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Graduate and Professional School Celebrates Excellence and Achievement at 2025 Spring Awards Ceremony teaser image

Graduate and Professional School Celebrates Excellence and Achievement at 2025 Spring Awards Ceremony



Event Honors dissertation scholars, mentors, student leaders, and professional development achievers


COLLEGE STATION, TX - On Thursday, April 24, 2025, the Texas A&M University Graduate and Professional School hosted its annual Spring Awards Ceremony at Rudder Theatre and Exhibit Hall. The event celebrated outstanding achievements among graduate and professional students, faculty and staff in academics, leadership, mentoring and professional development.

Honorees were recognized across several prestigious categories, including the Distinguished Dissertation Awards, Montgomery Awards, Outstanding Mentoring Awards, and the Bednarz Award. The program also celebrated professional development milestones for students who earned Graduate Resources and Development for Aggies (GRAD Aggies) certificates, Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) teaching and mentoring certifications, and Graduate Mentoring Academy (GMA) training.

“Our spring awards ceremony is a moment to celebrate the heartbeat of our academic community -- our graduate and professional students, faculty mentors and dedicated staff,” said Dr. Fuhui Tong, Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate and Professional School. “Their scholarship, service and mentorship elevate and enrich our institution.”

Spring 2025 Graduate and Professional School Honorees are, as follows:


Distinguished Dissertation Awards


Distinguished Dissertation Awards, sponsored by the Carol J. Cantrell Endowment, the George W. Kunze Endowment and the Mobil Aggies Graduate Endowment, honor current or former students whose dissertations make a significant, impactful contribution to their field of study. Awards are given in four categories: Biological and Life Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts, Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Social Sciences. Each award comes with a commemorative plaque and a $1,000 prize.

Dr. Jenna Hulke, Biology
Dissertation: The Evolutionary Interplay Between Parasite Mating Systems and Their Complex Life Cycles
Advisor: Dr. Charles Criscione

Dr. Jenna Hulke, earned her Ph.D. in Biology in August 2024 under the mentorship of Dr. Charles Criscione. Her dissertation, “The Evolutionary Interplay Between Parasite Mating Systems and Their Complex Life Cycles,” provides the first empirical test of a longstanding hypothesis in parasitology. Dr. Hulke developed two novel methods to assess inbreeding depression, enhancing our understanding of how inbreeding influences the maintenance of complex life cycles in parasites.​

Dr. Sara Chung, English
Dissertation: Encountering Gothic Humanism in Victorian Novels
Advisor: Dr. Mary Ann O’Farrell

Dr. Sara Chung completed her Ph.D. in English in August 2024 under the guidance of Dr. Mary Ann O’Farrell. Her dissertation, “Encountering Gothic Humanism in Victorian Novels,” critically reexamines canonical Victorian literature to reveal how these texts reflect a partial and Eurocentric conception of humanity. Dr. Chung introduces the concept of Gothic humanism as a framework to disrupt and reimagine traditional notions of what it means to be human.​

Binbin Lin, Geography
Dissertation: Social Sensing for Public Health: A BESH Framework to Understand and Mitigate Inequalities
Advisor: Dr. Lei Zou

Binbin Lin, is a Ph.D. candidate in Geography, expected to graduate in May 2025 under the mentorship of Dr. Lei Zou. Her dissertation, “Social Sensing for Public Health: A BESH Framework to Understand and Mitigate Inequalities,” proposes an innovative interdisciplinary framework—Behavior-Environment-Society-Health (BESH)—for investigating health disparities through social sensing and data science approaches. Her research offers policy-relevant insights for optimizing healthcare resource distribution and designing targeted interventions.​

Dr. Deep Shah, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Dissertation: Leveraging Satellite Remote Sensing for Understanding Global Reservoir-Based Droughts
Advisor: Dr. Hulin Gao

Dr. Deep Shah earned his Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering in August 2024 under the mentorship of Dr. Hulin Gao. His dissertation, “Leveraging Satellite Remote Sensing for Understanding Global Reservoir-Based Droughts,” addresses the critical need for accessible global water reservoir datasets. Dr. Shah’s work focuses on generating open-access datasets and advancing the understanding of water shortages in reservoirs worldwide, highlighting how climate variability and human activities contribute to reservoir storage droughts.​



