As the campus prepares to begin the 2024-2025 academic year, TCU will recognize its outstanding faculty and staff. The annual celebration of the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement, Ferrari Award, Chancellor’s Staff Award, Wassenich Award, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award and Maryrose Short Award will be announced at the faculty and staff Welcome & Opening Luncheon Aug. 16 and in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we celebrate the finalists.
Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement
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 will be announced at a private event Sept. 16. Finalists will each receive $2,500 and will be acknowledged at the opening luncheon. This year’s finalists are:
- Martin Blessinger, Professor of Music Theory and Composition (College of Fine Arts)
- Matt Chumchal, Professor of Biology and Director of Pre-Health Professions Institute (College of Science & Engineering)
- Johny Garner, Professor of Communication Studies (Bob Schieffer College of Communication)
- Blake Hestir, Professor of Philosophy (AddRan College of Liberal Arts)
- Mark Houston, Professor and Eunice and James L. West Chair in Marketing, Associate Dean for Faculty and Research (Neeley School of Business)
- Carol Howe, Paula R. and Ronald C. Parker Professor and Director of Nursing Research and Scholarship (Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences)
- Shelly Matthews, Professor of New Testament (Brite Divinity School)
Ferrari Award
The Michael R. Ferrari Award for Distinguished University Service and Leadership was established by the TCU Board of Trustees to honor the former chancellor and recognize the extraordinary situational leadership accomplishments above job or position expectations of a faculty or staff member. Finalists are selected by an appointed committee and submitted to the president for the selection of a winner. The Ferrari Award carries with it a prize of $5,000. The winner will be announced at the opening luncheon. Finalists will each receive $1,000:
- Suki John, Professor of Dance, School for Classical & Contemporary Dance (College of Fine Arts)
- Stacie McCormick, Associate Professor of English and American Literature (AddRan College of Liberal Arts)
- Candice Payne, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Budget and Financial Planning (Finance & Administration)
- Magnus Rittby, Professor of Physics and Astronomy (College of Science & Engineering)
Chancellor’s Staff Award
Created in 2003, the Chancellor’s Staff Award for Outstanding Service recognizes a staff member for exemplary service and contributions to the welfare of the campus community. The award includes a prize of $5,000, and the winner will be selected by the chancellor and announced at opening luncheon. One finalist from each division will be recognized and will each receive $1,000. The finalists are:
- Leslie Bast, Accounts Payable Software Specialist (Finance & Administration)
- Victoria Chen, Executive Director, Scholarships and Student Financial Aid (Academic Affairs)
- Caroline Collier, Director of Editorial Services (Marketing & Communication)
- Rosa Gomez, Payroll Analyst (Human Resources)
- Thomas Montigel, Assistant Athletics Director, Men’s Basketball Operations (Intercollegiate Athletics)
- Reina Rodriguez, Administrative Assistant (Brite Divinity School)
- Julie Whitt, Associate Vice Chancellor of Donor Relations (University Advancement)
- Linda Wolszon, Associate Director, Counseling & Mental Health Center (Student Affairs)
DEI Award
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award honors the important work of further transforming the TCU community into one that not only celebrates the university mission but also creates a world-class university built on a heritage of inclusion. Faculty and staff may nominate an individual. Finalists are selected by the DEI Award Committee, which provides recommendations to the president. The winner receives $5,000 and will be announced at the opening luncheon. Finalists receive $1,000. They are:
- Carrie Liu Currier, Associate Professor and Outgoing Chair of the Department of Political Science (AddRan College of Liberal Arts)
- Ashley English, Associate Professor of Strategic Communication (Bob Schieffer College of Communication)
- Benjamin Hiramatsu Ireland, Associate Professor of French, Director of Asian Studies (AddRan College of Liberal Arts)
Wassenich Award
The Wassenich Award for Mentoring in the TCU Community was established by Mark and Linda Wassenich to celebrate this defining characteristic of TCU for many generations. Alumni and students may nominate faculty and staff members who serve as role models, advisors and guides to students, and the winner is chosen by a committee of primarily faculty and staff. The winner receives $3,000 and will be announced at a private event Aug. 28. Finalists each receive $750 and will be acknowledged at the opening luncheon. The are:
- Dr. April Bleich, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Burnett School of Medicine at TCU)
- Hayat Hokayem, Professor of Science Education, Andrews Institute for Research in Mathematics and Science Education (College of Education)
- LaTrina Parker Hall, Director of Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program (College of Education)
- Susan Staples, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Actuarial Program Director (College of Science & Engineering)
Maryrose and Dan Short Award
The Maryrose and Dan Short Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes excellence in teaching and is specifically focused on exceptional untenured (tenure-track or non-tenure track), full-time faculty members with five years or less at TCU. Nominations from colleges and schools are submitted to academic deans who select the top candidates to submit to the provost for final selection. This award was established by the late Dan Short, 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. The honoree will be announced at a private event Aug. 28. The finalists, who will be acknowledged at the opening luncheon, are:
- Britney Gilmore, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies (Bob Schieffer College of Communication)
- Maia Kelton, Instructor II of Accounting (Neeley School of Business)
- Pablo Montes, Assistant Professor of Curriculum Studies (College of Education)
- Ashley Palmer, Assistant Professor of Social Work (Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences)
- Tamara Rice, Instructor of Interior Design (College of Fine Arts)
- Luis Romero, Assistant Professor of Comparative Race & Ethnic Studies (AddRan College of Liberal Arts)
- Derek Tomlin, Instructor I of Mathematics (College of Science & Engineering)