction in the Department of World Languages and Literatures, and Nicole Wagner, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Sciences, have been named Regents’ Teachers. Melisa Oparanozie, a senior biology major with a pre-med minor, has been named a Regents’ Student Scholar. 

The Regents’ Professor designation honors outstanding members of the system’s professoriate who have achieved excellence in teaching, research, publication, and community service, while demonstrating an unwavering dedication to their students and university. Ngu is 29th TSUS Regents’ Professor to be honored at TXST. 

The Regents’ Teacher Award recognizes exceptional teachers based on their outstanding performance as educators, contributions to the development of courses, and use of innovative teaching methods, among other criteria. Winners maintain the title of “Regents’ Teacher” for the duration of their service within TSUS. Siwak and Wagner are the 17th and 18th recipients from TXST.

The Regents’ Student Scholar Award recognizes exceptional students based on their outstanding academic achievement and scholarship, leadership abilities, and contributions to the institution and their community. Oparanozie is the 7th recipient from TXST.

All Regents’ award winners will be formally recognized at future Board of Regents meetings.

The Texas State University System is the state’s first university system, with seven institutions serving more than 100,000 students from far West Texas to the Gulf Coast. Established in 1911, the mission of TSUS is to provide high-quality, affordable degree and credential programs to meet the needs of Texas’ diverse and fast-growing economy.