Faculty Honors & Awards
2025 Award Winners
The J.T. and Margaret Talkington College of Visual and Performing Arts is proud to honor the exceptional work of our dedicated faculty members.
These awards recognize faculty who have gone above and beyond in demonstrating excellence in the areas of student engagement, impact, service, outstanding research, international engagement and teaching performance.
Research & Teaching

David Sears
Chancellors Council Distinguished Research Award
Department of Interdisciplinary Arts

Jacqueline Henninger
Chancellors Council Distinguished Teaching Award
School of Music

Susan Brumfield
Presidents Excellence in Engaged Commercialization Award
School of Music
Integrated Scholar

Carla Cash
School of Music
International Awards

Ali Duffy
Global Vision Faculty International Scholarship
Regional Awards

Jeffrey Lastrapes
TexASTA Phyllis Outstanding Studio Teacher of the Year Award
School of Music

Philippe Chao
TexASTA Fredell Lack Young Studio Teacher of the Year Award
School of Music

Annie Chalex Boyle
Lubbock's YWCA Women of Excellence Award
School of Music
Website
Research & Teaching
Horn Professorships, the highest faculty honor that the university may bestow, are
granted to tenured professors in recognition of their attainment or national and/or
international distinction for having made a unique and significant impact on their
field through outstanding research or other creative scholarly achievement.
The Barnie E. Rushing, Jr. Faculty Distinguished Research Award recognizes faculty
members who have achieved national and/or international recognition for their scholarship,
publications in leading journals, creative work, service on editorial boards, peer-reviewed
research projects, patents and license agreements, and/or other significant measures
appropriate to the individual's discipline. Nominees for this award are designated
as the colleges Outstanding Researcher for the year, and receive the Fine Arts Doctoral Programs Fine Arts Award for Excellence in Creative/Research.
The Chancellors Council Distinguished Research Award is the highest award given by
the Texas Tech University System and recognizes faculty members who represent the
best in academic instruction and research. Dr. Andy Stetson, School of Music, 2022
Candidates for the President's Book Award must have published a book within the year;
the nomination is reviewed by selected faculty who present recommendations to the
awards committee.
The Presidents Academic Achievement Award rewards excellence in achievement across
the teaching- research- service missions of the university. It requires evidence of
productive scholarship, peer recognition in one or more areas, and demonstrated competence
in all areas.
The Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes members of the Texas
Tech University faculty for teaching excellence, as evidenced by their attainment
of distinction both within and beyond the institution for outstanding teaching and
outstanding contributions related to excellence in teaching.
The President's Excellence in Teaching Award results from excellence in a teaching
role and is nominated by the dean's letter summarizing teaching activities.
This award recognizes a professor with a maximum of four years at Texas Tech University
whose excellence in teaching has been attested to by students, faculty, and administrators. The Alumni Association New Faculty Award given based on student evaluations, innovative
teaching activities, initiation of research/creative activities, and interaction with
students. The recipient of this award must have fewer than 4 years of faculty experience
and is nominated by deans.
The President's Excellence in Engaged Scholarship Award recognizes Texas Tech faculty
or faculty-staff teams for an exemplary project or activity that addresses an important
community need and/or creates solutions to larger societal issues based on mutually
beneficial partnerships with communities. "Communities" are broadly defined as any
group of people affiliated by shared characteristics (such as geographical proximity,
special interests, similar circumstances, needs, or values). The award is bestowed
for a longer-term project or activity and recognizes the depth and scope of the university-community
partnerships involved as well as the profound resulting impacts on both the community
and the university (faculty, staff, or students). The award will go to the highest
ranked faculty-led project/activity in each of the following categories: Community
Engaged Research, Community Engaged Creative Activity, Community Engaged Teaching
or Community Engaged Service.Paul Whitfield Horn Professors
