Congratulations to the outstanding recipients of the honorary title, Emeritus for their many years of distinguished services to the University of North Texas
Dr. Mickey Abel – Professor Emerita
Art History
Dr. Mickey Abel joined UNT in 2003 as a Visiting Professor and worked her way up to a Full Professor. Professor Mickey Abel is a scholar of Medieval architectural space of both France and Spain - its historical analysis, its contextual setting, its liturgical and experiential perception, and its geographical determinants. A Medieval Art Scholar, she had an exemplary record of scholarship and a strong history of securing external funding. Her scholarship is exemplary in its rigor and thoroughness, with clear theoretical underpinning, consistently applied research method, ample primary support for all arguments, and impeccable contextualization within the established scholarship. Dr. Abel has been ranked as an excellent teacher by her peers and highly effective by her students. Her dedication to teaching is most visible in her mentorship of undergraduate research, as demonstrated by her contributions to Eagle Feather, and of graduate students. In fact, Dr. Abel routinely involves students in her research, taking them to Europe to conduct fieldwork. This work has been broadly published, in books such as Mapping Maillezais: Monastic Architecture, Hydraulic Engineering, and Political Economics; Open Access: Contextualizing the Archivolted Portals of Northern Spain and Western France within the Theology and Politics of Entry; and Medieval Urban Planning: The Monastery and Beyond. Scholar, mentor, and contributor to the work of the college through committee work as well as tenure as department chair, Professor Mickey Abel’s work will have a lasting impact on the University of North Texas.
Dr. Jay Allison – Associate Professor Emeritus
Communication Studies
I am pleased to nominate Dr. Jay Allison of the Department of Communication Studies for Associate Professor Emeritus status at the University of North Texas. Dr. Allison’s career at UNT began in 1989, since that time, he has emerged as one of the most renowned and influential scholars of performance studies in the United States. Dr. Allison has written, directed, and performed in over 28 performances, published over a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and advanced performance studies at the national, regional, and local level through many leadership roles. In 2019, Dr. Allison received the Leslie Irene Coger Award for Distinguished Performance form the National Communication Association (NCA), an award honoring those scholars who have contributed an outstanding body of live performances over the course of their careers. One year prior, he received the Distinguished Service Award from NCA’s Performance Study Division for his dedication to the continuance of performance festivals, his editorial services for the division’s National Review Board, and his varied service roles within the Performance Studies division. In 2017, the leadership of UNT’s Equity and Diversity Conference invited Dr. Allison and his faculty and student collaborators to perform their co-authored performance; ‘What we Talk About When We Talk About Race’ to conclude the conference. Additionally, from 2006-2015, Dr. Allison served as department chair of Communication Studies. His leadership throughout his career at UNT has facilitated the department’s growth, visibility, and national reputation.
Dr. Shery Broyles – Professor Emerita
Mayborn School of Journalism
Dr. Broyles’ commitment goes far beyond the classroom and in to the extracurricular – the “extra” needed for our students to get jobs. In her career at the Mayborn School, she and Principal Lecturer Bill Ford created the student-managed advertising agency SWOOP and the National Student Advertising Competition Team Gravitas. She has mentored countless students informally and formally - supervising almost 400 internships in organizations from coast to coast. Professor Broyles also started the New York Maymester class: The Advertising Industry in New York. Every other year she took a group of students on agency visits in the ad epicenter of the world. As soon as that class opened, it would fill. She created an affordable experience to immerse students in the ever-evolving industry that is part of every single business around the world. Dr. Broyles served 6 years on the UNT Faculty Senate Executive Committee that included stints as both vice chair and chair. Prior to that, she served four years as the strategic communications area head. For 11 years, she organized and was a part of an AEJMC pre-conference workshop that focused on increasing the teaching skills and professional contacts of new ad faculty from universities across the world. She also served on the organization’s standing committee on teaching, including as chair. During her 40-year career, she has engaged in activity after activity where she mentored and supported young advertising professors.
