Most Distinguished 2023

2023 Arts & Sciences Distinguished Alumni

Brigadier General Clinton K. Murray (1991)

Brigadier General Clinton K. Murray received his BS degree in Biochemistry from Texas Tech University in 1991, MD degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 1996, and Master of Strategic Studies degree from the Army War College in 2015. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 1999 and a fellowship in Infectious Disease at Brooke Army Medical Center/San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium in 2002.

He now serves as the director of Defense Health Region Agency in Europe. He was Professor of Medicine at USUHS, and is a Fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America, and Master of the American College of Physicians. Prior, he was the Commander of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research from 2020-2021. He has also served as the Deputy Corps Chief for the Medical Corps and Medical Corps Specific Branch Proponency Officer from 2015-17. He was the ID Consultant to the U.S. Army Surgeon General from 2016-2020, and Chief of the ID Service at BAMC from 2011-15

He has published 350+ peer-reviewed manuscripts, guidelines, reviews and book chapters. His research areas include global health security, leptospirosis, multidrug-resistant bacteria, and combat-related injury infections.

Brigadier General Murray's military awards include the 'A' Proficiency Designator in ID, Order of Military Medical Merit, Combat Action Badge, Parachute Badge, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster. He received over 45 research, mentoring and teaching awards including the USU Distinguished Alumnus, SAUSHEC/San Antonio Military Healthcare System Gold Headed Cane Award, and The Surgeon General's Award for Military Academic Excellence.

Mark W. Scioli, M.D. (1978, 1982)

Dr. Mark W. Scioli graduated with a bachelor's in arts-zoology from Texas Tech in 1978, before going onto graduate from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in 1982. He then went on to study at the Department of Internal Medicine at  Lubbock  General   Hospital. Dr. Scioli concluded his four-year residency at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery  at the R.E. Thomason General Hospital Texas Tech Regional Academic Health Center at El Paso. In 1988, he completed his fellowship in orthopedics at the Center for Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine in Ohio. 
 
Dr. Scioli served as the Director of Outpatient Services at the Lubbock Rotary Cerebral Palsy Clinic from 1988-1991. He has served as an associate clinical professor for the Department of Orthopedics at the School of Medicine at the Texas Tech  University  Health  Sciences  Center  in  Lubbock and El Paso, Texas. He is currently active at the Center for Orthopedic Surgery in Lubbock, Texas.
  
In 2000 he was named Life Member in the National Registry of Who's Who. Je was nationally recognized as one of The Best Doctors in America for two years, as well as one of The Best Doctors in America: Central Region in 1996-97. He was a Recognized Active Teacher in Family Practice by the American Academy of Family Practice. 
  
Dr. Scioli has also published 5 journals and has made over 40 presentations to the medical community. He has remained a member of several medical societies and associations, while also serving on numerous medical and civic boards in all capacities. 

2023 Arts & Sciences First Rising Innovator Awardee

Saba Nafees, Ph.D. (2014, 2020)

Dr. Saba Nafees moved to the United States at the age of 11 and since has been motivated in achieving her dreams. 

During Dr. Nafees time as a mathematical biology student she appeared on MSNBC to discuss the reluctance of Asian-American students to participate in the federal immagration program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). In addition to her MSNBC appearence, she gave a talk at TEDx in 2014 which led to her slection as an  E3! Ambassador to the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI).

She continued to represent Texas Tech in 2017 by becoming a member of the University Innovation Fellows. She worked at implementing a business plan for her idea, PATA, which won her and her team first place at the Inaugural Tibetan Innovation Challenge in 2017. 

Like the College of Arts & Sciences, Dr. Nafees is a combination of knowledge and creativity. She is a two-time 2019 Grammy Winner for her part in the jazz album, "American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom". 

• Review the 2023 Distingished Alumni & Rising Innovator Award recipients at this link
• Review the 2022 Distingished Alumni & Faculty Excellence Award recipients at this link
• Review the 2020 & 2021 Distinguished Alumni & Faculty Excellence Award recipients at this link.
• Review the 2019 Distinguished Alumni & Faculty Excellence Award recipients at this link.
• Review the 2018 Distinguished Alumni & Faculty Excellence Award recipients at this link.
• Review the 2017 Distinguished Alumni & Faculty Excellence Award recipients at this link.
• Review the 2016 Distinguished Alumni & Faculty Excellence Award recipients at this link.