University of North Texas 
2026 Salute to Faculty Excellence Award Winners
The following faculty members will be honored at the UNT Salute to Faculty Excellence
Awards Celebration on April 16, 2026. Congratulations to all of our award winners,
and thank you for all you do to advance UNT’s mission to transform lives and build a brighter future.
UNT FOUNDATION AWARDS
UNT Foundation Eminent Faculty Award
Dornith Doherty, M.F.A.
UNT Distinguished Research Professor, Studio Art
College of Visual Arts and Design
UNT Foundation Faculty Leadership Award
Paul Hensel, Ph.D.
Professor, Political Science
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
UNT Foundation Community Engagement Award
Brian Richardson, Ph.D.
Professor, Communication Studies
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
UNT Foundation Outstanding Lecturer Award
Nazia Khan, Ed.D.
Principal Lecturer, Teacher Education and Administration
College of Education
TEACHING AWARDS
CLEAR Outstanding Online Course Award
Kerry Goldmann, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer, History
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Kiseol Yang, Ph.D.
Professor, Merchandising and Digital Retailing
College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism
Piper Professor Award Nominee
Jeff M. Allen, Ph.D.
Regents Professor, Information Science
College of Information
President's Council Teaching Award
Kenneth D. Cory, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Management
G. Brint Ryan College of Business
Dan J. Kim, Ph.D.
Professor, Information Technology and Decision Sciences
G. Brint Ryan College of Business
TAMS and the Honors College Instructor of the Year Award
Joshua Ibarra, M.A.
Adjunct Faculty, English
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
J.H. Shelton Excellence in Teaching Award
Jihye Min, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Hospitality, Event and Tourism Management
College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism
RESEARCH AWARDS
Early Career Award for Research and Creativity
Calvin Henard, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
College of Science
Teacher Scholar Award
Anupama Kaul, Ph.D.
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering
Creative Impact Award
Raquel Samayoa, D.M.A.
Associate Professor, Instrumental Studies
College of Music
Decker Scholar Award
Diana Berman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering
Research Leadership Award
Ram Dantu, Ph.D.
Professor, Computer Science and Engineering
College of Engineering
TAMS and the Honors College Outstanding Research Mentor Award
Calvin Sims, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer, Psychology
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
OFFICE OF THE PROVOST AWARDS
Adjunct Award for Teaching Excellence
Joseph Trahan, M.S.
Mayborn School of Journalism
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Presidential Early Career Professorship
Brady Lund, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Information Science
College of Information
Ulys and Vera Knight Faculty Mentoring Award
Karthigeyan Subramaniam, Ph.D.
Professor, Teacher Education and Administration
College of Education
Ulys and Vera Knight Student Mentoring Award
Hassan Qandil, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering
University Distinguished Teaching Professor Award
Andrew Colombo-Dougovito, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation
College of Public Affairs and Health Sciences
Gayatri Mehta, Ph.D.
Professor, Electrical Engineering
College of Engineering
Newly Paul, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Mayborn School of Journalism
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Wesley Phelps, Ph.D.
Professor, History
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
University Distinguished Research Professor Award
Ana Alonso, Ph.D.
Professor, Biological Sciences
College of Science
Jaymee Haefner, D.M.A.
Professor, Instrumental Studies
College of Music
Thomas Scharf, Ph.D.
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering
Hong Wang, Ph.D.
Professor, Chemistry
College of Science
Regents Professor Award
Paul Hudak, Ph.D.
Professor, Geography and the Environment
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Kimberly Cole Luevano, D.M.A.
Professor, Instrumental Studies
College of Music
Mohammad Omary, Ph.D.
Professor, Chemistry
College of Science
Elvia Puccinelli, D.M.A.
Professor, Vocal Studies
College of Music
Vijay Vasudevan, Ph.D.
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering
SERVICE AWARDS
Award for Distinguished Contributions to International Education
Sanjukta Pookulangara, Ph.D.
Chair, Merchandising and Digital Retailing
College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism
Early Career Award for Distinguished Contributions to International Education
Karine Narahara, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Anthropology
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
President's Council Service Award
Robert J. Pavur, Ph.D.
Professor, Information Technology and Decision Sciences
G. Brint Ryan College of Business
Outstanding Library Faculty Award
Diane Robson, M.S.
Games and Education Librarian, Media Library
UNT Libraries