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Teaching Awards

The School of Natural Sciences & Mathematics (NS&M) places great importance on the work of talented and committed teachers. Each year, students are asked to nominate faculty and teaching assistants worthy of recognition for the extraordinary efforts they make to provide our students a top quality education in NS&M. This year, the school will make five awards in the following categories:

  • Tenured professors
  • Untenured professors
  • Senior lecturers
  • Graduate teaching assistants
  • Undergraduate teaching assistants

Faculty are awarded a certificate while teaching assistants are awarded a certificate and a check. Award recipients’ names will be included on a plaque that is proudly displayed in the dean’s office. Please nominate one or more faculty members and one or more teaching assistants who have taught you in a natural sciences and math class during your time at UT Dallas and made a significant positive impact on your education.

Note that you are not restricted to nominating instructors or TAs who are teaching you in the current semester. You may nominate faculty and TAs from previous semesters. You may make nominations in any or all of the categories. You may nominate one or more individuals.

David Hyndman, Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Past Recipients

2023

  • Dr. Bruce Novak – Tenured
  • Dr. Hedieh Torabifard – Tenure-Track
  • Dr. Zohreh Hashami – Professor of Instruction
  • Rohit Kajla – Graduate TA
  • Bishr Elsharydah – Undergraduate TA

2022

  • Mietek Dabkowski, Tenured
  • Sheena D’Arcy, Tenure-Track
  • Sumudu Wijenayake, Non-Tenure-Track
  • Preskella Mrad, Graduate Teaching Assistant

2021

  • Viswanath Ramakrishna, Tenured
  • Carlos Arreche, Tenure-Track
  • Nimanka Panapitiya, Non-Tenure-Track
  • Abhi Bhadran, Graduate TA
  • Justin Greisz, Undergraduate TA

2020

  • Steven Nielsen, Tenured Professor
  • Nathan Williams, Tenure-Track Professor
  • Yu Huang, Senior Lecturer
  • Muhammad Abbas,  Graduate TA
  • Bacell I. Elashyi, Undergraduate TA

2019

  • John Sibert, Tenured Professor
  • Bing Lv, Tenure-Track Professor
  • Julie Sutton, Lecturer
  • Dineli Ranathunga, Chemistry, Graduate TA
  • Alfonso Flores, Biochemistry TA, Undergraduate TA

2018

  • Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki, Physics, Tenured Professor
  • Zachary Campbell, Biological Sciences, Tenure-Track Professor
  • Stephanie Taylor, Sci/Math Ed, Lecturer
  • Jordan Newman, Geosciences, Graduate TA
  • Gino Occhialini, Chemistry, Undergraduate TA

2017

  • Mihaela Stefan, Faculty
  • Kelli Palmer, Tenure-Track Professor
  • Amandeep Sra, Senior Lecturer
  • Alishah “Sunny” Vidhani, Undergraduate TA
  • Warren Lieu, Graduate TA

2016

  • Gregg Dieckman, Faculty
  • Uma Srikanth, Senior Lecturer
  • Mohammad Akbar, Tenure-Track Professor
  • Alishah “Sunny” Vidhani, Undergraduate TA
  • Nimmy Mammoottil, Graduate TA

2015

  • Jeremiah Gassensmith, Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Irina Berezovik, Mathematical Sciences

2014

  • Paul Pantano, Chemistry
  • Dorian Turner, Molecular & Cell Biology

2013

  • Mohammad Akbar, Mathematics
  • Rodrigo D. Vinluan III, Chemistry

2012

  • Claudia Taenzler, Chemistry
  • Hien Nguyen, Chemistry

2011

  • Gregg R. Dieckmann, Chemistry
  • Kirk Huynh, Chemistry

2010

  • George A. McMechan, Geosciences
  • Brian Streit, Mathematics

2009

  • Mihaela Stefan, Chemistry
  • William H. Wettingfeld, Mathematics
  • Mieczyslaw K. Dabkowski, Mathematics
  • Rebekah A. Sessoms, Biology

2008

  • Michael C. Biewer, Chemistry
  • Brady C. McCary, Mathematics

2007

  • Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki, Physics
  • Nam Lam, Mathematics

2006

  • Michael C. Biewer, Chemistry
  • Sumihiro Suzuki, Mathematics

2005

  • Mary Urquhart, Science Education
  • Seyed Mohsen Kariminia, Geosciences

2004

  • John Sibert, Chemistry
  • Nadia Khanam, Chemistry

2003

  • William S. “Will” Burgett, Physics
  • Allison K “Allie” Thurmond, Geosciences

2002

  • John Burr, Biology
  • Claudia Schmegner, Mathematics

2001

  • Paul Pantano, Chemistry
  • Mara L. Miller, Biology

2000

  • Gregory D. Earle, Physics
  • David B. Williamson, Geosciences

1999

  • Frank R. “Ray” Allum, Mathematics
  • Elizabeth M. “Beth” Champ, Chemistry