Dr. V. Barbara Bush - Professor Emerita
Counseling and Higher Education
V. Barbara Bush, PhD, served as faculty at UNT from 2002 to 2020. She also served as the UNT Faculty Senate chair from 2016-2018, having previously served as Secretary and Vice Chair. During her tenure for the Senate, Dr. Bush initiated the establishment of an ad hoc committee for non-tenured faculty, resulting in broader representation of non-tenure track faculty. She also chaired the academic policy review and co-chaired the policy oversight committee, establishing academic policies, including those for reappointment, promotion, and tenure. She has provided leadership on a national level, serving as Vice Chair for the Council for the Advancement of Higher Education Programs (CAHEP) as part of the Association of the Study of Higher Education. Dr. Bush has also made an impact through her research, serving as PI for the North Texas Early College Consortium Texas Early High School Project. Dr. Bush has published numerous articles and book chapters, also publishing an influential book for the higher education field entitled “From diplomas to doctorates: The success of Black women in higher education and its implications for equal educational opportunities for all.” She has chaired over 28 dissertations and served on committees for 27 dissertations. In 2020, Dr. Bush earned the UNT Foundation Faculty Leadership Award, which recognizes a faculty member who has significantly affected the university through leadership and service.
Dr. Vicki Campbell – Professor Emerita
Psychology
Dr. Vicki Campbell joined the UNT Department of Psychology in 1982 as an Assistant Professor. As a scholar, Dr. Campbell was actively engaged in research demonstrating the importance of using assessment instruments in counseling practices. She published widely in well‐respected peer‐reviewed journals in the field, guest edited a special issue of The Counseling Psychologist that really set a direction for research into assessment in the counseling practice, and co‐edited two important books in the field. She was also a leader within her department. From 2003 – 2009, Dr. Campbell served as co‐Director of the Counseling Psychology program and became Chair of the department is 2009. She served in the role of department chair until her retirement. Dr. Vicki Campbell has been a valued contributor to Counseling Psychology and the University of North Texas throughout her career. The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences is proud to support her nomination for the rank of Emeritus Professor.
Dr. Perinkolam ‘Chandy’ Chandrasekaran - Professor Emeritus
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, and Law
Dr. Perinkolam Chandrasekaran (“Chandy”) joined the UNT faculty in 1981 as an Assistant Professor of Finance and retired as Full Professor in August 2020. He was awarded the Regents Professorship in 2000. During his long tenure, Dr. Chandy published about 110 journal articles in prestigious academic journals in Finance, Management, Business Law, Real Estate, and Risk Management. His publications in the field of investments and portfolio management have been cited by many scholars. His work has also been cited in the Wall Street Journal, Dallas Morning News, Time magazine, New York Times etc. He was an outstanding teacher and researcher and received honors and awards from UNT and external sources such as Best Paper from the American Business Law Journal, President’s Council Teaching excellence, Toulouse Scholar, Shelton Excellence in Teaching, PDI fellow, and was nominated for a state-wide Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award. He mentored Ph.D. students in Finance for many years to help them become excellent teachers and was the BBA Finance program advisor. He taught undergraduate and graduate courses and chaired Finance doctoral dissertations and was part of dissertation committees. He was highly regarded as a very helpful and collegial faculty in the department. He served on many university, college and departmental committees and was sought after by many for his advice and counsel.
Dr. Donna Emmanuel – Associate Professor Emerita
Music Education
Dr. Emmanuel has taught courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, including Introduction to Music Education, Elementary Methods, and Philosophy of Music Education. She has also served ably as a student teaching supervisor. Dr. Emmanuel’s students have consistently viewed her as one of their most outstanding teachers, describing her classes as “life-changing” and “eye-opening.” In 2016, she was a finalist for the ‘Fessor Graham Teaching Award, the most prestigious university-wide recognition for outstanding teaching. She has also been nominated for the Grammy Music Educator award on several occasions. She was co-instructor of our study abroad course for music education majors, one of the only such courses in the United States. Dr. Emmanuel has several peer-reviewed and invited articles and book chapters, and her early work on field experience and urban music education is still frequently cited by scholars. Her recent work on community engagement and mariachi education has been recognized as authoritative. Dr. Emmanuel had and especially notable service record. Donna has long been involved in community outreach and served as Director of Service Learning and Community Engagement for UNT. She has been recognized for her work in this area by her professional peers, as she was named Chair of the Committee on Community Engagement for the College Music Society. Donna was the Founder and Director of Mariachi Águilas, an important, high-profile outreach initiative as well as valuable educational experience for our students. Dr. Emmanuel lead the way as the College of Music made early strides in serving our Latinx student community. She also served as Program Chair for the 2017 College Music Society National Conference and hosted the Biennial Symposium on Research in Music Teaching and Learning on the UNT campus. Dr. Emmanuel has served as member of chair of countless College and University committees, most notably serving as Chair of the UNT Faculty Senate from 2009 to 2013.
