
Spring 2023
These awards celebrate the love of learning that unites us as a university community and the outstanding scholars and teachers who personify this passion for inquiry and growth.
Recognizing Academic Excellence
These awards recognize extraordinary academic and personal accomplishments by our talented faculty and beloved students. At our very core, this is what Texas Christian University is about—an environment that fosters academic and intellectual growth. Specifically, we celebrate the people and programs that change the world for the better. Congratulations and thank you for your contributions to TCU and the greater good!
Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr.
Deans’ Awards
The Deans’ Awards are among the highest honors bestowed to faculty at the university level. The awards originated in 1982 as the Burlington Northern Foundation Faculty Achievement Awards and were given in alternate years.
Currently, TCU bestows three Deans’ Teaching Awards and the three Deans’ Awards for Research and Creativity annually. Each school or college nominates one faculty member for each award, with AddRan College of Liberal Arts nominating two, one from each of its divisions, Humanities and Social Sciences. All TCU deans vote to determine the six winners.
Peter Frinchaboy, Ph.D., Professor of Physics and Astronomy
College of Science & Engineering
Peter Frinchaboy joined TCU in 2009 to strengthen the astrophysics track and launch
an innovative research program focused on observational astronomy. Today, his TCU
laboratory is recognized internationally, and colleagues say his groundbreaking research
of the Milky Way star clusters contain vital clues to the basic organization and evolution
of our galaxy. He is well-known for his role in planning and executing the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which allows the study of detailed
abundances throughout the Milky Way for the first time. He was recently appointed
project scientist of the Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer project.
"It is a joy to explore and share answers to some of history’s greatest questions
about the universe with support from students and colleagues from TCU and around the
world. It is an honor to be recognized for work that advances science as it provides
impactful student experiences for undergraduate and graduate students at TCU."
Hanan Hammad, Ph.D., Professor of History and Director of Middle East Studies
AddRan College of Liberal Arts
Hanan Hammad has developed a national and international reputation through her scholarship
on the history of gender and sexuality in the Middle East. Her book, Industrial Sexuality: Gender, Urbanization, and Social Transformation in Egypt, won five national awards. Hammad has received prestigious international fellowships
and the honor of presenting keynote and public talks in numerous universities, including
Chicago, Duke, Cambridge, Leiden and NYU.
"This award confirms TCU’s commitment for high-quality research and scholarship in
the framework of the teacher-scholar model. Thanks to scholars who frequently use
my publications in their graduate seminars, I currently serve as a committee member
for several students inside and outside TCU, including students at the University
of Texas at Austin, Duke and Swarthmore College."
Tee Tyler, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Social Work
Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Tee Tyler’s qualitative research methods explore the experiences of parents of transgender
children to provide understanding and shed light on the challenges they face and the
support they need. His research is a significant resource, cited 157 times in scholarly
publications to date. Tyler embodies the TCU teacher-scholar model by collaborating
with students and re-purposing his research for educational content. His current publications
include 13 student co-authors, and his presentations include 40 student co-presenters.
"My research agenda is to prepare health care providers to affirm and serve LGBTQ children and their parents. Imagine an initial assessment meeting between a healthcare provider and an LGBTQ child and their parent. The parent asks the provider to address their concerns regarding their child’s identity disclosure. Is the healthcare provider effectively trained and prepared to address the child-parent dyad in a manner that affirms the LGBTQ child and supports their parent?"
Jan Lacina, Ph.D., Professor and Bezos Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Education,
Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Research and Strategic Partnership
College of Education
Jan Lacina helps education students appreciate and understand the complexities of
reading and writing to better teach it in their future classrooms. Lacina introduces
undergraduate students to complex societal issues through the children’s literature
course, mentors graduate students through the Warren Fellowship and influences the
work of classroom teachers as a journal editor and through the TCU Summer Literacy
Institute. She designed the Critical Literacy in Children’s Literature class, now
the most popular class in the College of Education.
"I value the lessons from my grandfather about the beauty of language, culture and people, which influence my desire to mentor students. I also teach award-winning literature from around the world that include refugees and immigrants as protagonists, so students can see themselves in books, as well as see windows into the lives of diverse characters."
Jacqueline Lambiase, Ph.D., Professor of Strategic Communication
Bob Schieffer College of Communication
Jacqueline Lambiase teaches introductory courses, upper-level courses and special
topics courses on issues such as public relations and advocacy, as well as public
communication and diversity, equity and inclusion. The latter led to TCU’s Portrait
Project, a project to honor diverse TCU stakeholders through portraiture. Lambiase
created and directs the Certified Public Communicators Program, which provides communication
professionals with professional development for meeting the demands of their positions.
"Students bring knowledge with them to the classroom, and my job is to activate that knowledge, to create a desire within them for more, and to provide a hospitable space in which they may share this knowledge. I also want to be sure that students are always aware of the power of the images and words that they create and of their roles in building new media products responsibly and ethically."
