The Graduate School has announced the 2023 winners of its professional and student awards. The awards recognize excellence in graduate academics, teaching and professional services.
The winners represent a diverse community of students, scholars, teachers and administrators at the university.
“The winners are a testament to the quality of teaching, research and support in graduate education that transpires on the Forty Acres,” said Mark J. T. Smith, senior vice provost for academic affairs and dean of the Graduate School. “Each winner has done something extraordinary—the winners have conducted groundbreaking research and inspired others to discover their potential and enabled them to succeed.”
Candidates for the awards are nominated by individuals across campus, and winners are determined by selection committees composed of faculty and staff members and students.
These awards are generously underwritten by the University Co-op, and are presented at the annual Graduate School/University Co-op Awards Banquet each spring.
STUDENT AWARDS
Outstanding Dissertation Awards
The Outstanding Dissertation Awards were established in 1979 to recognize exceptional work and to encourage the highest levels of scholarship, research and writing. Each year, three awards are given. Of these, one is selected for the Michael H. Granof Award, the university’s top dissertation. The Outstanding Dissertation Award-winners receive $6,000, the Granof Award-winner $10,000.
Dr. Will Burg
Michael H. Granof Award winner for top dissertation
Collective Quantum States in Twist Controlled Graphene Heterostructures
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Cockrell School of Engineering
Nominated by Jack C. Lee
Alex Diamond
An Uncomfortable Peace: Everyday State Formation in Colombia’s Peace Laboratory
Sociology
College of Liberal Arts
Nominated by Becky Pettit
Dr. Augusta Lynn Dell'Omo
Saving Apartheid: Transatlantic Whiteness in the U.S.-South African Relationship, 1980-1994
History
College of Liberal Arts
Nominated by Seth Garfield
Outstanding Graduate Student Academic Employee Award
The William S. Livingston Outstanding Graduate Student Academic Employee Awards honor outstanding performance by graduate student academic employees. The winners receive $2,000.
Richard Ardila II, Teaching Assistant
Iberian and Latin American Languages and Cultures
College of Liberal Arts
Nominated by Cory A Reed
Elena Perez-Zetune, Assistant Instructor
Mexican American and Latina/o Studies
College of Liberal Arts
Nominated by Julie Minich
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
Outstanding Graduate Coordinator
Graduate coordinators are instrumental to the success of graduate students enrolled at the university. The Outstanding Graduate Coordinator Award recognizes the exemplary service of one coordinator each year. The winner receives $2,000.
Clare Higgins Thoman
Graduate Coordinator
Art and Art History
College of Fine Arts
Nominated by Susan Rather
Outstanding Graduate Teacher
The Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award recognizes one faculty member for distinguished graduate teaching—including demonstrated excellence in the classroom or laboratory, mentorship of students and service to students’ thesis and dissertation committees. The winner receives $2,000.
Dr. Syed Akbar Hyder
Associate Professor
Asian Studies
College of Liberal Arts
Nominated by Donald R. Davis, Jr.
Outstanding Graduate Adviser
Graduate advisers provide invaluable services to the university and its community of students, faculty and staff members. The Outstanding Graduate Adviser Award recognizes the exemplary service of one adviser each year. The winner receives $2,000.
Dr. Hina Azam
Associate Professor
Middle Eastern Studies
College of Liberal Arts
Nominated by Karen Grumberg