Dr. Don Finn – Professor Emeritus
Accounting
Dr. Don Finn joined the UNT faculty in 2009 as the Chair of the Department of Accounting and served in that role until 2015. He then served as a Professor of Accounting from 2015 until his retirement in August 2020. Throughout his tenure at UNT, Dr. Finn demonstrated an uncompromising support for the Department of Accounting and the university. As evidence of this commitment to the department, he was instrumental in building relationships and support from the professional accounting, auditing, and tax community of University of North Texas graduates and supporters. Some of his notable scholarly and professional accomplishments, while at UNT, include Emerald Literati Network 2011 Outstanding Author Contribution Award for his article, "Moral Intensity, Ethical Reasoning, and Equitable Relief Judgments," in Research in Professional Responsibility and Ethics in Accounting, Vol. 13, 2010; 2010 Research Citations, 9th international most cited accounting business ethics author; Editorial Board Member, Elsevier B.V., Research on Professional Responsibility and Ethics in Accounting (Papers), International, Invited (2010- 2018); serving as a reviewer for Journal of Business Ethics (2009 - 2019); and serving on the American Accounting Association (AAA) - Professionalism and Ethics Committee (2009 - 2015). His administrative accomplishments include building up the Department's MS-Accounting and MS-Taxation program. As part of his service to the academic community, Dr. Finn participated as a team member or Chair of several AACSB accreditation visits. He is highly regarded by his peers as a very helpful and collegial faculty and served on various departmental and college committees.
Dr. Pamela Esprivalo Harrell – Professor Emerita
Teacher Education & Administration
Dr. came to UNT as a new assistant professor during the summer of 2000 after nine years of teaching in public and private schools. During her tenure at UNT, she worked with colleagues to launch one of the first three online teacher certification programs in the US that continues to enroll and graduate a high number of master’s students (52 during 2019). Her research agenda demonstrates a continued focus on teacher quality, and within her formal expertise of science education. Dr. Harrell has published 57 articles and presented at over 100 conferences in national, international, state, and proceedings venues. While at UNT, she received 32 grants totaling over $10M, and served as PI or CoPI for over $8M of grant funding. She created The Simply Outrageous Science Professional Development Program that served over 400 middle school science teachers, increasing their pedagogical knowledge and raising student achievement in high-need schools. Alongside these grants, during 2013, she was selected as Co-Director for the Teach North Texas Program (TNT) which became a large, nationally recognized program, and a top producer of science and mathematics teachers in Texas. TNT currently enrolls over 300 math and science pre-service teachers, with students of color representing 1/3 of the students in TNT. As the teacher pipeline she continued to show teachers of color which are in high demand and short supply, this represents an important contribution to changing the landscape of who is teaching our children. Approximately 8/10 science and math teachers are retained in schools. Over her career, she received teaching and research awards from UNT including the COE Faculty Research Excellence Award, the UNT Teacher Scholar Award (2011) and the UNT President’s Council Teaching Award (2009). Service has also been an important part of her workload at UNT, and her vita shows continuous and significant service at all levels including program, department, college, UNT, and to professional organizations. Finally, for three years, Dr. Harrell worked as an associate dean in the COE, focusing on assessment and administration within the college. Two of her most memorable accomplishments included a 2018, #4 ranking for Online Graduate Programs from US News and World Report and working with COE administrators in early 2019 to develop and implement the first comprehensive assessment plan for the COE.
Dr. Michael Impson – Professor Emeritus
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, and Law
Dr. Michael Impson joined the UNT FIREL faculty in 1987 following a career as an engineer in the petrochemical industry. He chaired four PhD dissertations and served as a member on numerous others. His research focused on finance topics such as dividend policy and stock splits with publications in journals such as the Financial Review, Journal of Financial Research, and the Journal of Futures Markets. Dr. Impson taught several courses for the department in corporate finance, investments, and financial markets, at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. In recent years, Dr. Impson developed several online courses in investments and corporate finance for the master’s and undergraduate programs. He was the department mainstay for online teaching and over 2,000 students have taken his online classes over the past seven years. Dr. Impson served the college as a member and chair of the Undergraduate Program Committee and served for many years as the FIREL Department Master’s Program Advisor. He also served as a member, and at times chair of the master’s program committee. He served as chair of the AACSB Reaccreditation Task Force Review committee on Intellectual Contributions from 1996-1998. He served numerous times as member, and several times as chair of the department annual review committees. Dr. Impson also served the university as a COB senator on the Faculty Senate from 1995–2000 and served on the Faculty Senate Executive Committee from 1997–2000. He was a Beta Gamma Sigma Advisor from 1993–1998.