Montgomery Awards


The Montgomery Awards recognize graduate and professional students who exemplify academic excellence and community leadership. Recipients are distinguished not only by their scholarly accomplishments, but also by their impactful contributions to student organizations and service initiatives that enhance the graduate and professional student experience at Texas A&M University. Made possible through generous endowments from the Jeff ’41 and Leonora Montgomery family, each award includes a commemorative plaque and a $1,000 honorarium in acknowledgment of the recipient’s leadership and service.

Jeffrey Cragin, Chemistry

Jeffrey Cragin is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry, working under the advisement of Dr. Daniel Singleton. His research employs both computational and empirical approaches to investigate the role of solvents in cationic rearrangement mechanisms. Beyond the laboratory, Jeffrey is a dedicated educator whose thoughtful and creative teaching earned him the 2023 Association of Former Students Distinguished Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is an active voice for graduate student advocacy, having served in both the Graduate Student Association of Chemistry and the Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG), where he currently holds the role of Parliamentarian. In recognition of his service, Jeffrey received the 12th Man Outstanding Senator Award in 2024.

Eshani Yeragi, Biology

Eshani Yeragi is a Ph.D. candidate in Biology whose research focuses on the intersection of sleep, aging, and neurogenetics using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. A passionate leader and advocate, Eshani serves as President of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) and Vice President of University Affairs for the Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG). She also holds leadership roles in the Indian Graduate Student Association and serves on critical university committees, including those governing student rules and academic appeals. Eshani has spearheaded numerous mentorship initiatives, particularly for international students, easing their academic and cultural transitions. Her contributions have been recognized with the Facker Fellowship for mentorship excellence and the Executive Board Member of the Year award from Texas A&M Residence Life, honoring her tenure as President of the Gardens Apartments Community Council. Through her research and service, Eshani exemplifies both scientific rigor and a deep commitment to student support and empowerment.
 

Outstanding Mentoring Awards

 

The Outstanding Mentoring Awards honor individuals, both faculty and graduate/professional students, who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the personal, academic, and professional development of graduate and professional students. Through their guidance, encouragement, and meaningful support, these mentors embody the highest ideals of the Aggie mentoring tradition. Awards are presented in two categories: faculty and graduate students. Faculty honorees receive a framed certificate and $750, while student recipients are awarded a framed certificate and $500 in recognition of their impactful mentorship.
 

Outstanding Graduate and Professional Student Mentoring for Faculty


Dr. Casey Papovich, Physics & Astronomy

Dr. Papovich is an astrophysicist and professor of physics and astronomy. His research involves finding and studying the most distant galaxies using NASA’s telescopes, including most recently the James Webb Space Telescope. He has previously received awards for his teaching and research activities. He is a passionate mentor of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and a strong advocate for science education. He earned his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, and then held NASA’s Spitzer Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona prior to joining Texas A&M in 2008, where he is the Marsha L. ’69 And Ralph F. Schilling ’68 Chair in Physics & Astronomy.

Dr. X. Ben Wu, Ecology & Conservation Biology

Dr. Wu is a professor of ecology and Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence. He teaches introductory and graduate courses on ecology and landscape analysis. He has served as chair or co-chair for 40 Ph.D. and master’s students and as a committee member for 81 Ph.D. and 44 master’s students. His current research focuses on spatial ecology and pyric herbivory in savannas. His lab also works on programs centered on faculty and teacher development and educational innovations. Dr. Wu has been Associate Dean of Faculties and Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, as well as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
 

Outstanding Graduate and Professional Student Mentors


Jillian Paige Bennett, Aerospace Engineering

Jillian is a second-year aerospace engineering master’s student. Her research on nonlinear adaptive multiple time scale control is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research. Jillian will continue on to pursue an aerospace engi­neering Ph.D. at Texas A&M, specializing in dynamics and control. She is passionate about mentoring students through her lab and organizations like Sigma Gam­ma Tau and the aerospace honor society, helping women navigate school and life stressors while pursuing aerospace engineering opportunities.

