College of Agriculture and Life Sciences celebrates faculty, staff, students

Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences honored recipients of the Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Awards, Association of Former Students awards and faculty member career milestones at a Feb. 23 ceremony on the Texas A&M University campus, Bryan-College Station.

“The faculty and staff honored this year are part of the reason that our teaching, research and service missions are strong and vibrant,” said Mark A. Hussey, Ph.D., interim vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences. “Because of their outstanding contributions, we continue to make great strides in enhancing our reputation as one of the top colleges in the country.”

Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Awards

Since 2012, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Awards have celebrated the accomplishments and excellence of faculty, staff and students.

These award winners were recognized for their dedication to excellence and their positive impacts crucial to fulfilling the College’s land-grant mission.

Teaching awards

• Early Career Teaching: Peyton Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
• Teaching: Lori Moore, Ph.D., associate professor and associate department head-undergraduate programs, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Teaching: Tryon Wickersham, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Animal Science.
• Educational Enrichment and Innovation: Won Bo Shim, Ph.D., professor and associate department head, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.

Research awards

• Early Career Research: Dmitry Kurouski, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
• Research: Vishal Gohil, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
• Research: Mike Kolomiets, Ph.D., professor, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.

Service awards

• Service: Seth Murray, Ph.D., professor and Eugene Butler Endowed Chair, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
• Faculty Mentoring: Jeffrey Savell, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor and E.M. “Manny” Rosenthal Chairholder, Department of Animal Science.
• International Impact: Stephen Smith, Ph.D., professor, Department of Animal Science.
• Inclusive Excellence: Jeffrey Wiegert, Ph.D., instructional assistant professor, Department of Animal Science.
• Administration: Ben Wu, Ph.D., professor, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology and associate dean for faculty affairs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Staff excellence awards

• Elena Kolomiets, technology lab manager, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.
• Jenna Kurten, Ph.D., director of analytics, Dean’s Office, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics Stockroom Team – Sherry Barnett, Divina Page and Bruce Washington Jr.
• Jennifer Rhinesmith-Carranza, academic advisor, Advising Center 3, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Student awards

• Graduate Student Teaching: Rebecca Kemp, graduate research assistant, Department of Animal Science.
• Graduate Research: Jean Parrella, graduate research assistant, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Undergraduate Research: Laura Marmolejo, student assistant, Department of Entomology.

Association of Former Students college-level teaching awards

Since 1982, the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students, AFS, has honored superior teachers who maintain high expectations, ensure academic rigor, motivate students and contribute to students’ overall development.

Receiving an AFS College-level Teaching Distinguished Achievement Award this year were:

• Kim Dooley, Ph.D., professor, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Angela Durko, Ph.D. instructional associate professor, Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences. 
• Rusty Feagin, Ph.D., professor, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology.
• Ariun Ishdorj, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Agricultural Economics.

2021-2022 New Faculty

Faculty joining the College in 2021-2022 who were recognized include:

• Felipe Aburto, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
• Sapna Dass, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Animal Science.
• Amit Dhingra, Ph.D., department head and professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences.
• Henry Fadamiro, Ph.D., tenured professor, Department of Entomology.
• Kashi Kafle, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor and ACES Fellow, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Praveena Kanchupati, Ph.D., lecturer, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
• Nicholas Kilmer, lecturer, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Brian King, Ph.D., department head and professor, Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences.
• Miok Lee, Ph.D., lecturer, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
• Emiliano Lopez Barrera, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Ernest Christian Lynch, lecturer, Department of Nutrition.
• Grace Melo, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor and ACES Fellow, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Rodolfo Nayga, Ph.D., department head and professor, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Rebecca Poole, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Animal Science.
• Mei Fung “Candy” Tang, Ph.D., instructional associate professor, Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences.
• Troy Thompson, lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Dara Wald, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Jennifer Wyle, lecturer and meat judging coordinator, Department of Animal Science.

2020-2021 Promotion and Tenure

Faculty earning promotions and tenure include:

• Giri Athrey, Ph.D., promoted to associate professor with tenure, Department of Poultry Science.
• Jae Hyun Cho, Ph.D., promoted to associate professor with tenure, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
• Reinaldo Cooke, Ph.D., promoted to professor, Department of Animal Science.
• Douglas Kingman, Ph.D., promoted to instructional professor, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
• Jessica Leatherwood, Ph.D., promoted to associate professor with tenure, Department of Animal Science.
• Ky Pohler, Ph.D., promoted to associate professor with tenure, Department of Animal Science.
• Susan Scott, promoted to senior lecturer, Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences.
• Michel Slotman, Ph.D., promoted to professor, Department of Entomology.
• Gregory Stark, Ph.D., promoted to associate professor of the practice, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
• Cecilia Tamborindeguy, Ph.D., promoted to professor, Department of Entomology.
• Ben Wherley, Ph.D., promoted to professor, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.