University Fall Convocation will take place Sept. 14, ceremoniously opening the academic year, recognizing new full-time faculty and announcing winners for several coveted university awards. All students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the event at 11 a.m. at Ed Landreth Auditorium.
The recipients of the Wassenich Award for Mentoring in the TCU Community, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Award, the Maryrose Short Teaching Excellence Award and the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar will be presented. Eight faculty members who are new endowed chairs and professors will also be recognized. Below are award nominees.
Wassenich Award
The Wassenich Award for Mentoring in the TCU Community celebrates faculty and staff members who serve as role models, advisors and guides to students. Alumni and students may nominate individuals, and the winner is chosen from a committee of primarily faculty and staff. Winners receive $3,000, and nominees receive $750. This year’s nominees are:
- David Begnoche, Associate Professor of Trombone, School of Music, College of Fine Arts
- Laura Luque, Ph.D., Instructor, Department of Biology, College of Science & Engineering
- Lydia Mackay, Assistant Professor, Department of Theatre, College of Fine Arts
- Nino Testa, Ph.D., Associate Director, Women & Gender Studies, School of Interdisciplinary Studies
- Kim Turner, Executive Director, Student Governance & Traditions in Student Affairs
DEI Award
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award honors the challenging task of further transforming the TCU community into one that celebrates the university mission and creates a world-class university built on a heritage of inclusion. Faculty, staff and students may nominate an individual. Finalists are selected by the DEI Award Committee who provides recommendations to the chancellor. The winner receives $5,000. This year’s nominees are:
- Carrie Liu Currier, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, AddRan College of Liberal Arts
- Frederick Gooding Jr., Ph.D., Associate Professor of African-American Studies, John V. Roach Honors College, and Chair of the Race and Reconciliation Initiative
- Ebony Rose, Senior Learning and Development Consultant, Human Resources
- Nino Testa, Ph.D., Associate Director of Women & Gender Studies, School of Interdisciplinary Studies
Chancellor’s Award
The Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar recognizes extraordinary creative teaching and scholarship. Nominations are submitted to academic deans who provide recommendations to the chancellor. The winner receives $25,000, and nominees each receive $2,500. This year’s nominees are:
- Ariane Balizet, Ph.D., Professor of English, AddRan College of Liberal Arts
- Peter Frinchaboy, Ph.D., Professor of Physics and Astronomy and Director of Graduate Programs, College of Science & Engineering
- Wil Gafney, Ph.D., the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible, Brite Divinity School
- Kylo-Patrick Hart, Ph.D., Chair and Professor of Film, Television and Digital Media, Bob Schieffer College of Communication
- John T. Harvey, Ph.D., Chair and Professor of Economics, AddRan College of Liberal Arts
- Jo Beth Jimerson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, College of Education
- Larry Lockwood, Ph.D., Stan Block Endowed Professor in Finance and Faculty Advisor of the Educational Investment Fund, Neeley School of Business
- Janie Robinson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Nursing, Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
- Alan Shorter, Ph.D., Professor of Theatre, College of Fine Arts
Maryrose Short Award
The Maryrose Short Teaching Excellence Award recognizes excellence in teaching and is specifically focused on exceptional untenured, full-time faculty members, including non-tenure track faculty with five years or less at TCU. Nominations from colleges and schools are submitted to academic deans who select the top three to submit to the provost for final selection. This award was established by Dan Short, Ph.D., former dean of the Neeley School of Business, in memory of his wife, Maryrose Short. The winner receives $6,000 with the stipulation that $1,000 be used for a professional development activity.