Gemini Alexis Creason-Parker, Sociology

A sociology doctoral candidate graduating in May, Gemini researches the intersection of media and crime. Her dissertation analyzes Law & Order: SVU to assess its reliance on rape myths. She won the Graduate Student Paper Award from the Southwestern Association of Criminal Justice and the Graduate Student Poster Award from the Division of Feminist Crimi­nology at the American Society of Criminology. She placed second in the poster competition at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Doctoral Summit. She has mentored 28 undergraduates, ensuring their access to research regardless of discipline or experience. Her mentorship has led many of her students to pursue graduate education.

Trevor Self, Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology

Trevor is a doctoral candidate in biomedical sciences, focusing on ischemic heart disease and discovering new therapeutic targets. Trevor’s participation in the Graduate Mentoring Academy reflects his commitment to academic and personal growth and development, and he applies its values when engaging with his students. Trevor led an undergraduate team in the Aggie Research Program, training them in lab techniques. Their work won awards at two campus symposia, demonstrating his dedication to mentoring the next generation of scientists.
 

Bednarz Award

Named in honor of Dr. Sarah Bednarz, a champion of excellence in teaching and learning, the Bednarz Award celebrates graduate students who demonstrate outstanding achievement in the CIRTL@Texas A&M (Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning) program. This distinction is awarded to individuals whose work in teaching-as-research reflects deep intellectual engagement, innovative pedagogy, and meaningful impact on the academic community. Recipients embody the core values of CIRTL through their scholarly approach to instruction and their commitment to enhancing the quality of higher education.

Faith Ebiere Eguolo Odele, Communication & Journalism
Advisor: Dr. Darrel Wanzer-Serrano

Faith Ebiere Eguolo Odele is a second-year doctoral student in the Department of Communication and Journalism. Her research examines colonial, racial and gender politics in media production and representation, challenging systems of injustice. She aims to pursue a career in academia focused on research, teaching and public scholarship to drive social change. She has completed the Academy for Future Faculty, Academy for Future Faculty Senior Fellows, Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate Teaching Course, Graduate Leadership Institute, and Teaching as Research (TAR) Fellows. Her TAR project is titled “The Impact of Writing Center Consultations on Students’ Citation Practice.” Faith hopes her scholarship and creative writing will inspire meaningful conversations and foster understanding and compassion.
 

GRAD Aggies Certificates

 

Texas A&M’s GRAD Aggies initiative supports graduate and professional student development through a range of workshops, resources, and experiential learning. Certificates were awarded in the following categories:

Graduate Mentoring Academy Fellows 

Graduate Mentoring Academy (GMA) Fellows are recognized for their commitment to advancing a culture of mentoring by investing over 10 hours of GMA programming. They have engaged in seven evidence-based competencies, including a capstone session reflecting on their mentoring approach.

