Texas State faculty, staff honored during Fall 2021 Convocation

Dr. Trauth presents the Denise M. Trauth Endowed Presidential Research Professorship award to Dr. Alexander V. Kornienko.

Texas State University President Denise Trauth presented more than two dozen faculty and staff awards during the Fall 2021 Convocation.

This year’s recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching are Michael B. Devlin, an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication; Nicole C. Wagner, and assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Sciences; and Brian J. Cooper, a senior lecturer in the Department of Geography.

The two recipients of this year’s Presidential Awards for Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Activities are Cyrus Cassells III, a professor in the Department of English; and Sean B. Justice, an assistant professor in the School of Art and Design.

Sarah R. Fritts, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology, will present this year’s Presidential Seminar.

The recipient of the Denise M. Trauth Endowed Presidential Research Professorship is Alexander V. Kornienko, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Service went to Duane V. Knudson, TSUS Regents’ Professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance; and Joshua J. Daspit, an assistant professor in the Department of Management.

The Alumni Affairs Office recognized Jeffrey L. Helgeson, chair and associate professor in the Department of History, as the recipient of the Teaching Award of Honor.

The Faculty Senate recognized David E. Lemke, professor in the Department of Biology; Ting Liu, professor in the College of Education; and Rodney Rohde, program chair for the Clinical Laboratory Science Program, as the recipients of the Everette Swinney Faculty Senate Excellence in Teaching Award.

Duane V. Knudson, professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance; and Patricia M. Shields, professor in the Department of Political Science, were named Regents’ Professors by the Texas State University System Board of Regents. Knudson and Shields are the 17th and 18th faculty members to receive this designation.

Ann E. Burnette, professor in the Department of Communication Studies; Celeste Domsch, professor in the Department of Communication Disorders; and Rachel Romero, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology, were the recipients of the TSUS Regents' Teacher Award.

Emilio Carranco, director of the Student Health Center, was the recipient of the TSUS Regents' Staff Excellence Award.

This year’s new University Distinguished Professors are Susan S. Morrison, professor in the Department of English; and Rodney E. Rohde, program chair for the Clinical Laboratory Science Program.

The five retired faculty members who were named Distinguished Professors Emeriti were John M. Davis, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology; Richard A. Earl, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography; Ruben Garza Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Education; Sheila A. Hargett, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Theatre and Dance; and Thomas H. Myers, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics.

The award for 2021 Employee of the Year went to Julie A. Eckert, assistant director of the Student Health Center.

Winners of this year’s Mariel Muir Mentoring Award were Aimee K. Roundtree, associate dean for research and promotion in the College of Liberal Arts; and Kimberly A. Duncan-Ashley, grant specialist for the Texas School Safety Center.