Katie Lauve-Moon, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Social Work
Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Katie Lauve-Moon introduces students to the social work profession and teaches upper-division classes for majors, minors and graduate students centered on social justice and DEI, especially gender issues. She works to create learning environments where students are comfortable being their authentic selves as she explores critical social issues with humanity and compassion and to build trust with her students through meaningful relationships and lays the groundwork for meaningful education.
“Teaching is about partnering with students as they process new perspectives and ideas, engage each other in challenging conversations and begin evolving as unique, effective change-makers. We discuss controversial topics in my courses, so it is important that students feel encouraged and free to express their opinions without judgment."
Graduate Student Awards
The Outstanding Graduate Research, Teaching and Service awards winners are selected by each school or college to recognize students who demonstrate excellence in those areas.
College of Education – Leslie Ekpe
College of Science& Engineering – Maddie Jacobs
Neeley School of Business – Pedro Zendron
AddRan College of Liberal Arts – Nataly Dickson
Bob Schieffer College of Communication – Logan Gibbs
Bob Schieffer College of Communication – Maria Belen Navarro
College of Education – Kelcia Righton
College of Fine Arts – Diego Torres
College of Science & Engineering – Maegyn Grubbs
Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences – Daryl Campbell-Pierre
AddRan College of Liberal Arts – Cecilia Hill
Bob Schieffer College of Communication – Bre Prater
College of Education – Ihsan Ghazal
College of Fine Arts – Paige Jackson
College of Science & Engineering – Thomas Sease
AddRan College of Liberal Arts – Angela Mack
College of Science & Engineering – Sarah Jennings
Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences – Sandy Manoushagian
AddRan College of Liberal Arts – Kara Dixon Vuic
Bob Schieffer College of Communication – Paul Schrodt
College of Education – Molly Weinburgh
College of Fine Arts – Joe Eckert
College of Science & Engineering – Cathy Cox
Undergraduate Student Awards
Senior Scholars
Senior Scholars are a highly select group, identified by faculty as the most outstanding students in their departments or programs. To be eligible, students must:
(1) be a senior (including graduates from the previous December)
(2) be a major in one of the unit’s programs
(3) have an overall GPA of 3.50 or higher.
Departments or programs with larger numbers of majors are allowed to choose one additional Senior Scholar per 300 majors.
Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies |
Julieta Martinez |
Criminology & Criminal Justice |
Rachel Baniewicz |
Economics |
Amelia Boatwright |
Economics |
Madeline Felice Neufeld |
English |
Adrienne Stallings |
Geography |
Carson Nicola |
History |
Holly Harris |
Modern Languages |
Samantha Ritz |
Philosophy |
Ulrika Shragge |
Political Science |
Amelia Boatwright |
Political Science |
Lisa Ann Johnson |
Sociology & Anthropology |
Maya Miller |
Sociology & Anthropology |
Olivia Egloff |
Spanish & Hispanic Studies |
Molly Nagel |
Women and Gender Studies |
Amanda Peterson |
Communications Studies |
Brylee Brandt |
Communication Studies |
Dezirae Rodriguez |
Film, TV and Digital Media |
Violet Camille Comer |
Strategic Communication |
Belle Lofye |
Strategic Communication |
Brock Gilliland |
Teaching and Learning Sciences |
Julia Lewis |
Counseling, Societal Change and Inquiry |
Haylee Chiariello |
Classical & Contemporary Dance |
Lyvia Baldner |
Fashion Merchandising |
Molly Nagel |
School of Music |
Aubrey Bosse |
School of Music |
Maxwell Healy |
School of Art |
Juliet Gillis |
Theatre |
Taylor Bockrath |
Biology |
Meenal Cascella |
Biology |
Lilly Wilson |
Biology |
Evan Burchfiel |
Computer Science |
Chirayu Jain |
Engineering |
David de Oliveira |
Environmental & Sustainability Sciences |
Morgan Washington |
Geological Sciences |
Brooke Newell |
Mathematics |
Brandon Isensee |
Nutritional Sciences |
Maggie Mullen |
Physics & Astronomy |
Emilie Burnham |
Physics & Astronomy |
Gretel Stokes |
Psychology |
Kate Lindig |
Psychology |
Mariana Nguyen |
Psychology |
Cassidy Snyder |
Davies School of Communication Sciences & Disorders |
Kate Moseley |
Davies School of Communication Sciences & Disorders |
Cassidy McCormick |
Kinesiology |
Diego Rivera |
Kinesiology |
Ryan Gall |
Social Work |
Karin Lee |
Undergraduate Nursing |
Kendyll Gromko |
Undergraduate Nursing |
Mandy Mitchell |
Undergraduate Nursing |
Lauren Smith |
Undergraduate Nursing |
Caroline Mahowald |
Accounting |
Madeline Blair |
Accounting |
Anna Grace Powell |
Finance |
Caleb Hough |
Finance |
Trinity Troutman |
Finance |
Teny Noordermeer |
Finance |
Drue Walker |
Finance |
Anna Sundvold |
Finance |
Conor Hartman |
Finance |
Chandler Quave |
Information Systems & Supply Chain Management |
Amanda Varni |
Information Systems & Supply Chain Management |
Cooper Curtin |
Management and Leadership |
Savanna Simmank |
Entrepreneurship and Innovation |
Cole Markley |
Marketing |
Emily Dillon |
McNair Scholars
The McNair Scholars Program is a federal TRIO program funded at 151 institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico by the U.S. Department of Education. It is designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. McNair participants are either first-generation college students with financial need, or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential.