Renee Abbott Aisha Lee-Cobbins
Kaluhath Gayan Abeysinghe Juliet Letteney
Alexander Abuabara Peizhen Li
Adeolu Adekunle Linlin Luo
Leticia Adu Shikhadri Mahanta
Kristina Agan Jacob Mankenberg
Puneeth Ganesh Babu Agoram Lilly McAlister
Samiha Ahmed Alexia Mejia
M G Toufik Ahmed Trevor Melsheimer
Eneye Ajayi Sandra Meyer
Boluwatife Ajayi Doris Migliaccio
Oluwaseun Aladeboyeje Haitham Mohammed
Heather Albrecht Pedro Monagas-Valentin
Hussain Alcassab Leslie Mora
Emmarie Alexander Hayden Moran
Mycha Van Allen Matthew Moulton
Alison Altman Rika Muhl
Crysthal Alvarez Tiash Rana Mukherjee
Gillian Ampah Chihab Nadri
Chinmay Aras Beiyan Nan
Ifeoluwa Babalola Faith Ebiere Eguolo Odele
Ali Hamed Barghi Johnson Oladele
Heather Barreda Tabitha Olsen
Luciana Barroso Michael Onyejanochie
Katherine Barrow Lynette O’Neal
Robert Beach Rhea Pai
Samantha Beevers Kelly Pantaleon
Lina  Bernaola Isabella Patino
Sarah Berny Tad Peelen
Vaishak Bhat Suzanne Peterson
Christy Blanton Zurishaddai Powell
Yatta Linhares Boakari Priyanka Sira Prakash
Tahereh Boroughani Satvik Praveen
Donald Bowen Tyler Prochnow
Matthew Boyce Rick Pulos
Karen Broussard Vigneshwaran Radhakrishnan
Catherine Byars Tanvir Islam Rajib
Kaitlyn Carter Carlos Ramirez
Maryn Cavalier Cory Raney
Duncan Christensen Emily Reed
Sydney Christensen Christopher Reighley
Hannah Coleman Sadiq Rijiya
Claudia Collier Magda Rodriguez
Porscha Cooks Alondra Rojas
Kenneth Cooper Araceli Salinas
Michelle Costa*** Alexandra Salinas
Jane Cotter Vivian Peralta Santana
Jeremiah Cribley Daniel Schwartz
Ryan Davis Sahar Shata
Jason Dean Sofia Sheikh
Ruben Delgado Liam Sheppard
Olivia Dingus Kirby Sherman
Sakina Dixon Gustavo Camargo Silva
Damion Dixon Beth Silvy
Sarah Fisher Reetu Singh
Sarah  Fross Dinuki Siriwardana
Mauricia Gallegos Elizabeth Smith
Laura Garcia Trenton Smith
Abantika Ghosh Anurag Srivastava
Emmaleigh Grady Debbie Starnes
Noeline Gunasekara Nicholas Starvaggi
Shalin Gund Dylan Stewart
Shelby Gunnells Robert Strong
Ryan Hamberg Tasnim Sultana
Aainaafaridah Hamdan Alexandra Svetlik
Sarah Hargett Samantha Sweck
Tania Hasan Azra Tarman
Andrew Hawkins Devin Teri
Stephanie Hendricks Jeewasmi Thapa
Blanche ter Hofstede Kentaro Toyonaga
Aidan Holman Amanda Trimble
Benjamin Horlick Benjamin Ukert
Azile Hotz Mert Kerem Ulku
Sam Hotz Muhammad Usman
Emily Howell Vishnudas Kulangara Veettil
Teagen Hruska Zachariah Vice
Yu-Chi Huang John Vickers
Sarah Ingram Jenna Vito
Jenna Johnson Judy Waight
Anna Johnson Sabrina Waite
Virginia Redwine Johnson Ziyu Wang
Jeanna Jones Warren Waren
Jason Joseph Jane Welsh
Alaya Keane Emma Whaley
Hassan Khan Bethany Whitemeyer
Jorja Kimball Dallas Williams
Harrison Koller Heather Williams
Vijay Kumar Koyyada Nathan Williams
Surya Krishnan Brandon Woo
Sandra LaBonte Kimberly Wright
Jessica Labonte Jenna Yentes
Jeffrey Lacour Anna Yeritsyan
Amanda Lacy Ebtihal Youssef
Rebecca Lee Macy Zardeneta
Harrison Lee Nan Zhang
  Tianyang Zhou

Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching & Learning Certificate Recipients

The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) is part of a national network focused on fostering excellence in undergraduate teaching. Programs are offered by the Graduate and Professional School and the Center for Teaching Excellence.
 