Dr. George James – Professor Emeritus
Philosophy and Religion
The Department of Philosophy and Religion has enthusiastically nominated Dr. George James for Professor Emeritus status. Dr. James is formally retiring from UNT this summer after a distinguished career as a member of our faculty. Professor James is an internationally recognized scholar in the field of phenomenological approaches to religion. His contributions to this field were developed most thoroughly in his Interpreting Religion: The Phenomenological Approaches of Pierre Daniël Chantepie de la Saussaye, W. Brede Kristensen, and Gerardus van der Leeuw, (Catholic University of America Press, 1995, 2017). Given the environmental focus of the department, he began to also study environmental issues in India. His work resulted in the publication of Ethical Perspectives on Environmental Issues in India (New Delhi: APH Publishing Corporation, 1999). In the Fall of 2017, through an endowment of $500,000, from the Jain Research and Education Foundation, Professor James was appointed the first Endowed Professor of Jain Studies at UNT. Dr. James is still an active researcher and working on the philosophy and religious viewpoint behind an environmental movement in the South Indian state of Karnataka known as the Appiko movement. We expect his to complete his latest book in the next two years and I am thrilled to recommend him for Emeritus faculty status.
Dr. Robert R. Kallman – Professor Emeritus
Mathematics
After receiving his PhD from MIT in 1968, Robert Kallman held postdoctoral positions at MIT, Yale, and UC Berkeley, as well as consulting positions at NASA and Los Alamos National Labs. In 1973 he was appointed associate professor at the University of Florida. He started his 40-year career at UNT as a full professor in 1979. He would direct 12 PhD students and 7 Master’s students and was named a Decker Scholar in 1989. Unlike most mathematicians, Kallman worked both in abstract pure mathematics as well as highly applied fields such as signal processing and optical engineering. In pure math he has published 48 journal articles and conference proceedings, and in the applied sciences he has published 24 articles and proceedings, 11 technical reports, and 1 patent. His highly regarded work, often appearing in prestigious journals, has been cited 875 times since 1980. Kallman’s external funding has been outstanding. Early in his career his research in pure mathematics was regularly supported by the NSF. While at UNT he received over 2 million dollars of funding, approximately 1.7 million of it through US Air Force contracts between 1985 and 1995. He was also awarded large grants from the Air Force Research Lab and the Texas Advanced Technology Program.
Ms. Annette Lawrence – Professor Emerita
Studio Art
Professor Annette Lawrence is an artist/scholar who taught undergraduate and graduate level courses for twenty-four years in the department of Studio Art. She was constantly active in her service to the community, serving for ten years on the Nasher Sculpture Center Program Advisory Committee and five years as the Visual Arts Director for the Denton Black Film Festival, among other activities. Lawrence was awarded a competitive Moss/Chumley Award from the Meadows Museum in Art in recognition of her active role as a community advocate for the visual arts in North Texas in 2015. Exhibitions at prestigious museums, fellowships residencies, all on an international stage, were a result of a highly productive studio practice. This, in turn, provided significant value to the college through committee work, student mentorship, advocacy for peers, as well as tenure as department chair. Professor Annette Lawrence’s career will certainly have a lasting impact on the department, college, and all the University of North Texas.
Dr. Don MacDonald – Professor Emeritus
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, and Law
Dr. Don N. MacDonald first came to UNT as a beginning freshman in the fall of 1973 and graduated cum laude from North Texas in August 1977. He taught his first courses at North Texas in 1977-78 as a graduate student and rejoined the faculty as a tenure track assistant professor in August of 1989. Over the course of his career, he would distinguish himself as a teacher winning numerous awards, as a scholar, and university citizen. Dr. MacDonald retired as a tenured associate professor of finance in August of 2020, having published numerous articles in prestigious journals such as in the American Economic Review, Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Economic Journal, Journal of Risk and Insurance, Review of Futures Markets and more than 25 related peer-reviewed articles in finance and economics. Dr. MacDonald mentored and directed finance students at all levels including undergraduate, master's, and doctoral. In addition to teaching and research, Dr. MacDonald is widely regarded as an excellent colleague who contributed to the department, the college, and the university through his distinguished service. He helped establish the SIG/SMIF investment fund that currently manages more than $600,000 in total assets. He served on the Ph.D. policy committee and numerous other Department, College and University wide committees.