Name |
Major |
Faculty Mentor |
Title of Presentation |
Jordan Crupper |
Psychology |
Dr. Tracy Centanni |
The Effects of a taVNS On Language Retention in College-Aged Students |
Freddy Garcia |
Education & Spanish |
Dr. Steve Przymus |
Linguistic Landscape |
Jasmin Gonzalez |
Education |
Dr. Pablo Montes |
The Impact of College-Aged Advisors on College Pursuing Students |
Victoria Holmes |
Psychology & Sociology |
Dr. Amina Zarrugh |
W.O.K.E. American: Analyzing the Framing Effect of Political Social Media from a Terror Management Perspective |
Julieta Martinez Gonzalez |
Political Science & Comparative Race & Ethnic Studies |
Dr. Luis Romero |
(Un)Healthy Migrants?: An Analysis of Media Coverage on Title 42 |
Kassandra Mascorro |
Speech-Language Pathology |
Dr. Jean Rivera Perez |
The Use of Computer Training to Improve Spanish Phonetic Transcription and Dialectal Knowledge |
Jose (Andy) Mendez |
BIS Supply Chain Management |
Dr. Stacy Landreth Grau |
Digital Transformation in DFW's Business Post-Covid Era |
Diego Rivera |
Movement Science |
Dr. Adam King |
The Effect of Differential Training on a Standing Broad Jump |
Dezirae Rodriguez |
Communications |
Dr. Britney Gilmore |
Applying Co-Cultural Theory to the Interactions of the Deaf Community and Sign Language Interpreters |
Joceline Rojas |
Psychology |
Dr. Uma Tauber |
How Does Access to Notes and Text During a Test Influence Students' Preparation? |
Somiari Tobin |
Comparative Race & Ethnic Studies |
Dr. Brandon Manning |
Opening the Flood Gates: Illuminating Men of Color Experiences with Hurricane Katrina |
Mariana Zollinger |
Biology |
Dr. Giridhar Akkaraju |
Understanding the Structure and Function of Protein Kinase C-Esilon Using Site-Directed Mutagenesis |
Josephine (Josie) Murillo |
Psychology |
Dr. Danica Knight |
Examination of Relationships Among Sexual Exploitation, Sex, and Aces Among Youth in the Legal System |
Phi Beta Kappa
Founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society. To be considered for membership, students must have excellent grades in courses with a liberal education emphasis. Most initiates are juniors and seniors.
TCU’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter also bestows the annual James W. Newcomer Senior Scholar in Liberal Studies award, honoring the senior initiate who best exemplifies a commitment to excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and to the society’s motto, “Love of learning is the guide of life.”
Amelia Boatwright, Economics and Political Science
Juniors:
Benafield III, Robert Bryan (Biology & English)
Borlay, Breann Decontee (English & Sociology)
Dugger, Olivia Claire (Geography & Italian)
Harmon, Tessa Jacklyn (Philosophy & POSC)
Johnson, Ella Julia (POSC & Religion)
Marrin, Isabella Alexandria (POSC & Spanish)
Martin, Hayes Thomas (Biology)
Milligan, Madison Elizabeth (Psychology & Spanish & Writing)
Pham, Huynh Bao Khanh (Mathematics)
Smith, Emily Jo (Psychology)
Seniors:
Baniewicz, Rachel M (Psychology & Criminal Justice)
Christopherson, Peter Thomas (POSC & History)
Clark, Avery Grace (Psychology)
Cring, Kathleen Grace (Psychology)
Cunningham, Catherine Rylee (POSC & English)
Evans, Coleton Bradley (Music)
Fruend III, Robert Allen (Biology & POSC & Economics)
Jamison, Nena Mai (Computer Science & Religion)
Leon, Jacqueline T (Biology & Spanish)
Lucido, Anthony Justin (History)
Miller, Maya Olivia (Anthropology & Geography)
Mulloy, Bridget Claire (POSC)
Nguyen, Thi Hue Truc (Accounting & Economics)
Nichols, Anna Mackenzie (Biology)
Raines, Nicole Ruth (Psychology)
Reiter, Wyatt Philip (English & POSC)
Ritz, Samantha A (Childhood Development & French)
Russell, Ashley (Mathematics)
Schock, Gabriella Villaflor (Psychology)
Smoke, Benjamin Hodges (Religion, Spanish, Anthropology)
Strelow, Caledonia Juliet (POSC)
Villatoro, Sophia N (Psychology)
Washington, Morgan Elise (Environmental Science & POSC)
Graduated:
Holton, Elizabeth C (POSC & French)
Simons, Kathryn McGilley (Mathematics)