Associate Certificate

Sami El Ahmadie Hyunrae Kim
Boluwatife Ajayi Marshall King
Md Mojibur Rahman Redoy Akanda Kerim Uygur Kizil
Boshra Khaled Muhmood Akhozheya Kalyan Raj Kota
Fawad Ali Hannah League
Mansour Alnajrani Abraham Flores Lecea
Aya Amer Seunghoon Lee
Meredith Anderson Aisha Lee-Cobbins
Jacob Andros Emma Lewis
Mayson Astle Jinxu Li
Rosemary Ayelazuno Xin Li
Adeshina Badejo Ryne Maness
Makenzie Van Beber Daniel Martinez
Tanisha Berrios Stephanie McMahon
Jacquie Berry Rachel McNeal
Vaishak Bhat Saylor Mealing
Rose Blanchard Dipesh Bharat Metha
Younes Bordbar Sandra Meyer
Christopher Bott Jennifer Morgan
Adam Bower Basheer Mugdadi
Abdullah Braik Danial Nayeri
Erika Bravo Rajesh Neupane
Francisca Briandt Caleb Nwaogwugwu*
Camille Carey Arafat Rahman Oany
Chee-Hoon Chang Faith Ebiere Eguolo Odele
Nilson Chapagain Olivia Ognibene
Effrosyni Chatzistogianni Braulio Cervantes Paz
Ijeoma Ruth Chukwuemeka* Nataleigh Perez
Carli Copell Tahmina Pervin
Tara DeAndrea Dinesh Phuyal
Ruben Delgado John Ponis
Ajithamithra Dharmasiri Tanvir Islam Rajib
Diya Dharmendran Tanvir Islam Rajib
Kyla Diaz Arantxa Sacristan Ramirez
Christina Dollahon Arif Akhter Rangon
Devon Dollahon Gislene Ferreira dos Reis
Xiangjue Dong Serinmary Pulikkottil Rejimon
Madelyn Dotson Omar Andres Viera Resto
Austen Ehrie Edward Rhodes
Abdullah Elsheikh Alondra Rojas
Samuel Falade Richard Rosas
Gogoal Falia Julia Sainz
Vanessa Fernandez-Rodriguez Abu Shoaib Saleh
Gabriella Figueroa Benjamin Schulte
Flavia Termignoni Garcia Lokesh Kumar Sekar
Habiba Ghoneim Mohammad Zaher Serdar
Abantika Ghosh Arash Shahsavari
Isabelle Goldstein Hyejin Shin
Jasmine Goode Bhuwan Shrestha
Saurabh Gotmare Dinuki Siriwardana
Claire Gregoire Manuel Gonzalez Somoza
Percy Gresham Brandon Strauss
Harini Gunda Aditya Surve
Ibrahim Gunes Samia Tasnim
Purushottam Gyawali Maria Teleki
Thomas Hallmark Mary Thompson
Quan Han Guadalupe Valencia Toxqui
Md Ariful Haque Garrett Tresch
Tania Hasan Idorenyin Udoh
James Hirons Jacob Vasquez
Aidan Holman Vishnudas Kulangara Veettil
Shakil Hosain Judy Waight
Azile Hotz Miriam Watts
Alexandra Howard Gretchen Williams
Emily Howell Kimberly Wright
Yu-Chi Huang Ziyi Wu
A S M Faridul Islam Chen Xu
Hai In Jo Gaopeng Xu
Dallin Kenneth Jones Taha Yehia
Laxmi Prasanna Kandi Eshani Yeragi
Anna Estelle Kelley Nan Zhang
Muhammad Khan Xukai Zhang
Shelby Kilpatrick Yingying Zhao
Heesun Kim Zhuldyz Zhumashova

 

Practitioner Certificate

Vaishak Bhat Tiffany McLaurin**
Bette Bittner Dana Mickey
Dawn Burton Ana Nava
Ida Carter* Keegan Nichols
Gin Chong* Faith Ebiere Eguolo Odele
Ruben Delgado Irvin Osborne-Lee*
Diya Dharmendran Parisa Paymard
Andrew Eberlein Kaila Ronayne
Austen Ehrie Richard Rosas
Jean Ferguson Kristi Schonefeld
Vanessa Fernandez-Rodriguez Kelly Shipman
Autumn Hagen Guadalupe Valencia Toxqui
Laxmi Prasanna Kandi Vishnudas Kulangara Veettil
Marshall King Madison Weinrich
Erica Knighton Paige Williams
Emma Lewis Krishna Kaushik Yanamundra

 

Scholar Certificate

Sara Amani Faith Ebiere Eguolo Odele
Ahmed Elkady Karissa Palmer
Umer Farooq Gretchen Williams
Omniya Mohamed