Barnie E. Rushing, Jr. Faculty Distinguished Research Award
JTMTCVPA Outstanding Researcher Fine Arts Award for Excellence in Creative/Research
(FADP)
Chancellor's Council Distinguished Research Award
President's Book Award
President's Mid-Career Faculty Award
Presidents Academic Achievement Award
Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award
President's Excellence in Teaching Award
Hemphill Wells New Professor Excellence in Teaching Award
Alumni Association New Faculty Award
President's Excellence in Engaged Scholarship Award
Service & Commitment
Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award
- Professor Gerald Dolter, School of Music, 2015
President's Excellence in Diversity and Equity Award
The President's Excellence in Diversity and Equity Awards recognize Texas Tech faculty, staff, and students in their efforts to make Texas Tech a welcoming campus through their commitment to service, mutual respect, academic and intellectual freedom, and diversity.
- Dr. Thomas Cimarusti, School of Music, 2012
Institute for Inclusive Excellence Faculty Fellows
The Institute for Inclusive Excellence is designed to provide activities that promote a greater understanding of the academic value of diversity and equity among Texas Tech faculty.
- Dr. Dennis E. Fehr, School of Art, 2012
Inclusive Excellence Award
The Institute for Inclusive Excellence presents this award to honor outstanding vision, dedication, and commitment to Inclusive Excellence.
- Dr. Thomas Cimarusti, School of Music, 2015
Donald R. Haragan Study Abroad Award
This award honors development and implementation of study abroad programs that support TTU's commitment to providing high quality international education opportunities.
- Dr. Linda Donahue, School of Theatre and Dance, 2014
Study Abroad Award
This award honors the promotion, work, and creation of study abroad programs.
- Dr. Christopher J. Smith, School of Music, 2011
Professing Excellence Award
The award is given to outstanding faculty who go above and beyond, both inside and outside the classroom, to impact their student's learning and academic success.
- Professor Bruce Herman, School of Theatre and Dance, 2012
- Dr. Ed Check, School of Art, 2006
Mortar Board Senior Honor Society/Omicron Delta Kappa Faculty Recognition Award
The founders of Omicron Delta Kappa formulated the idea that leadership of exceptional quality and versatility in college should be recognized, and that representatives in all phases of college life should cooperate in worthwhile endeavors, meeting on a basis of mutual interest, understanding, and helpfulness. The award recognizes and honors meritorious leadership and service in extracurricular activities that encourage development of general campus citizenship.
- Professor Duane Hill, School of Music, 2014
- Dr. Dorothy Chansky, School of Theatre and Dance, 2014
- Dr. Quinn Ankrum, School of Music, 2011
- Professor Carla Tedeschi, School of Art, 2009
RaiderReady First-Year Advocate & Faculty Fellowship Award
Offered by the Office of Undergraduate Education & Student Affairs, the award honors innovation in instructional design and care for freshman students making their transition into the university.
- Professor Nicole Wesley, School of Theatre & Dance, 2015
Scholar Pedagogues
Faculty members who are integrated scholars consistently promote active learning,
and infuse the results of their research and scholarship in courses and other learning
experiences. Integrated scholars publish results of their teaching innovations in
peer-reviewed journals. Also, integrated scholar faculty members plan and execute
service commitments to complement their teaching and research goals. Moreover, their
outreach efforts inform all that they do in the domains of their teaching/learning
and research/scholarship/creative efforts.
The Teaching Academy was formally inaugurated in 1997 to demonstrate, support, promote,
and mentor colleagues and others, and share knowledge about teaching strategies and
their implementation. The Teaching Academy and its members set the pace for the scholarship
of teaching and the development of the best practices that serve as inspiration for
all who teach at the university. Honor Role, Integrated Scholars: Dr. William Gelber, School of Theatre and Dance, 2020 Honor Role, Teaching Academy:Integrated Scholars
Teaching Academy
Questions?
Contact Outreach & Academic Awards
Kristi Mangiapane
Lead Administrator Outreach & Academic Awards
J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts
-
Address
School of Theatre & Dance Building | Box 45060 | 2812 18th Street STE 222 | Lubbock TX 79409 -
Phone
806.742.0700 -
Email
talk@ttu.edu