News About Faculty at UT Dallas

Faculty

News and information for and about UT Dallas faculty.

School Recognizes Faculty, Staff, Alumni with Annual Awards

The School of Arts and Humanities has named ATEC Assistant Professor Todd Fechter the Victor Worsfold Teacher of the Year. Fechter's honor was part of the school’s Outstanding Faculty and Teaching Awards, which are presented yearly and are named for Professor Emeritus Worsfold, who taught ethics and philosophy at UT Dallas from 1975 to 2001. Dr. Worsfold was present for the awards ceremony. Fechter, who has experience working in television and film production, teaches courses in 3D computer animation in the school’s Arts and Technology program.

Professor Makes Suggestions for Reading Over the Break

Dr. Clay Reynolds, director of creative writing at UT Dallas and author of 13 books, offers reading suggestions for the break. Reynolds is known for his stories of small town life in West Texas, for tales of violence, mystery, flatlands and empty skies.

Finance Expert's Tips Can Keep Holiday Spending in Check

Jared Pickens, a personal finance expert and finance faculty member at The University of Texas at Dallas, offers some holiday budget tips.

Prof Hopes His Research Helps Save Energy and Resources

Dr. Kaushik Rajashekara was an advocate of energy efficiency in vehicles before the concepts of renewable energy and lower emissions were popular. So while spending most of his career in industry, he made time to teach by giving more than 100 invited presentations in more than 40 countries. “There was a time when there was not a demand for power electronics professors in the United States,” Rajashekara said. “People have now awakened to the area of power electronics.”

Prof Studies White Matter for Insights into the Aging Brain

Dr. Kristen Kennedy is looking to the brain’s white matter for clues about how the brain changes as we age and why some people are able to maintain good cognitive health while others are not. Kennedy joined the UT Dallas faculty this year as an assistant professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and UT Dallas’ Center for Vital Longevity.

New Media and Classical Music to Mix at Concert

Robert Xavier Rodríguez, an internationally known composer and professor of music at UT Dallas, will direct his Musica Nova ensemble in a concert that will feature classical music, choreography, projected images and film. The event, titled Old and New: A Multi-Media Concert, is Friday, Nov. 30, at 8 p.m. in the Jonsson Performance Hall. The concert includes music from J.S. Bach and his son C.P.E. Bach, plus music from other composers of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Bilingual Language Researcher Joins Faculty

Dr. Raúl Rojas is a new assistant professor of communication sciences in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. Rojas’ research focuses on child language, specifically bilingual language development in typically developing children and in children with language impairments.

Dean Selected for School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences

Denis Dean, professor and head of the Geography and Geospatial Information Sciences Program at UT Dallas, has been named dean of the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. Dr. Dean is an expert in geospatial analysis, which can be applied to real world applications including urban planning, population studies and computer mapping programs.

Ceremonies Pay Tribute to University Faculty and Benefactors

Earnest gratitude and hearty reminiscence marked the tone for a second round of investiture ceremonies at The University of Texas at Dallas honoring the achievements of scholars holding endowed positions, as well as the benefactors who support their work. “Today we celebrate some of our extraordinary faculty," said UT Dallas President Dr. David E. Daniel. "The investiture is both ceremonial and joyous."

Faculty Honored in Fall Investitures Listed by School

The fall 2012 Investiture Ceremony honorees listed by school.

Psychology Prof Studies Power of Socio-Cultural Influences

Dr. Jinkyung Na wants to learn more about how people think, and how that viewpoint is shaped by their cultural and social environment. Na joined the faculty of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS) this fall as an assistant professor of psychology. He will teach social psychology during the spring term. “Since the university is growing, this provides many opportunities for us to grow together,” he said.

Prof's Work Examines How Art, Technology and Science Interact

John Pomara, professor of visual arts in the School of Arts and Humanities, produces art that is unique to the digital age. His most recent work is currently on display at the Barry Whistler Gallery in Dallas until Nov. 24. The exhibit, titled off-Key2, showcases Pomara’s artistic style that fuses art, science and technology – a style that has developed over time.

New Prof's Research Looks Skyward for Insights on Ionosphere

Dr. Fabiano Rodrigues joined the UT Dallas faculty this year as an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and in the William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences, a research center in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. One of the factors that attracted him to the university was the institution’s long history of research and expertise in atmospheric and space studies.

