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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.”
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 |
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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!