Dr. Mark McKnight – UNT Librarian Emeritus
Libraries
Mark McKnight joined the UNT Music Library in 1990 as Associate Head, Music Library and in 2013 assumed the position of Head, Music Library. He is retiring effective August 31, 2019. Under his leadership, the Music Library continues to be recognized for the breadth and depth of their collections and services and is known for being one of the top music libraries in the country. In addition to his responsibilities in the Music Library, Dr. McKnight is an Adjunct Professor in the UNT College of Music Division of Theory, History, and Ethnomusicology, as well as in the College of Information. He is well-liked and highly respected among faculty and students teaching courses in music research, American music, and music in the United States. Dr. McKnight is active in the American Musicological Society, the Society for American Music, and the Music Library Association, where he has held a number of offices and is currently serving the final year of a three-year term as MLA President. Dr. McKnight has made a significant impact on the field of music librarianship and music history. He has an international reputation for being a leader and scholar and is well known for his outstanding performance and collegial manner. I highly recommend that he be conferred as UNT Librarian Emeritus.
Dr. Timothy Montler – Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus
Technical Communications
Dr. Timothy Montler has served as a faculty member of the University of North Texas for over 35 years. Arriving at UNT in 1984 as an Assistant Professor, he was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor in 1990, Professor in 1996, and Distinguished Research Professor in 2008. His career has been devoted to the documentation and preservation of Native American languages. He has published in many international linguistics journals and has authored several books-amounting to over 4,000 pages-published by the University of Montana, University of Texas Press, Canadian Museum of Civilization, and University of Washington Press. His research has been funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Science Foundation, Administration for Native Americans, National Park Service, National Research Council Canada, American Philosophical Society, and Whatcom Museum, bringing over $1.4 million in federal grants to UNT. After retirement from UNT, Dr. Montler's scholarly work will continue, with three major books in progress, continued service as the digital lexicography advisor to an international group of scholars organized at the University of Alaska as well as thesis and dissertation committee membership at the University of Victoria in Canada, and his consultancy on issues of language revitalization with several Native American tribes and Canadian First Nations.
Dr. Bruce Nacke – Associate Professor Emeritus
Design
In his 33 years of service, Associate Professor Bruce Nacke has been devoted to the College of Visual Arts and Design Interior Design program. He has ensured program continuity, coursework relevance, accredited degree excellence, and a sustained career path for graduates entering the design field. The combination of these activities has resulted in the consistent success of students entering interior design practice in a variety of specialties including commercial office planning, healthcare facilities, hospitality design, residential design, sales and marketing, and real estate. Many alumnae continue to achieve additional credentials, win awards, and make meaningful contributions to the design field. Professor Nacke has engaged with the local community, the university, and the professional design community in multiple capacities. He has guided his students through service-learning activities benefitting non-profit organizations, taught continuing education lighting design courses to design professionals, served as an advisor to regional design programs, and coordinated environmental education exhibits for one of the largest annual sustainability expositions in the world. In addition to his teaching career, Professor Nacke has maintained his residential design practice since 1986. His enduring legacy will be his selfless dedication to the integrity of the College of Visual Arts and Design Interior Design program, and to his students, fellow faculty, and practitioner colleagues. I enthusiastically support the nomination of Bruce Nacke to the status of Emeritus Professor, a title he has earned and deserves.
Dr. Stephen Poe – Professor Emeritus
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, and Law
Dr. Stephen L. Poe joined the faculty at UNT in 1989 as an assistant professor. He retired as a full professor in 2020 having published over 25 articles in high quality journals in the areas of legal studies, ethics, real estate, and life insurance. For over 25 years, he served as a staff editor of a top academic journal. He received several best paper awards from academic journals, including a prestigious national award, the Ralph C. Hoeber Award for Excellence in Research. He taught several courses in two different disciplines, and as academic and internship advisor he mentored financial planning and insurance students on both academic issues and career opportunities. He served as a founding faculty advisor in the UNT Professional Leadership Program. Dr. Poe has enjoyed mentoring junior faculty and served on two dissertations committees. He served as coordinator of the UNT Financial Planning program from 2010 to 2020, growing student enrollment and enhancing the reputation of the program, which was recently ranked # 22 in the country by a national trade publication. Over the course of his career, he received his department’s outstanding teaching award eleven times, the outstanding research award five times, and the outstanding service award three times. He also received a teaching award and a research award from the University and the College of Business, respectively, and a Service Recognition Award from the UNT student chapter of Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Fraternity.
