Happening in Faculty Affairs
As part of our efforts to streamline communications, Faculty Affairs uses our newsletter, website, the university calendar, digital signage, social media and, sparingly, direct email. Other units are following suit, using direct email primarily for operational messaging. For general announcements, the university established campuswide email opt-lists.
Faculty, staff and students may opt-in to the employee and/or student list to receive a once-daily digest of emails. To update your preferences, visit the email settings portal at Aggie Account Gateway.
Executive Search Update
A 32-member search committee, co-chaired by Dr. Lily Garcia, dean of the School of Dentistry, and General Mark Welsh, dean of The Bush School of Government and Public Service, has begun a national search for the dean of Texas A&M University’s College of Arts and Sciences. Additional details and a leadership profile will be available from Executive Searches soon.
Faculty Development and Funding Opportunities
- The Faculty Aspiring Leadership Program is a new strategic fellowship program to develop leaders, expand their knowledge of university operations and impact the university. This program is open to all full-time faculty and provides development, mentoring and the opportunity to develop a specific project that impacts the university. Applications are due by July 15.
- The Studio, located in Room 3.653 of the Sixth Floor Evans Annex, can fulfill all your professional video needs at the push of a button! Record a lecture using the Lightboard — it’s free and you just need to bring a USB drive with at least 4GB of space.
- The Texas A&M University System’s Translational Investment Fund provides faculty and staff inventors early-stage development funds to support the development of unlicensed inventions. The submission deadline for letters of interest is Tuesday, June 20 at 11:59 p.m.
Faculty Focus
San Andrés Honored for Contributions to Tribology
Dr. Luis San Andrés (J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering) was honored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for his 30-year career of sustained and distinguished contributions to the advancement of the field of tribology with the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s Turbomachinery Laboratory.
Liang Appointed President by Tribology Society
Dr. Hong Liang (J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering) was named the 2023-24 president by the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers.
Strong Earns Dual Research and Fellow Honors
Dr. Robert Strong (Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences) has been elected a 2023 fellow of the American Association for Agricultural Education and earned the 2023 National Outstanding Researcher Award.
Wilkerson Garners NSF Early-Career Award
Dr. Justin Wilkerson (J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering) was honored with a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program Award.
As part of the vice president for faculty affairs’ Amplifying External Awards Program, eight faculty were recently recognized:
College of Arts and Sciences
- Dr. Derya Akleman (Department of Statistics) - Fulbright Scholar Award
- Dr. Bryce Henson (Department of Communication and Journalism) - Fulbright Scholar Award
- Dr. Kathleen O'Reilly (Department of Geography) - Fulbright Scholar Award
- Dr. Constantine Karathanasis (Department of Global Languages and Cultures) - Harvard University Center for Hellenic Studies Fellowship
- Dr. Andy Thomas (Department of Chemistry) - NSF CAREER Award
School of Architecture
- Bruce Dvorak (Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning) - Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects
- Dr. Gregory Luhan (Department of Architecture) - Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
- Dr. Patrick Suermann (Department of Construction Science) - Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers
Campus News
Faculty who consult or engage in external professional employment must disclose and request prior approval through Huron. The materials for submitting pre-approval requests will be available on July 1.
President M. Katherine Banks and several university leaders traveled to Doha last month to meet with members of the Texas A&M University at Qatar academic community. As current and former students shared their experiences and aspirations, President Banks spoke to the university’s commitment of further enhancing Qatar student experiences.
The Board of Regents approved the creation of a new Telehealth Institute as part of Texas A&M Health. The institute will consist of three core teams and integrate efforts with the Texas A&M Health Digital Health Initiative to advance interdisciplinary telehealth research, education and clinical services.
Join colleagues such as those below who have garnered broad recognition for their expertise through articles published in The Conversation:
- Dr. Simon F. Haeder (Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health) - “Medicaid Work Requirements Would Leave More Low-Income People Without Health Insurance – but This Policy Is Unlikely to Pass This Time Around”
- Dr. Rebecca S.B. Fischer (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health) - “Pivotal Points in the Covid-19 Pandemic – 5 Essential Reads”
- Dr. Ximena Garcia-Rada (Department of Marketing, Mays Business School) - “Travelers Will Refuse an Upgrade to Sit Near a Loved One – New Research Into When People Want to Share Experiences”
Faculty are invited to serve as Hullabaloo U instructors for the fall 2023 semester. Due to the record number of students in the incoming class, additional sections are needed to ensure that every freshman can benefit from this first-year experience class. More information is available on the Office for Student Success website. To be considered, complete the Hullabaloo U instructor online application.
Mark Your Calendars
- New Faculty Orientation - Aug. 8-11
- New Acdemic Leaders Orientation - Aug. 14
Questions or Comments for Faculty Affairs?
Submit confidential questions, concerns or general feedback to Faculty Affairs.
Originally Released Tuesday, June 20th, 2023