TTU System Celebrates Chancellor鈥檚 Council Distinguished Teaching & Research Award Winners
May 9, 2025 | Contact: Kristina Butler
Distinguished faculty from across the 麻豆天狼副利院 (TTU System) were acknowledged Thursday (May 8) at the annual Chancellor鈥檚 Council Celebration of Excellence, hosted by Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., and First Lady Janet Tornelli-Mitchell, M.D., at Adelphos Cellars in Lubbock.
Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.Established in 2001, the Chancellor鈥檚 Council Distinguished Teaching & Research Awards recognize individuals from each of the system鈥檚 five universities who exemplify teaching and research excellence. These awards are the most prestigious honors given to faculty by the TTU System.
The awards are made possible through gifts to the , a giving society that supports the chancellor鈥檚 priorities of impacting student lives through scholarships, ensuring higher education accessibility, recognizing faculty achievements and encouraging excellence across the TTU System. Since the awards were established, 281 faculty members have been honored, totaling more than $1.6 million in awards.
鈥淲e are grateful to our Chancellor鈥檚 Council members for their dedicated generosity throughout the years,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淭heir support allows us to achieve our priorities and recognize those members among our faculty who exemplify excellence, ultimately allowing us to reach even greater success together.鈥�
Donors and supporters of the Chancellor鈥檚 Council, members of the TTU System Board of Regents and leadership from across the system gathered to celebrate the accomplished award recipients.
鈥淔aculty members are the heart of all that is accomplished at our universities,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淭hey lead innovative research that creates tangible solutions to our most pressing challenges and serve as teachers and mentors to our most important asset 鈥� the students who will become our world鈥檚 next generation of leaders, experts and change-makers. I鈥檓 honored to recognize the work of this year's awardees and look forward to all they will continue to accomplish as members of this elite cohort.鈥�
Recipients receive a $5,000 stipend and an engraved medallion.
2025 Chancellor鈥檚 Council Distinguished Teaching and Research Awards:
:
- Joseph Aranha, M.Arch., Huckabee College of Architecture (Teaching Award)
- Jacqueline C. Henninger, Ph.D., J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts (Teaching Award)
- Ruibin Liang, Ph.D., College of Arts & Sciences (Research Award)
- Mahdi Malmali, Ph.D., Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering (Research Award)
- Sylvia Niehuis, Ph.D., College of Health & Human Sciences (Teaching Award)
- Deidre Popovich, Ph.D., Jerry S. Rawls College of Business (Research Award)
- David R. W. Sears, Ph.D., J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts (Research Award)
- Robert T. Sherwin, J.D., School of Law (Teaching Award)
:
- Susan Bergeson, Ph.D., School of Medicine (Teaching Award)
- Luis G. Cuello, Ph.D., School of Medicine (Research Award)
- Sarai Granados, M.S., CCC-SLP, School of Health Professions (Teaching Award)
- Krystal Haase, PharmD., FCCP, BCPS, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy (Teaching Award)
:
- Kenneth Carrell, Ph.D., College of Science & Engineering (Research Award)
- David Faught, Ph.D., College of Arts & Humanities (Teaching Award)
:
- Salma Elwazeer, B.D.S., M.D.S., M.P.H., Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine (Teaching Award)
- Debabrata Mukherjee, M.D., M.S., Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (Research Award)
:
- Ann Marie Leimer, Ph.D., Lamar D. Fain College of Fine Arts (Teaching Award)
- Suzanne F. Lindt, Ph.D., Gordon T. & Ellen West College of Education & Professional Studies (Research Award)
Texas Tech University (L-to-R): Guest, Sylvia Niehuis, Ph.D., Deidre Popovich, Ph.D., Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, President Lawrence Schovanec, Ph.D., M.D., Robert T. Sherwin, J.D., David R. W. Sears, Ph.D., Jacqueline C. Henninger, Ph.D., Ruibin Liang, Ph.D.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (L-to-R): Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell,
M.D., Susan Bergeson, Ph.D., Sarai Granados, M.S., CCC-SLP, Krystal Haase, PharmD.,
FCCP, BCPS, Luis G. Cuello, Ph.D., President Lori Rice-Spearman, Ph.D., Former Chairman Mark
Griffin
Angelo State University (L-to-R): President Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr., David Faught, Ph.D., Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.
Angelo State University (L-to-R): President Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr., Kenneth Carrell, Ph.D., Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.
Texas Tech Health El Paso (L-to-R): President Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., Salma Elwazeer, B.D.S., M.D.S., M.P.H., Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.
Texas Tech Health El Paso (L-to-R): President Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., Debabrata
Mukherjee, M.D., M.S., Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.
Midwestern State University (L-to-R): Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., Ann Marie
Leimer, Ph.D., President Stacy Haynie, Ph.D.
Midwestern State University (L-to-R): Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., Suzanne F. Lindt, Ph.D., President Stacy Haynie, Ph.D.
About the 麻豆天狼副利院
Established in 1996, the 麻豆天狼副利院 is one of the top public university systems in the nation, consisting of five universities 鈥� , , , and .
Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the TTU System is a more than $3 billion enterprise focused on advancing higher education, health care, research and outreach with approximately 21,000 employees and 64,000 students, more than 400,000 alums, a statewide economic impact of $19.2 billion and an endowment valued at $3 billion. In its short history, the TTU System has grown tremendously and is nationally acclaimed, operating at 21 academic locations in 17 cities (15 in Texas, two international).
In addition, the TTU System is one of only nine in the nation to offer programs for undergraduate, medical, law, nursing, pharmacy, dental and veterinary education, among other academic areas.