The Graduate School has announced the 2024 winners of its professional and student awards. The awards recognize excellence in graduate academics, teaching and professional services.
The winners represent a dynamic 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 Sarah Ades, senior vice provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies 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.
Faith Deckard
Michael H. Granof Award winner for top dissertation
Bonded: Bail Agents, Families, and the Management of Risk
Sociology, College of Liberal Arts
Supervisor: Javier Auyero
Jiaqi Gu
Light-AI Interaction: Bridging Photonics and Artificial Intelligence via Cross-Layer Hardware/Software Co-Design
Electrical & Computer Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Supervisors: David Z. Pan, Ray T. Chen
Melissa Santillana
Destrúyelo todo: The Women behind the Mexican Feminist Spring
Radio-Television-Film
Moody College of Communication
Supervisors: Mary Beltrán, Joseph D. Straubhaar
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 $5,000.
Eman Alasadi, Teaching Assistant
Chemistry
College of Natural Sciences
Nominated by Carlos Baiz
Laurel Rogers, Assistant Instructor
Radio-Television-Film
Moody College of Communication
Nominated by Suzanne Scott
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.
Tracy Demchuk
Director for Graduate Program Advising & Admissions
Student/Clinical Affairs
School of Nursing
Nominated by Alexandra Garcia
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.
Luisa Nardini
Professor
Butler School of Music
College of Fine Arts
Nominated by Raquel Monroe
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.
César A. Salgado
Associate Professor
Spanish and Portugese
College of Liberal Arts
Nominated by Hannah Wojciehowski