Investiture Ceremonies to Recognize Faculty Achievements

This week the University will recognize the accomplishments of 35 faculty members who hold endowed chairs and professorships. In ceremonies today and Tuesday, groups of faculty from the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the Naveen Jindal School of Management will be formally invested in their positions. The ceremonies will also include some faculty from the Schools of Arts and Humanities, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.

New Department Head Appointed for Public Affairs and Sociology

Dr. Sheryl Skaggs, associate professor in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, was recently appointed to lead the department of Public Affairs and Sociology. As department head, Skaggs said her priorities include increasing recruiting efforts continuing to encourage high-level research. “We really want to create some areas of specialization that are compatible with student interests in public policy and non-profits,” Skaggs said. “We’re also committed to increasing faculty representation in those areas.”

CentralTrak Series to Bring Artists, Students Together for Talks

The CentralTrak artists' residency and gallery in Deep Ellum is launching a series of talks among artists, art enthusiasts, and art students and educators from across the Dallas area. This year’s series, which is titled Next Topic, will examine new digital media art. The series opens Thursday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. with UT Dallas arts and technology (ATEC) professors Frank Dufour and Thomas Riccio. They will be discussing their collaborative multi-media exhibition Not So Indifferent, which is currently on display in the CentralTrak gallery. The exhibit combines digital media with site-specific design to create an existential drama – a performance that features the viewing public as lead actors in the projected video.

Classical Concerts to Feature Piano Duo, Music of Schubert

The School of Arts and Humanities has scheduled two classical music concerts this week, including a piano performance for four hands and a show dedicated entirely to Franz Schubert. On Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. in the Jonsson Performance Hall, the Dakoli-Tolosa Piano Duo will perform piano four-hands music by Robert D. Vandall, Carlos Guastavino, Alberto Ginastera and Aleksander Peci.

Guiding Force Behind DMA Joins Faculty in Arts and Humanities

Bonnie Pitman, a guiding force in remaking and advancing the reputation of the Dallas Museum of Art, recently joined the faculty of the School of Arts and Humanities. As Distinguished Scholar in Residence, she is charged with creating new methods of education, focusing much of her expertise in technology and emerging media in helping to build the national reputation of the school.

Professor's Book Becomes Hollywood Movie Debuting This Week

Dr. Matt Bondurant’s 2008 book, The Wettest County in the World, has made the leap to the big screen, and on Wednesday, Aug. 29, the film adaptation will open in theaters in a movie called, Lawless. Bondurant has published two other novels. Bondurant will teach undergraduate and graduate creative writing and literature courses this semester.

Prof Honored for Ability to Unlock the Secrets of Physics

Dr. Joseph Izen, whose research into the fundamental nature of matter enriches his advanced physics classes at UT Dallas, has received a 2012 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award. “The advanced physics courses I enjoy teaching the most reveal things that are not so apparent in daily life," said Izen, who has taught at UT Dallas since 1991.

Dr. Clint Peinhardt Honored by UT System Regents

As Dr. Clint Peinhardt begins his eighth year of teaching at UT Dallas, he will do so with a 2012 UT System Board of Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award recognizing his success in the classroom. Peinhardt is one of two UTD faculty members who join 63 others throughout the UT System being honored. read more

Regents’ Teaching Awards Praise 2 UT Dallas Profs

Two UT Dallas professors are among the 65 faculty members from institutions across The University of Texas System that have been honored by the UT System Board of Regents as recipients of the 2012 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award. The UT Dallas honorees are Dr. Joseph Izen, professor of physics; and Dr. Clint Peinhardt, an assistant professor of political science. read more

Popular Talks Offer an Afternoon of Business Insights

The Naveen Jindal School of Management plans to continue a series of talks that bring innovation leaders from business, healthcare, technology, higher education and philanthropy to share their insights with students, faculty, staff and business leaders. Dr. Michael Savoie directs the free monthly speaker series, “An Afternoon With …”. read more

Gov. Rick Perry Appoints Professor to State's Autism Panel

Gov. Rick Perry selected Dr. Pamela Rollins of UT Dallas’ School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences to serve another two-year term on the Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders. The council recommends public policy changes and allocations to the Texas Legislature and state agencies regarding the needs of people with autism. read more

Geophysics Society to Bestow Highest Honor on Professor

George McMechan, the Ida M. Green Professor of Geosciences at UT Dallas, has been selected to receive the Maurice Ewing Medal from the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the highest honor given by the international organization. read more

Cochlear Implant Pioneer Dr. Philipos Loizou Mourned

Funeral services for Dr. Philipos Loizou, a professor of electrical engineering whose work has helped restore partial hearing to thousands of people, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas. Loizou, a pioneer in the field of hearing aid and speech enhancement, died Sunday of cancer. He was 46. Services will be followed by burial at Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery and a traditional Greek farewell gathering. read more

Memorial Service Planned for McDermott Library Staffer

Michelle Lyn Sancen, multi-media service manager and assistant head of circulation at Eugene McDermott Library, died early Monday after a year-long battle with cancer. A memorial service is planned Thursday.

