Congratulations! 2021 Faculty Award Winners Announced
By Sheryl E. Taylor
This week, The University of Houston-Downtown's Faculty Senate presented the Spring 2021 Faculty Awards on April 20. The virtual event recognized faculty members who are dedicated to providing exceptional teaching, service, and scholarship.
UHD Faculty Senate President-Elect Dr. Edmund Cueva served as host with special guests UHD President Loren J. Blanchard and Dr. Eric Link, Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs.
2021 Finalists & Winners (Noted in Bold)
Outstanding Adjunct
- Elizabeth Cantalamessa, Philosophy
- Dr. Alia Jasim, Geology
- Dr. Elias Keedy, Business
- Dr. Rhonda Scherer, Physicial Education
Outstanding Lecturer
- Dr. Albert DeJesus, Spanish
- Dr. Angela Goins, Social Work
- Dr. Nancy Lopez, History
Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activity
- Dr. Edmund Cueva, Classics & Humanities
- Dr. Diane Miller, Urban Education
- Dr. Whitney Botsford Morgan, Management
- Dr. Steve B. Zhou, Supply Chain Management
Excellence in Service
- Dr. Michael Cavanaugh, Criminal Justice
- Dr. Michael Duncan, English
- Dr. Natalia Matveeva, Communication Studies
Excellence in Teaching
- Dr. Robert Austin McKee, Management
- Dr. Adriana Visbal, Biology
- Dr. Arash Rahmatian, Structural Analysis & Design
Distinguished Faculty Award
- Dr. Ronald Beebe, Education
- Dr. Ray Qing Cao, Management
- Dr. Ryan Pepper, Mathematics & Statistics
Faculty Development Leave Awards
- Dr. Stephanie Babb, Psychology
- Dr. Ivan, Communication
- Dr. Michael Lemke, Health & Behavioral Sciences
- Dr. Bonnie Lucero, History
- Daniel Peña, English
- Dr. Lena Thacker-Kumar, Political Science
Recognition of Faculty Years of Service
20 Years
- Dr. Anita Chada, Associate Professor of Political Science
- Dr. Hong Lin, Professor of Computer Science
- Dr. Lisa Morano, Professor of Biology & Microbiology
- Dr. David Beck Ryden, Professor of History
- Dr. Hsiao-Ming Wang, Professor of Criminal Justice
25 Years
- Dr. José E. Alvarez, Professor of History
- Dr. Barbara Belbot, Professor of Criminal Justice
- Dr. Marie Bhattacharjee, Associate Professor of Education
- Benny John, Lecturer of Mathematics
- Dr. Karen Kaser, Lecturer of BAAS in Applied Administration
- Dr. Kurt Stanberry, Professor of Business Law
- Dr. M. Nell Sullivan, Professor of English
30 Years
- Anna Rosenthal Simmons, Lecturer of Mathematics & Statistics
- Robert G. Wilson, Lecturer of Music
35 Years
- Sangetta Gad, Lecturer of Mathematics
- Dr. Rolando Palaez, Professor of Finance
40 Years
- Dr. Shohreh S. Hashemi , Associate Professor of Management Information Systems
The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.
U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.
