Twice a year, the East Texas Historical Association (ETHA) convenes for a meeting comprised of  paper presentations, panels led by historians, preservationists and archivists, and an award ceremony highlighting outstanding students and educators alike.

At ETHA’s fall meeting held October 12-13, University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) professor and Honors Program director, Dr. Mari Nicholson-Preuss was honored with the Ottis Lock Educator of the Year Award.

Each year, the Lock Endowment Committee nominates deserving educators who demonstrate excellence in educating the public about the history or culture of East Texas.

In addition to teaching multiple history courses, including "Houston: Past and Present", Nicholson-Preuss also serves as faculty advisor for UHD’s Garna Christian Chapter of Walter Prescott Webb Historical Society. Through this organization, students benefit from getting to present their work at conferences as undergraduates and  receiving advice from other professionals researching the history of East Texas.

"I was truly honored to be named the Ottis Lock Educator of the Year by the East Texas Historical Association" said Nicholson-Preuss. "Having been a member of the association for more than a decade, it meant a lot to be recognized by my colleagues. In 2013, I began taking my UHD students to present at the ETHA conferences and have since organized six student panels. Much of my academic and professional success I owe to the remarkable faculty mentors I had at Texas Tech and I am doing my best to live up to their example with my own students."