Ginnifer Cié Gee and Darrell Balderrama pose on the orange carpet after the UTSA University Excellence Awards on Tuesday. Balderrama won the Richard S. Howe Service to Undergraduate Students Award.
APRIL 26, 2023 — UTSA proudly announced this year’s University Excellence Awards winners during a live event on Tuesday attended by nominees and their peers.
This annual program celebrates the achievements of Roadrunner faculty and staff, ranging from exceptional teaching and innovative research to exemplary team spirit and impactful advocacy.
This year’s winners were selected from a large group of outstanding individual and team nominees, all of whom are advancing the university and making UTSA a great place to learn, work and grow.
The ceremony featured remarks and award presentations by senior leaders and representatives from Staff and Faculty Senate.
The 2023 winners are:
PRESIDENT’S DISTINGUISHED FACULTY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Teaching Excellence Award
Core Curriculum Award
University Service Award
Community Engagement Award
Research Achievement Award
Performance, Creative, Production Award
Advancing Globalization Award
Innovation & Impact Award (I2)
Mentoring Award
Richard S. Howe Excellence in Teaching Award
Richard S. Howe Faculty Service Award
PRESIDENT'S DISTINGUISHED DIVERSITY AWARDS
Leadership Award winner Chera Finkbiner (center) poses on the orange carpet with Mary Hernandez (left) and Veronica Salazar (right) after the University Excellence Awards on Tuesday.
UNIVERSITY EXCELLENCE STAFF AWARDS
Richard S. Howe Service to Undergraduate Students Award
Leadership Award
Rising Star Award
Extra Mile Award
Team Spirit Award
Order of the Roadrunner
The awards program is overseen and managed by the University Excellence Awards Steering Committee. The awards nomination and selection process is coordinated by the following:
YEARS OF SERVICE HONOREES
In addition to celebrating the award winners, the university also recognized years of service milestones for faculty and staff. The full list of employees celebrating milestones can be viewed in the event program.
Among this group is a faculty member who has dedicated a remarkable 45 years to Roadrunner Nation, Jack Himelblau, professor of modern languages in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts.
Additionally, three colleagues are celebrating 40 years of service: German (Albert) Arroyo, professor of civil and environmental engineering and construction management in the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design; David Garcia, library services assistant III in the UTSA Libraries; and Amir Karimi, professor of mechanical engineering in the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
This academically rigorous mathematics-based summer enrichment program prepares middle and high school students for advanced studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Participants learn about problem-solving systems, develop greater awareness of STEM careers and strengthen their research skills.
UTSA Main CampusArchaeology 101 will introduce campers to archaeology and build on learned skills through experimental activities (like cave painting, weaving, and garbology).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusThe camp exposes rising high school juniors, rising seniors and incoming college freshman to the many facets of the criminal justice system. Students will have opportunities to learn the functions of police in society and apply scientific theories to criminal investigations by examining a mock crime scene.
UTSA Main CampusThe Academy for Teacher Excellence Research Center invites you to join us for the Summer Bridging Institute. This institute will focus on being lifelong growers and continually seeking to increase our skills as educators.
UTSA Downtown CampusArchaeology 201 will briefly go over the foundations of archaeology and related skills, followed by a different topic over the course of this week (like skeletal analysis, global cultures, and more).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusCraft a comic to create your own narrative and find your voice through storytelling. Participants will learn to create characters that are self-reflective and through a community lens.
REGSS Community Room (DB 3.202,) UTSA Downtown CampusCome enjoy a discussion on art as a self expression in the age of moving technology and telling your story with a community.
REGSS Community Room (DB 3.202,) UTSA Downtown CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.