Dr. Kathleen Reynolds – Assistant Professor Emerita
Instrumental Studies
Professor Reynolds has had a distinguished career as a music educator. Her students occupy positions as band members with all branches of the United States Military including the US Navy Band, Air Force Band of the Golden West, US Navy Fleet Bands, and the US Marine Band. Her students have won positions with major orchestras including the Dallas Opera Orchestra, librarian at the Boston Symphony/Tanglewood Music Center and guest librarian at the Metropolitan Opera. In addition, Professor Reynolds has placed numerous students in university teaching positions throughout the United States. Professor Reynolds continues to perform as Principal Bassoon with the Dallas Opera Orchestra. She performs each summer at the Fredericksburg Music Festival and the Montana Chamber Music Festival. Professor Reynolds performs regularly with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerson Symphony and on their last European tour. Professor Reynolds was the Woodwind Area Coordinator and Wind Chamber Music Coordinator at the time of her retirement. She was also a member of the Chamber Music Task Force and Chaired the Faculty Welfare Committee. She served on numerous successful search committees in the College of Music. Professor Reynolds served the University and College of Music with distinction and id deserving of Emerita Faculty status.
Dr. Janie Stidham – Professor Emerita
Design
Professor Janie Stidham provided critical leadership and focus as program coordinator for the Fashion Design program from 2003 – 2018, and graduate program coordinator from 2018-2020. When senior colleague Marian O’Rourke Kaplan assumed a leadership position as Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 2006 – 2007, Professor Stidham became instrumental in ensuring that the CVAD Fashion Program fulfilled its requirements for CVAD’s National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accreditation. Additionally, Professor Stidham produced the CVAD senior fashion show Artwear exhibition from 1997 – 2017. Professor Stidham served on numerous faculty search committees from 2001 – 2017, as well as the RPT, executive, academic, and budget committees from 1998 – 2020, including a position as Chair of the RPT committee in 2018-2020. Professor Stidham is a recognized leader in the international community of Fashion Design, working with the International Textile & Apparel Association, Fashion Group International, and the Master Sewing and Design Professionals, and served on the task force which organized the renown Jean-Paul Gaultier Exhibition for the DMA in 2011-2012.
Dr. Barney Venables – Professor Emeritus
Biological Sciences
Dr. Barney Venables has been a faculty member at UNT since 2003. He earned his Ph.D. at UNT in 1976 and is a retired captain in the U.S. Air Force. In 2011, he was promoted to the rank of full Professor. Dr. Venables’ research has primarily focused on the toxicology of industrial chemicals. His work has covered a range of topics in this area including studies on the uptake and depuration of chemicals, life history effects, and, most importantly, analytical chemistry techniques for determining concentrations of these chemicals in various environmental media. Dr. Venables lead a large study at UNT funded by an industry trade group (Soap and Detergent Manufacturers Association) that, for the first time, studied the distribution and uptake of surfactants used in personal care products in the Trinity River. This was groundbreaking work as environmental toxicologists were just beginning to study the effects of pharmaceuticals and personal care products from wastewater treatment plants in aquatic systems. His expertise in analytical techniques has led him to collaborate not only with faculty in toxicology but he has also made significant contributions to the research of faculty in other areas including those in the Advanced Environmental Research Institute (AERI), the BioDiscovery Institute (BDI), environmental physiology, and archaeology. In fact, his expertise in analytical techniques lead to long-term NSF funding in archaeology for the identification of proteins in ancient pottery with CoPI Dr. Steve Wolverton. More recently, his collaborative efforts with Dr. Jyoti Shah lead to the discovery of a novel metabolite ‘dehydroabietinal’, which is a natural booster of immunity in plants that has practical applications to sustainable agriculture. Dr. Venables has published more than 100 peer reviewed papers in highly ranked journals, a milestone for the field, and has been funded by state, federal, and private sources over his career. It would be difficult to find a faculty member at UNT who has contributed more and played a critical role in is such diverse aspects of UNT’s research programs.