2022-2023 CHANCELLOR'S COUNCIL DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH AWARDS

Weilong "Ben" Cong, Ph.D. 

Weilong Cong is an associate professor in the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing & and Systems Engineering. He received his doctorate from Kansas State University in 2013 and joined Texas Tech University as an assistant professor in 2014. 

His research is mainly focused on advanced subtractive and additive manufacturing processes and material development and characterization. After joining Texas Tech, his research generated more than 110 publications, including 80 journal papers, and his publications have received more than 7,300 citations. Based on these paper citations, Cong was listed in the Top 2% of Global Researchers in 2021 by Standford University. 

In addition, Dr. Cong received Texas Tech University's Whitacre Engineering Research Award in 2017, SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineering Award in 2019 and the President's Excellence in Engaged Scholarship Award in 2021, as well as the college's Dean's Outstanding Researcher Chair in 2020.

Nathaniel Hall, Ph.D. 

Nathaniel Hall is associate professor in the Department of Animal & Food Sciences. He started and directs the Canine Olfaction Research and Education Laboratory at Texas Tech University, which studies canine olfactory perception for applications to conservation detection canines, homeland security detection canines and military working dogs. His research helps shape modern training for detection canines to improve detection capabilities. He currently is working on a range of projects to improve the fundamental understanding of olfaction in dogs and how to advance detection canine performance through reward-based training. 

Dr. Hall's lab also works with the community to help adopt dogs in need through a train-to-adopt program and by finding dogs detection jobs. His lab actively publishes their research advances and works with community stakeholder to translate these findings to practice. 

Hall earned his doctorate in experimental analysis of behavior from the University of Florida.  

Mallory Maria Prucha, M.F.A. 

Mallory Maria Prucha is an associate professor and head of design area for the J.T. & Margaret Talkington School of Theatre & Dance. Joining Texas Tech University in 2018, she received early tenure/promotion in 2022.

Prucha is a member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829, IATSE. She has designed costumes for such companies as the Utah Festival Opera, Oregon Cabaret, Nebraska Repertory, Outpost Repertory, Southwest Shakespeare, Bilkent University and NOW-ID. She also is a fine artist and composite sketch artist for the Lubbock Police Department. Her research focuses on theater's application in simulation exercises, aiming to improve training efficacy for emergency/disaster response and partnering with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock hospitals, and City of Lubbock.

Recently, she has completed the design of the Gold Medallion, the highest honor granted by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. She has received the Texas Tech University President's Award for Engaged Scholarship as part of the WT 3D Covid-19 Relief Consortium, a National Partners in American Theatre Mentor Award, the Texas Tech Alumni Association New Faculty Award, and was recognized as a Texas Tech University Phenomenal Woman and Institute for Inclusive Excellence Fellow.  

Alexander William Salter, Ph.D. 

Dr. Alexander William Salter is the Georgie G. Snyder Associate Professor of Economics in the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University and a research fellow at the university's Free Market Institute. His scholarly interests include the political economy of monetary policy, institutions and economic development, and the economics of religion. 

His first book, Money and the Rule of Law, was published in 2021 by Cambridge University Press. Books two and three, about common-good capitalism (Catholic University of America Press) and medieval European political economy (University of Michigan Press), will be published in 2023.

Dr. Salter has published more than 70 articles in academic journals and written more than 300 opinion pieces for outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, National Review and The Hill. He lives in Lubbock with his wife and two daughters.