Awards

Sierra Bligh, who earned a Master of Arts with a Major in International Studies, is the recipient of the 2023-2024 Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Social Sciences, Education, and Business. Her thesis, Feminist Foreign Policy: Analyzing the Core Values and Identities of Feminist States, was directed by Dr. Franziska Boehme Newell, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science.

Courtney C. Dillard, who earned a Master of Science with a Major in Exercise Science, is the recipient of the 2023-2024 Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Life and Biological Sciences. Her thesis, Slow Breathing Reduces Markers of Stress in Response to a Virtual-Reality Active Shooter Drill, was directed by Dr. Matthew J. McAllister, Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance.

Jess Hawthorne Fiene, who earned an MFA with a Major in Theatre and a Concentration in Directing, is the recipient of the 2023-2024 Graduate College’s Outstanding Non-traditional Thesis / Project Award. Her production of Bertholt Brecht’s adaptation of Antigone was supervised by Mr. Yong-Suk Yoo, Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance. 

Brad Biggers, who earned a Master of Arts with a Major in History, is the recipient of the 2022-2023 Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Humanities and Fine Arts. His thesis, “The Scandal of Sanctuary: Transnational Theologies, Progressive Christianity, and the Crisis in Central America, 1980-1990”, was directed by Dr. Sarah Coleman, Assistant Professor in the Department of History.

Lauren Henderson, who earned a Master of Science with a Major in Physics, is the recipient of the 2022-2023 Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering. Her thesis, “Magnetic Characterization of Soft Magnetic Iron/PLA MFAAM Filaments and Iron-Doped Gallium Oxide Thin Films” was directed by Dr. Ir. Wilhelmus J. Geerts, Professor in the Department of Physics.

Michelle Myers, who earned a Master of Science with a Major in Applied Sociology, is the recipient of the 2021-2022 Graduate College’s Outstanding Non-traditional Thesis / Project Award. Her applied project SARAH San Antonio: Evaluating Permanent Supportive Housing Outcomes, was directed by Dr. Toni Watt, Professor in the Department of Sociology.

Bonnie Stice, who earned a Master of Arts with a Major in Professional Counseling, is the recipient of the 2021-2022 Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Social Sciences, Education, and Business. Her thesis, The Lived Experiences of College Sugar Babies: A Consensual Qualitative Research Study, was directed by Dr. Paulina Flasch, Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, & School Psychology.

Hailey Collord-Stalder, who earned a Master of Arts with a Major in Anthropology, is the recipient of the 2021-2022 Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Life and Biological Sciences. Her thesis, Digital Microscopic Methods for Sharp Force Trauma in Burned Human and Nonhuman Remains, was directed by Dr. Nicholas P. Herrmann, Professor in the Department of Anthropology.

Blake Joseph Gandy, who earned his master's degree in History, is the recipient of the 2020–2021 Graduate College Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Humanities and Fine Arts. His thesis, "Trouble up the Road:’ Desegregation, Busing, and the National Politics of Resistance in Fort Worth, Texas, 1954-1971", was directed by Dr. Jeffrey Helgeson, Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Department of History.

Oluwasegun Gabriel Olanrewaju, who earned his master's degree in Engineering, is the recipient of the 2020–2021 Graduate College Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering. His thesis, “Pre-Positioning Relief Supplies and Supplier Selection Strategy in Disaster Relief”, was directed by Dr. Zhijie Sasha Dong, Assistant Professor in the Ingram School of Engineering.

Tiffany Rainey, who earned her master's degree in Rhetoric and Composition, is the recipient of the 2019–2020 Graduate College Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Social Sciences, Education, and Business. Her thesis, “Her Own Voice: Coming Out in Academia with Bipolar Disorder”, was directed by Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Professor in the Department of English.

Amanda L. Driscoe, who earned her master's degree in Population and Conservation Biology, is the recipient of the 2019–2020 Graduate College Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Life and Biological Sciences. Her thesis, “Host Plant Associations and Spatial Autocorrelation as Drivers of Genetic Differentiation among Populations of a Regionally Host-specific Insect Herbivore”, was directed by Dr. James R. Ott, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology.

Ramin Sabbagh, who earned his master’s degree in Technology Management, has won the 2018–2019 Graduate College Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering. His thesis, “Semantic Text Analytics Technique for Classification of Manufacturing Suppliers", was directed by Dr. Farhad Ameri, Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Technology.

James (JP) Fancher, who earned his master’s degree in Anthropology, has won the 2017–2018 Graduate College Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Life Sciences. His thesis, “Evaluation of Soil Chemistry in Human Decomposition Sites”, was directed by Dr. Michelle Hamilton, Associate Professor of Anthropology. JP also received regional recognition for his work by winning the CSGS Outstanding Master's Thesis Award in the Life Sciences! He was awarded $1000 and will be commended in a special awards ceremony at the CSGS annual meeting in Fayetteville, AR.

Vanessa Salazar, who earned her master’s degree in Communication Studies, has won the 2017–2018 Graduate College Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Social Sciences, Business, and Education. Her thesis, “Welcome Aboard: An Exploration of the Impact of Structured Socialization on Newcomer Perceived Organizational Support, Engagement and Identification”, was directed by Dr. Stephanie Dailey, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies.

Maël Le Noc, who earned his master’s degree in Geography, has won the 2016–2017 Graduate College Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in Digital Scholarship. His thesis, “Family Arrest and Separation during the Holocaust in Italy”, was directed by Dr. Alberto Giordano, Professor of Geography. Maël also received regional recognition for his work by winning the CSGS Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in Digital Scholarship! He was awarded $1000 and will be commended in a special awards ceremony at the CSGS annual meeting in Annapolis, MD.