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Prof's Firm Untangles Problems With Old Software

When Dr. Gopal Gupta took the helm of the Department of Computer Science, contributing to the regional economy through entrepreneurial endeavors was a goal set for faculty members and students, and an expectation he applied to himself. Three years later, he is co-founder of Interoperate, a startup company whose clients now include publicly traded organizations that rank in the top 100 on Fortune magazine’s list of the largest companies in America. read more

U.S. Education Department Honors Inspirational Prof

Dr. Ken Balkus, professor of chemistry at UT Dallas, has received a 2012 Teacher Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Education. Plano East High School student Amy Chyao, who was one of 141 high-school seniors nationwide chosen as 2012 Presidential Scholars, selected Balkus for the honor. Each scholar selects his or her “most inspiring and unforgettable teacher” to receive the Teacher Recognition Award. read more

Brain Science Lecturer Wins President’s Teaching Award

UT Dallas senior lecturer Dr. Van Miller received this year’s President’s Teaching Excellence Award for Non-Tenure Track Faculty, which recognizes his outstanding ability to connect with students and ignite their interests in brain science. read more

Literary Faculty Offer Summer Reading Recommendations

Just in time for summer, UT Dallas literature professors have offered their picks for best poolside, beach or airplane seat reading. The recommendations cover a variety of styles, including history, poetry, humor and a 19th-century fiction classic. read more

Lauded Prof Says Teaching Takes Skill, Perseverance

By his own description, Dr. Matthew Goeckner was a “disaster” as a teacher the first time he stepped into a UT Dallas classroom as an associate professor of electrical engineering. Today, however, overwhelmingly positive recommendations from Goeckner’s students earned him the President’s Outstanding Teaching Award for the 2011-2012 academic year. Goeckner received the award, one of the University’s highest accolades for faculty, at a recent convocation. read more

Former EPPS Dean Honored by Science Scholars, Alma Mater

Dr. Brian Berry, Lloyd Viel Berkner Regental Professor and former dean of the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, has received two recent honors – one from an international scholarly society and another from his alma mater, the University of Washington. Berry was elected a 2012 fellow of the Regional Science Association International, which is a cohort of scholars focused on economics and global processes. Members of the association nominate distinguished scholars for the honor. Berry was one of four elected this year. read more

Criminology Ranked 5th in World by Criminal Justice Journal

UT Dallas is fifth worldwide among criminology programs ranked in a new study assessing academic impact of publications. The findings, published in the Journal of Criminal Justice Education, show the impact of social science scholarship among criminology and criminal justice programs using mathematical formulas that assess the scope and impact of faculty publications. read more

2 Math Researchers Awarded Visiting Professorships in Munich

Two UT Dallas faculty members in the Department of Mathematical Sciences will spend part of their summer in Germany as visiting professors at the Technische Universität München. Dr. Wieslaw Krawcewicz, professor of mathematics, and Dr. Zalman Balanov, associate professor of mathematics, are joint holders of the John von Neumann Visiting Professorship for 2012. The Technische Universität München (Munich University of Technology) awards the von Neumann Visiting Professorship biannually to outstanding researchers in mathematical sciences. read more

A Fish Tale: Prof’s Photo Earns Kudos in Contest

A UT Dallas faculty member was recently recognized in an international photography contest for an underwater image he snapped of a rare tropical fish. Dr. Rockford Draper, a UT Dallas professor who holds a joint appointment in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and the Department of Chemistry, said his underwater hobby and work as a cell biologist are connected because they both require a technical understanding of a good image. read more

NSM Awards Honor Chemistry Lecturer, 2 Teaching Assistants

UT Dallas’ School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics has honored a faculty member and two teaching assistants for their performance in the 2011-12 academic year. Hien Nguyen and Kirk Huynh, both teaching assistants in the chemistry department, each received the NS&M Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards. Among the faculty, Dr. Claudia Taenzler, senior lecturer in organic chemistry, received the Outstanding Teacher Award. read more

