University of North Texas 
2025 Salute to Faculty Excellence Award Winners
The following distinguished members of the UNT faculty were formally recognized at
the 2025 Salute to Faculty Excellence Awards Celebration on April 17, 2025. Congratulations
to all of our award winners, and thank you for all you do to support UNT's mission
and empower our students to transform their lives — and the world around them.
UNT FOUNDATION AWARDS
UNT Foundation Eminent Faculty Award
Francis D'Souza, Ph.D.
Regents Professor, Chemistry
College of Science
UNT Foundation Faculty Leadership Award
M. Jean Keller, Ed.D.
Professor, Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation
College of Education
UNT Foundation Community Engagement Award
Brenda Sweeten, LCSW
Clinical Professor, Social Work
College of Health and Public Service
UNT Foundation Outstanding Lecturer Award
Benjamin Graf, Ph.D.
Principal Lecturer, Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology
College of Music
TEACHING AWARDS
DSI CLEAR Outstanding Online Course Award
Jessica Craig, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Criminal Justice
College of Health and Public Service
Susan Watson, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor, Multidisciplinary Innovation
College of Applied and Collaborative Studies
Piper Professor Award Nominee
Vess Johnson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Information Technology and Decision Sciences
G. Brint Ryan College of Business
President's Council Teaching Award
Joanna Davis-McElligatt, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, English
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
President's Council Teaching Award &
TAMS and the Honors College Outstanding Teaching Award
Wesley Phelps, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, History
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
J.H. Shelton Excellence in Teaching Award
Kerry Goldmann, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer, History
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
RESEARCH AWARDS
Early Career Award for Research and Creativity
Brian Meckes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
College of Engineering
Teacher Scholar Award
Rachel Moran, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, History
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Creative Impact Award
Eugene Martin
Professor, Media Arts
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Research Leadership Award
Terrance Pohlen, Ph.D.
Professor, Supply Chain Management
G. Brint Ryan College of Business
TAMS and the Honors College Outstanding Research Mentor Award
Mark Albert, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Computer Science and Engineering
College of Engineering
OFFICE OF THE PROVOST AWARDS
Adjunct Award for Teaching Excellence
Mara Hedrich
Adjunct Faculty, Geography and the Environment
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Ulys and Vera Knight Mentoring Award
Samantha Bergmann, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Behavior Analysis
College of Health and Public Service
University Distinguished Teaching Professor Award
Christy Crutsinger, Ph.D.
Professor, Merchandising and Digital Retailing
College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism
Nora Gilbert, Ph.D.
Professor, English
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Jeffrey A. Ogden, Ph.D.
Professor, Supply Chain Management
G. Brint Ryan College of Business
University Distinguished Research Professor Award
Jehanne Dubrow, Ph.D.
Professor, English
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Shengqian Ma, Ph.D.
Professor, Chemistry
College of Science
Kamesh Namuduri, Ph.D.
Professor, Electrical Engineering
College of Engineering
Regents Professor Award
Glen Biglaiser, Ph.D.
Professor, Political Science
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Patricia Cukor-Avila, Ph.D.
Professor, Linguistics
College of Information
Ram Dantu, Ph.D.
Professor, Computer Science and Engineering
College of Engineering
Dan Kim, Ph.D.
Professor, Information Technology and Decision Sciences
G. Brint Ryan College of Business
Eric Nestler, D.Mus.
Professor, Instrumental Studies
College of Music
SERVICE AWARDS
Award for Distinguished Contributions to International Education
Rachita Sharma, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor, Rehabilitation and Health Services
College of Health and Public Service
Early Career Award for Distinguished Contributions to International Education
Hassan Qandil, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering
President's Council Service Award
Jacqueline Foertsch, Ph.D.
Professor, English
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Outstanding Library Faculty Award
Coby Condrey
Associate Librarian, Research Support Services
UNT Libraries