TTU System Announces Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching & Research Award Recipients
The awards are funded by gifts to the Chancellor's Council, a giving society that
supports the chancellor's priorities across the TTU System.
Donor-funded awards recognize top faculty throughout the four-university system.
February 7, 2020 | Contact Scott Lacefield
Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.“Faculty members across the Texas Tech University System provide our students a world-class educational experience,” Mitchell said. “The dedication to excellence and commitment to advancing our institutions is what places each of these award winners among the leading educators and researchers in our university system. It’s a privilege to present each of this year’s recipients with our system’s top faculty honors.”
The awards are funded by gifts to the Chancellor’s Council, a giving society that supports the chancellor’s priorities across the TTU System. Since the honors were established in 2001, 191 faculty have received awards totaling more than $1.1 million.
“Through their giving, Chancellor’s Council members are integral to the Texas Tech University System’s success,” said Patrick Kramer, Texas Tech Foundation CEO and vice chancellor for Institutional Advancement for the Texas Tech University System. “We are grateful for their continued investment in Chancellor Mitchell’s vision and for making it possible to celebrate these impressive scholars.”
The Chancellor’s Council plays a vital role in creating opportunities at all four universities. The organization impacts student lives through scholarships, recognizes faculty achievement and encourages excellence by investing in emerging growth opportunities. Last year, the organization also supported the TTU System’s successful efforts at the 86th Texas Legislature securing funding and support for Texas Tech University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso’s Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine.
Award recipients receive a $5,000 stipend and an engraved medallion. Chancellor Mitchell and the respective university presidents will recognize the honorees at campus events at each of the system’s four universities.
2020 Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching and Research Awards:
- - Dustin Benham, J.D., School of Law (Teaching Award)
- - Kristi Gaines, Ph.D., College of Human Sciences (Research Award)
- - Erica Irlbeck, Ed.D., College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources (Teaching Award)
- - Jeremy Marston, Ph.D., Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering (Research Award)
- - Eric E Rasmussen, Ph.D., College of Media & Communication (Research Award)
- - Sterling T. Shumway, Ph.D., College of Human Sciences (Teaching Award)
- - Roman M. Taraban, Ph.D., College of Arts & Sciences (Teaching Award)
- - Eddie F. Holik III Ph.D., College of Science and Engineering (Research Award)
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
- - Thomas Abbruscato, Ph.D., Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy (Research Award)
- - Vadivel Ganapathy, Ph.D., School of Medicine (Teaching Award)
- - Sherry Sancibrian, School of Health Professions (Teaching Award)
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
- - Dr. Thwe Htay, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (Teaching Award)
Texas Tech University (L-to-R): President Lawrence Schovanec, Ph.D., Sterling T. Shumway,
Jeremy Marston, Erica Irlbeck, Roman M. Taraban, Dustin Benham, Kristi Gaines, Eric
E Rasmussen, Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.
Angelo State University (L-to-R): Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D. Eddie F. Holik
III, President Brian May
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (L-to-R): Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell,
M.D., Thomas Abbruscato, Vadivel Ganapathy, Sherry Sancibrian, Interim President Lori
Rice-Spearman, Ph.D.
TTUHSC El Paso (L-to-R): Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., Dr. Thwe Htay, President
Richard Lange, M.D.
About the Texas Tech University System
Established in 1996 and headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the Texas Tech University System is a $2 billion higher education enterprise focused on advancing higher education,
health care, research and community outreach. Consisting of four universities – Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso – the TTU System collectively has approximately 55,000 students, 17 campuses statewide
and internationally, more than 300,000 alumni and an endowment valued at over $1.3
billion.
During the 86th Texas Legislature under the leadership of Chancellor Dr. Tedd L. Mitchell, legislative funding and authority was provided to establish a new Texas Tech University veterinary school in Amarillo and a new dental school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. This will be the state’s first veterinary school in more than a century and first dental school in over 50 years. The addition of these two schools makes the TTU System one of only nine in the nation to offer programs for undergraduate, medical, law, nursing, pharmacy, dental and veterinary education, among other academic areas.