 

 

Foundations Certificate

Kristina Agan Hyunrae Kim
Erika Coll Aguilar Jeffrey Lacour
Boluwatife Ajayi Chungkeun Lee
Oluwaseun Aladeboyeje Jinxu Li
Sushma Alaparthi Jessica Lowe
Hussain Alcassab Austin Lynch
Syeda Fizza Ali Shikhadri Mahanta
Mycha Van Allen Katelyn Maier
Maria Sacred Lalain Doromal Aquino Ariana Martinez
Faria Asadi Kayley McBride
Seyyed Ali Ayati Kelly McCafferty
Derrick Ball Samantha Mcclain
Sangeeta Balyan Frances Clare McClay
Eboni Bango Athanasius Mdolo
Ali Hamed Barghi Trevor Melsheimer
Emily Katherine Barrow Doris Migliaccio
Samantha Beevers Trevor Millar
Carl Benson Maria P. Montenegro
Gustavo Boquete Pratik Nesarkar
Abdullah Braik Taylor Northcut
Yanbing Chen Edwin Ochedikwu
Pin-Wen Chen Kenneth Oguejiofor
Vicki Chu Kofi Owusu-Ansah
Ashley Coffell Rhea Pai
Hannah Coleman Kelly Pantaleon
Claudia Collier Nadeesha M. Mahamarakkala Patabendige
Kelly Cook Parisa Paymard
Rashmi Dangol Cesar Salazar Pereira
Pragati Dhingra Serena Porter
Kevin Ding Chiranjibi Poudyal
Divya Satvik Praveen
Pamela Douglas Tanvir Islam Rajib
Joshua Elston Reshma Ramachandran
Dulce Espinoza Khushboo Rastogi
Tyler Eutsler Christopher Reighley
Paulina Farias Omar Viera Resto
Sofia Feliciano Edward Rhodes
Gabriella Figueroa Kelli Richard
Nicola Fish Valeriya Rogovchenko
DaJuana Chaney Fontenot Jose Salazar
Brighton Garrett Alexandra Salinas
Justin Garrison Nadia Samiya
Gisel Garza Sierra Sanders
Nataly Monroy Garzon Subash Sapkota
Abantika Ghosh Harsh Shah
Halle Gold Sejal Sanjay Shanbhag
Jasmine Goode Hyejin Shin
Emmaleigh Grady Wilbens Siguineau
Quan Han Brady Sokora
Md Inja Mamun Haque Manuel Gonzalez Somoza
Amy Hays Breann Stavinoha
Stephanie Hendricks Michael Stott
Karina Hissen Caden Summers
Sydney Holland Samantha Sweck
Azile Hotz Julia Tapilatu
Emily Howell Lyndzie Tarango
Heather Jacobs Chelsea Thorn
Jenna Johnson Cassidy Tibbetts
Jason Joseph Aung Kyaw Tun
Maryam Abbasi Kamazani Vishnudas Kulangara Veettil
Mrunal Kamble John Vickers
Ibraheem Kanan Ashley Voight
Swetha Kancharla Sabrina Waite
Manik Karkare Akeira M. Warner
Sarbjeet Kaur Heather Williams
Simranjit Kaur Yuhan Wu
Deepa Khadka Tasya Yusianda
Shovit Khanal Kaili Zhang



Explorations Certificate

Kristina Agan Satvik Praveen
Syeda Fizza Ali Ehab Rabah
Mycha Van Allen Tanvir Islam Rajib
Ali Hamed Barghi Carlos Bermudez Ramirez
Emily Katherine Barrow Carlos Ramirez
Gustavo Boquete Khushboo Rastogi
Nicolette English Christopher Reighley
Cortney Ferguson Edward Rhodes
Gabriella Figueroa Kelli Richard
Saliha Garcia Savannah Sanders
Abantika Ghosh Vivian Peralta Santana
Shelby Gunnells Hyo Won Seo
Azile Hotz Harsh Shah
Emily Howell Sejal Sanjay Shanbhag
Jenna Johnson Michael Stott
Sarbjeet Kaur Caden Summers
Jeffrey Lacour Brooke Torjman
Windy Lowder Kentaro Toyonaga
Shikhadri Mahanta Vishnudas Kulangara Veettil
Kelly McCafferty Jenna Vito
Taylor Northcut Jacqueline White
Faith Ebiere Eguolo Odele Dallas Williams
Thien Phan  

