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)—the second-largest university in Houston—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 more than 15,000 students; boasts more than 60,000 alumni and offers 45 bachelor’s, nine master’s degree programs and 16 fully online programs within five colleges (Marilyn Davies College of Business; Humanities & Social Sciences; Public Service; Sciences & Technology; and University College).
For the fourth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report ranks UHD among universities across the nation for Best Online Criminal Justice Programs (No. 27 and No. 15 for Veterans) and Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.
UHD has the most affordable tuition among four-year universities in Houston and one of the lowest in Texas. U.S. News ranked the University among Top Performers on Social Mobility and a No. 1 ranking as the most diverse institution of higher education in the southern region of the U.S. The University is noted nationally as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Minority-Serving Institution and Military Friendly School. For more on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit www.uhd.edu.
