College presents awards for faculty, staff excellence

Tuesday, May 06, 2025 • Greg Pederson :

The College of Science honored excellence in teaching, research, advising, and service during its Spring 2025 Faculty and Staff Meeting on May 2 in the Central Library’s 6th floor atrium. Award recipients at the College and University levels for the 2024-25 academic year were recognized, as recipients of promotion and tenure.

University-level awards were announced at the Spring Meeting of the Faculty and Associates, held on April 22.

College of Science Dean Morteza Khaledi, who this year marks his 10^th anniversary as dean, expressed his gratitude to the College’s faculty and staff for their commitment to enhancing student success and for their roles in making The University of Texas at Arlington a world-class university.

“It is truly an honor to be a part of this community and to work with such dedicated and talented people,” Khaledi said. “I am so proud of all we have accomplished together. I want to thank you for your commitment and dedication. Your contributions have made a real difference in the lives of our students, and I am so grateful for your support. All of you play a special part in what makes this institution amazing.”

Research awards were announced by Associate Dean Todd Castoe, while teaching awards were announced by Associate Dean Laura Mydlarz, and service and advising awards were announced by interim Associate Dean Frank Foss.

College of Science award recipients

Distinguished Record of Research Award
Subhrangsu Mandal, chemistry and biochemistry

Outstanding Achievement in Research Award
Kwangho Nam, chemistry and biochemistry
Mark Pellegrino, biology

Mike Roner Excellence in Teaching Award
He Dong, chemistry and biochemistry

Excellence in Teaching Award, Tenure Track Faculty
Alison Ravenscraft, biology

Excellence in Teaching Award, Academic Professional Track Faculty
Joshua Crowell, chemistry and biochemistry
Bonnie Laster, psychology

Excellence in Advising Award
Stephanie Fenton, biology

Outstanding Technical Staff Award
Kim Bowles, biology

Mary Jane Goad Outstanding Administrative Staff Award
Laura Holm, mathematics

Faculty Development Leave
Kwangho Nam, chemistry and biochemistry
Yue Liu, mathematics

Research Innovation Grants
Gaik Ambartsoumian, mathematics: “Mathematics of Quantum Computing”
Behzad Ghanbarian, earth & environmental sciences: “Evolution of spatiotemporal patterns of extreme precipitation events in Texas: Complex network analysis”
Robin Macaluso, chemistry and biochemistry: “Next Generation Pigments by Synthesis of Multifunctional Graphene-Pyroclhore Hybrids”

Promotion and tenure

Tenure and promotion to Associate Professor
Keaton Hamm, mathematics/data science
Amir Shahmoradi, physics/data science

Promotion to Full Professor
Joseph Ngai, physics

Promotion to Associate Professor of Instruction
Heather Arterburn, biology
Heather Charles, biology
Megan Korchinski, Earth & environmental sciences
Janessa Beach, mathematics
Rachel Baldridge, psychology
Erin Austin, psychology
Bonnie Laster, psychology

Promotion to Professor of Instruction
Steven Gellman, health professions/COS

University award recipients

UTA Academy of Distinguished Teachers
Jimmy Rogers, chemistry and biochemistry

President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (Tenured)
Junha Jeon, chemistry and biochemistry

Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
William Cleaver, chemistry and biochemistry

UTA Outstanding Research Achievement or Creative Accomplishment
Ben Jones, physics

UTA Distinguished Record of Research or Creative Activity
Ping Liu, physics

UTA Excellence in Doctoral Student Mentoring Award
Rasika Dias, chemistry and biochemistry

Faculty Development Leave
Esther Betrán, biology
Amir Farbin, physics

McNair Scholars Program & Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Faculty Mentors
Andrew Brandt, physics
Joseph Buonomo, chemistry and biochemistry
Michelle Martin-Raugh, psychology
Alison Ravenscraft, biology
Qing Tang, biology

Undergraduate and Research Opportunity Program
Joseph Buonomo, chemistry and biochemistry
Purnendu ‘Sandy’ Dasgupta, chemistry and biochemistry
Shane Dubay, biology
Frank Foss, chemistry and biochemistry
Tracy Greer, psychology
Sherri McFarland, chemistry and biochemistry
Laura Mydlarz, biology
Linda Perrotti, psychology
Alison Ravenscraft, biology
Ricardo Sánchez-Murillo, Earth & environmental sciences
Byung Ran So, chemistry and biochemistry

Research Enhancement Program Grants
Cara Boutte, biology: “Evolution of polar cell wall growth across bacterial clades”
Crystal Cooper, psychology: “Mapping the brain: What happens to brain function after binge drinking?”

Student Experience Project
Sarah Booker, mathematics
Heather Hewer, mathematics
Ida Klang, biology
Melissa Walsh, biology

Maverick Advantage Faculty Engagement
Fellows
Steven Gellman, health professions
Masoud Rostami, data science
Edward Wilson, mathematics
Facilitator
Xavier Aranda, biology, psychology

Professional Learning Community
Fajer Jaafari, physics
Bonnie Laster, psychology
Nila Veerabathina, physics

Mentors for First-Year Faculty
Janessa Beach, mathematics
Todd Castoe, biology

Esteban Diaz, mathematics
Matthew Fujita, biology
Andrew Hunt, Earth & environmental sciences
Kayunta Johnson-Winters, chemistry & biochemistry
Mark Krasij, mathematics
Angela Liegey-Dougall, psychology
Alice Lubbe, mathematics
Masoud Rostami, data science
Kevin Schug, chemistry & biochemistry
Eric Smith, biology
Daniel Warren, mathematics
Edward Wilson, mathematics

Members of the College’s 2024-25 Research Awards Committee
Paul Chippindale, biology
Junha Jeon, chemistry & biochemistry
Majie Fan, Earth & environmental sciences
Behzad Ghanbarian, Earth & environmental sciences
Ren-Cang Li, mathematics
Yue Deng, physics
Jae Yu, physics
Jared Kenworthy, psychology

Members of the College’s 2024-25 Teaching Awards Committee
Esther Betrán, biology
Walter Schargel, biology
He Dong, chemistry & biochemistry
Cornelia Winguth, Earth & environmental sciences
Barbara Shipman, mathematics
Manfred Cuntz, physics
Nila Veerabathina, physics
Tracy Greer, Psychology

 

 

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The UTA College of Science, a Carnegie R1 research institution, is preparing the next generation of leaders in science through innovative education and hands-on research and offers programs in Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Data Science, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Health Professions, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. To support educational and research efforts visit the giving page, or if you're a prospective student interested in beginning your #MaverickScience journey visit our future students page.