 

Mastery Certificate

Adeolu Adekunle Azile Hotz
Kristina Agan Emily Howell
Mycha Van Allen Jenna Johnson
Crysthal Alvarez Shelby Kilpatrick
Emily Katherine Barrow Harsh Shah
Ana Velasquez Escobar Vishnudas Kulangara Veettil
Sarah Hargett Jacqueline White


Mastery Certificate in Career Development

Individual Development Plan Career Exploration Series
 
Adeolu Adekunle Surya Krishnan
Esther Adeyemi Sanjana Kunkolienkar
Oluwaseun Aladeboyeje Huy Lai
Alexis G. Allen Hannah League
Sergio Arellano Shikhadri Mahanta
Daniela Ayala Faith Ebiere Eguolo Odele
Seyyed Ali Ayati Sagar Patel
Sourima Banerjee Thien Phan
Eboni Bango Meredith Prater
Kimberley Barrera Tanvir Islam Rajib
Yesica Botero Khushboo Rastogi
Donald Bowen Christopher Reighley
Catherine Byars Mikayla Renwick
Daniel Commey Jarrod Romine
Jason Dean Meshwa Sakaria
Jacob Degitz Maya Sandy
Sahithi Duppati Harsh Shah
Madhusree Gangopadhyay Sejal Sanjay Shanbhag
Uyok Hanson Hannah Smith
Jenna Johnson Kathan Vyas
Elizabeth Joseph-Williams Miriam Watts
Jonathan Kerman Laura Zotter

Mastery Certificate in Communication

Aggie Voice Blog Ambassadors Program
Delaney Couri
Gabriella Figueroa
Ayushri Jain
 
English Language Proficiency Practice Group for Instructors
 
Adeolu Adekunle Vishnudas Kulangara Veettil
Kyangzi Calderon Cerguera Andreas Lemonaris
Diego Elizalde Segovia Joseph-Williams Yeaeun Lim
Luis Hernandez Gonzalez Yuzhe Wang
 

Mastery Certificate in Instruction & Assessment

Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching & Learning Certificate Programs
Boluwatife Ajayi Shelby Kilpatrick
Md Akanda Hyunrae Kim
Meredith Anderson Hannah League
Mayson Astle Ryne Maness
Adeshina Badejo Rachel McNeal
Rose Blanchard Dipesh Metha
Younes Bordbar Dana Mickey
Adam Bower Basheer Mugdadi
Abdullah Braik Rajesh Neupane
Francisca Briandt Keegan Nichols
Dawn Burton Faith Ebiere Eguolo Odele
Chee-Hoon Chang Olivia Ognibene
Nilson Chapagain Parisa Paymard
Carli Copell Tanvir Islam Rajib
Ruben Delgado Arantxa Sacristan Ramirez
Diya Dharmendran Serinmary Pulikkottil Rejimon
Christina Dollahon Edward Rhodes
Devon Dollahon Vanessa Fernandez Rodriguez
Xiangjue Dong Alondra Rojas
Austin Ehrie Kaila Ronayne
Umer Farooq Lokesh Sekar
Habiba Ghoneim Bhuwan Shrestha
Jasmine Goode Aditya Surve
Saurabh Anil Gotmare Maria Teleki
Purushottam Gyawali Vishnudas Kulangara Veettil
Thomas Hallmark Judy Waight
Tania Hasan Kimberly Wright
Shakil Hosain Krishna Kaushik Yanamundra
Azile Hotz Eshani Yeragi
Dallin Jones Yingying Zhao
Laxmi Prasanna Kandi Zhuldyz Zhumashova
Anna Kelley  
 

Graduate Mentoring Academy Facilitator Program

 
Adeolu Adekunle Tania Hasan
Anum Ahmed Lindsey Loflin
Delaney Couri Faith Ebiere Eguolo Odele
Aminah Crawford Tanvir Islam Rajib
Thomas Hallmark Dipankar Sen
 

Faculty Aspiring Leadership Fellows

The Faculty Aspiring Leadership Fellows initiative recognizes faculty members selected to participate in a university-wide program, coordinated by the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, designed to cultivate emerging academic leaders. Through targeted training and strategic mentorship, the program equips participants with the leadership competencies necessary to drive institutional innovation and foster transformative change across the university landscape.