BBS Highlights Accomplishments of 2 Key Faculty Members

The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences honored two of its best recently, presenting a new teaching award to a longtime faculty member and by highlighting the work of the professor for whom the award was named. Jan Lougeay, director of clinical education at the Callier Center for Communication Disorders and a clinical lecturer for BBS, received the first Aage Møller Teaching Award. read more

Kusch Lecture to Focus on Brain’s Changes

Dr. Aage Møller is in high demand at scientific symposia around the world for his insightful lectures about neuroplasticity and how the brain changes through experience. When he presents UT Dallas’ annual Polykarp Kusch Lecture later this week, Møller will explain what this research means to the rest of us and how greater understanding of brain connections could lead to exciting new treatments for disabling neurological conditions. Møller, Margaret Fonde Jonsson Professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, will present “The Malleable Brain, For Good and for Bad” at 1:30 p.m. on April 27 in the McDermott Library Auditorium (MC2.410). The lecture is free and open to the public. read more

Bioengineering Head Elected Fellow of Royal Society

Dr. Mathukumalli Vidyasagar, an internationally known expert in control and system theory, has been elected a Fellow of The Royal Society, the oldest continuously operating scientific society in the world. Vidyasagar, head of the Department of Bioengineering at The University of Texas at Dallas, joins the ranks of the most distinguished international scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering and medicine. read more

Interdisciplinary Professor Embodies Blend of Arts, Science

For years, UT Dallas has sought to fuse its long-held strengths in technology with the creativity of the arts and humanities. That philosophical blend is embodied by a new professor who is a champion for interdisciplinary academics. Dr. Roger F. Malina is a physicist, astronomer and executive editor of Leonardo publications at MIT Press. read more

Professor Leads Symposium for Students in South America

Over spring break, history professor Stephen G. Rabe traveled to Quito, Ecuador to participate in the first ever Ecuadorian Leadership Workshop and Mentoring Program for Students from the Coast. The program was held under the auspices of Ecuador’s Fulbright Program. read more

U.S. Attorney General Invites Prof to Give Testimony

UT Dallas criminologist Dr. Alex Piquero will offer testimony on the cost and benefits of crime prevention during an April 24 hearing led by the U.S. Attorney General’s Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence. read more

Writing Prof Wins Best Western Short Fiction Award

Dr. Clay Reynolds, director of creative writing at UT Dallas, is known for his stories of small town life in West Texas, for tales of violence, mystery, flatlands and empty skies. For his work, Reynolds has been awarded the Spur Award for Best Western Short Fiction of 2012. The award has been given every year since 1959 by the Western Writers of America. read more

Prof Hopes Success Story After Hardscrabble Start Inspires Others

At age 16, Dr. Venus Opal Reese was living on the Baltimore streets surrounded by violence, drugs and prostitution. She was quiet; she hardly talked at all. Today, Reese is an outspoken, accomplished playwright. She has a second master’s degree and a PhD from Stanford University, and she is an associate professor of aesthetic studies at UT Dallas. Reese will share her story on Friday, March 30, at 8^th annual “WOW: Words of Wisdom” Women’s Conference at the Hyatt Regency DFW. read more

Prof Debuts Musical Piece Based on Children's Book

Robert Xavier Rodríguez, an internationally renowned composer and professor of music at UT Dallas, will debut an original composition based on the children’s book The Dot and the Line at the Meyerson Symphony Center on Sunday, March 25. read more

Callier Mentor Honored for Devotion to Students, Profession

Jan Lougeay is scheduled to receive the Texas Speech Hearing Association’s Award of Honors, presented annually to speech-language pathologists or audiologists who have contributed significantly to the organization and demonstrated outstanding leadership and professional excellence. read more

Prof Celebrates New Novel, Awaits Movie Based on Previous One

Dr. Matt Bondurant will discuss his third novel, The Night Swimmer, in a public lecture Wednesday on the UT Dallas campus. In addition, the assistant professor's previous book, The Wettest County in the World, is about to make the leap to the big screen with an all-star cast. read more

Tributes: Faculty and Donors Reflect on Rites

The investiture ceremonies were designed to celebrate the careers of the professors being recognized, but the newly invested faculty members used the opportunity to honor others in the room as well. read more

Faculty Honored in Investiture Week Listed by School

The spring 2012 Investiture Ceremony Honorees listed by school.
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