Dr. Joyce Anderson, who earned her Ph.D. in Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization, won The Graduate College’s 2022-2023 Outstanding Dissertation Award in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Engineering. Her dissertation, “Direct Measurement of Thermal Conductivity of Gold Nanowires and Nanofilms at Room Temperature and 100 °C,” was directed by Dr. Mark Holtz, Professor in the Department of Physics.

Dr. Christie Lawson, who earned her Ed.D. in Developmental Education, won The Graduate College’s 2022-2023 Outstanding Dissertation Award in Social Sciences, Business, and Education. Her dissertation, “Undergraduate Latina/o/x Motivation: Moderating Influences of Community Cultural Wealth on STEM Persistence Intentions,” was directed by Dr. Carlton Fong, Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

Dr. Sara Patricia Weaver, who earned her Ph.D. in Aquatic Resources and Integrative Biology, won The Graduate College’s 2021-2022 Outstanding Dissertation Award in the Life and Biological Sciences. Her dissertation, “Understanding Wind Energy Impacts on Bats and Testing Reduction Strategies in South Texas,” was directed by Dr. Ivan Castro-Arellano, Professor in the Department of Biology.

Dr. Meagan Hoff, who earned her Ph.D. in Developmental Education, won the 2020–2021 Graduate College Outstanding Dissertation Award in the Social Sciences. Her dissertation, “’But it’s Hard for a Refugee’: Transitioning to Postsecondary Literacy Practices After Forced Migration,” was chaired by Dr. Sonya L. Armstrong, Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

Dr. Eric Welch, who earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization, won the 2020–2021 Graduate College Outstanding Dissertation Award in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering. His dissertation, “First principle modeling of hybrid halide perovskites for optoelectronic applications,” was directed by Dr. Alex Zakhidov, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics.

Dr. Katherine L. Bell, who earned her Ph.D. in Aquatic Resources and Integrative Biology, won the 2019–2020 Graduate College Outstanding Dissertation Award in the Life Sciences. Her dissertation, “The Genomics of Speciation”, was directed by Dr. Chris C. Nice, Professor in the Department of Biology. In her dissertation, Dr. Bell addresses the most fundamental question in evolutionary biology, and indeed in all the life sciences: how do species originate? Specifically, she studied the extent to which the origin of new species is a result of deterministic forces (natural selection) vs. random factors (genetic drift and mutation).

Dr. Erin Scanlon, who earned her Ph.D. in Developmental Education, won the 2018–2019 Graduate College Outstanding Dissertation Award in the Social Sciences. Her dissertation, “Introductory Physics Students’ Physics and Mathematics Epistemologies”, was directed by Dr. Jodi Holschuh, professor and chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

Dr. Matthew Milholland, who earned his Ph.D. in Aquatic Resources, won the 2017–2018 Graduate College Outstanding Dissertation Award in the Biological and Life Sciences. His dissertation, “Ecological Factors of Rodent Assemblage Structure Affecting Hantavirus Prevalence at Varying Spatial Scales”, was directed by Dr. Iván Castro-Arellano, Assistant Professor of Biology.

Dr. Anne Li Kringen, who earned her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, won the 2016–2017 Graduate College Outstanding Dissertation Award in the Social Sciences. Her dissertation, “Understanding Barriers that Affect Recruiting and Retaining Female Police Officers: A Mixed Method Approach”, was directed by Dr. Joycelyn Pollock, Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice.

The 2023-2024 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award recipient is Dr. Randall Osborne, Professor in the Department of Psychology. The selection committee noted in particular his support of his students’ professional development from the first semester of their tenure in the program until long after graduation. In addition, he has provided decade-long, superb mentorship to the international psychology honor society. 

The 2022-2023 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award recipient is Dr. Ellen Tillman, Associate Professor in the Department of History. In her superb dossier, her service to and mentoring of the veteran community stood out in particular.

The 2021-2022 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award recipient is Dr. Jennifer Irvin, Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She was recognized for her superb mentorship of master’s and doctoral students and her outstanding work as a graduate advisor of the MSEC program.

The 2020–2021 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award recipient is Dr. M. Alejandra Sorto, Professor in the Department of Mathematics, for her extraordinary success in mentoring graduate students.

The 2019–2020 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award recipient is Dr. Debra Monroe, a faculty member in the Department of English. Dr. Monroe was selected for her outstanding work with countless master’s students in the Creative Writing MFA program. Dr. Monroe was also selected as the recipient of the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools Outstanding Mentor Award. Since more than 200 graduate colleges belong to CSGS, the competition for this award is quite fierce, and being selected is a very special honor.

The 2018–2019 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award recipient is Dr. Jovita Ross-Gordon, Professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education & School Psychology, for her work with graduate students. 

The 2017–2018 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award recipient is Dr. Sylvia Crixell, Professor of Human Nutrition, for her work with master's students. 

Dr. Paula Williamson, a faculty member in Biology and a former associate dean in The Graduate College, is the 2016–2017 recipient of the regional CSGS Outstanding Contributions to Graduate Education in the Southern Region Award. She received the award for her excellent contributions to graduate education at Texas State and at the regional and national levels.

Distinguished Texas State Biology Graduate Alumnus (1966) Dr. Kenneth Wilson received the 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award on October 25, 2013 at the Distinguished Alumni Awards Gala organized by the Texas State Alumni Association. Wilson has worked both in the biotechnology industry and taught at universities including at the Royal University of Phnom Penh in Cambodia. The Wilsons have established the Wilson International Exchange Scholarship through the Center for International Studies at Texas State University. The scholarship allows faculty and students to carry out collaborative research and teaching in Cambodia and other parts of the world.