Dr. Kevin Curley Jr., Veterinary Integrative Biosciences

Dr. Curley works with CIRTL to develop programming in graduate education and postdoctoral training to establish a national faculty focused on effective, evidence-based teaching practices for diverse student populations.

Dr. Hector Rivera, Educational Psychology

Dr. Rivera works with the Graduate & Professional School’s Student Development and Success team working to develop, execute and assess a multi-session leadership training program for graduate and professional students as a part of the GRAD Aggies professional development program.

Tim Weaver, Art & Design

Tim Weaver supports the My Grad Journey system, which helps graduate and professional students document their goals and activities, allows faculty advisors to provide feedback, and enables departments to gather data for reports.
 

Employee Milestones and Awards

The Graduate and Professional School proudly recognizes staff members who have reached significant service milestones. These honorees exemplify steadfast dedication to graduate education and contribute meaningfully to the university’s mission through their professionalism, institutional knowledge, and enduring commitment to supporting the success of graduate and professional students.
 

Service Milestones


Dr. Rob Dixon, Director of Marketing & Communications

With five years of dedicated service to the Graduate and Professional School, Dr. Rob Dixon leads strategic communication efforts that highlight the achievements of Texas A&M’s graduate students, programs, and initiatives. 

Jacqueline Perez, Director of Business Services
Jacqueline Perez brings five years of excellence in financial stewardship and operational leadership to the Graduate and Professional School. As Director of Business Services, she oversees budgetary planning, procurement, and resource management with precision and integrity, ensuring that the school’s mission is supported through sound fiscal practices.

Karen Seago, Graduate Records Specialist for Records Processing

Celebrating ten years of service, Karen Seago plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity and efficiency of graduate records processing. Her deep knowledge of academic policies and unwavering attention to detail make her an essential resource for students, faculty, and staff navigating degree milestones and academic requirements.

 

Vision, Values and Excellence Award


The Vision, Values and Excellence Award honors a staff member whose work exemplifies outstanding leadership, collaborative spirit, effective communication, and a deep commitment to student-centered values. This award recognizes individuals who consistently go above and beyond in advancing the mission of the Graduate and Professional School while making a meaningful and lasting impact on the broader university community.

Raiden Sawyer, Graduate Student Specialist III

Raiden works as a Graduate Student Specialist III for Records Processing, where he supports graduate student success in degree milestone completion and clearance for graduation. He also assists with the Academic Requirements Completion System (ARCS) and commencement programming.
 

Above and Beyond Student Employee Award


The Above and Beyond Student Employee Award recognizes an exceptional student employee who demonstrates excellence in communication, collaboration, and innovative problem-solving. Recipients of this award exhibit a strong sense of global awareness and professionalism, contributing meaningfully to the mission of the Graduate and Professional School and leaving a positive imprint on the university and its surrounding community.

Emerson Strauch, Graduate Assistant for Business Services

Emerson assists with internal budget reconciliation, updating and verifying student financial information, and generating compliance reports. He also works to develop new solutions for processing and reporting data.

Congratulations to all our 2025 awardees and certificate recipients!


 

About the Author

image of author Kahkasha Wahab

Kahkasha Wahab

Kahkasha Wahab joined the Graduate and Professional School in May 2024 as a Student Assistant. She is passionate about the intersection of tourism and branding, particularly how social media influences travel behavior. Dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism practices, Kahkasha is always on the lookout for hidden travel gems and loves exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations, combining her love for adventure with her academic interests.

Read more by this Author

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