Faculty Advisory Council Election Candidate Biographies

As we launch the inaugural election of the Faculty Advisory Council (FAC), the following page provides biographical information about each candidate nominated for election to the FAC for the Academic Year 2026-2027. Please click on your college or school to access your slate of nominees:

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

• Ahmed Darwish, Assistant Professor
• Russell McGee, Instructional Associate Professor
• Senarath Dharmasena, Instructional Associate Professor
• Tammie Preston, Instructional Associate Professor
• Seockmo Ku, Assistant Professor
  
  
  

College of Architecture

• Julie Ann Hartell, Assistant Professor
• Aarika McCloskey, Lecturer
• Zofia Rybkowski, Professor

College of Arts and Sciences

• Ugochukwo Anieto, Instructional Associate Professor
• Michaela Baca, Lecturer
• Ivan Borzenets, Assistant Professor
• Mary Campbell, Professor
• Prabir Daripa, Professor
• Marian Eide, Professor
• Jonathan Guajardo, Associate Professor of the Practice
• James Howell, Instructional Associate Professor
• Andrew Klein, Professor and Director of Distance Education Programs
• Kristy Kulhanek, Instructional Assistant Professor
• Rupak Mahapatra, Professor
• Justine Michaudel, Instructional Associate Professor
• Martin Peterson, Professor
• Asha Rao, Instructional Professor
• Dale Rice, Associate Professor of the Practice
• Alexei Safonov, Professor
• Amber Schaefer, Instructional Associate Professor
• Rebecca Schlegel, Professor
• Andrew Seely, Instructional Associate Professor
• Danila Serra, Associate Professor
• Andrew Tag, Instructional Associate Professor
• David Tarvin, Instructional Professor
• Zhe Zhang, Associate Professor

The Bush School of Government and Public Service

• Soren Jordan, Associate Professor
• Kenneth Taylor, Associate Professor of the Practice
  
  
  

College of Dentistry

• Jane Cotter, Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene
• Elham Ighani, Clinical Assistant Professor
• Shirley Lewis, Clinical Associate Professor
• Patha Mukherji, Clinical Assistant Professor
• Hongjiao Ouyang, Associate Professor
• Dhwani Shah, Clinical Assistant Professor

College of Education and Human Development

• Adam Alvarez, Associate Professor
• Julie Barrett, Senior Lecturer
• August Campbell, Instructional Professor
• Florina Erbeli, Associate Professor
• Daniel Gomez, Instructional Professor
• Rafael Lara-Alecio, Professor
• Yeping Li, Professor
• Karen Rambo-Hernandez, Professor
• Michael Thornton, Clinical Assistant Professor
• Wendi Zimmer, Clinical Assistant Professor

College of Engineering

• Saira Anwar, Assistant Professor
• Mark Balas, Professor
• Amarnath Banerjee, Professor
• Anthony Cahill, Associate Professor
• John Criscione, Professor
• Garth Crosby, Associate Professor
• Rudy Geelen, Assistant Professor
• Eduardo Gildin, Professor and Associate Department Head
• Angie Hill Price, Associate Dean - Faculty
• Richard Hutchinson, Instructional Associate Professor
• Abhishek Jain, Associate Professor
• Daniel Jimenez, Professor
• Shreyas Kumar, Professor of the Practice
• Stacey Lyle, Professor of the Practice
• Daniel McAdams, Professor
• Johnathan McKenzie, Instructional Assistant Professor
• Farzan Sasangohar, Associate Professor
• Duncan Walker, Associate Dean - Faculty
• Shiren Wang, Professor
• Justin Wilkerson, Associate Professor

College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies

• Philip Matich, Instructional Associate Professor and Assistant Department Head of Marine Biology

Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine

• Robert Carpenter, Clinical Professor
• Sanjukta Chakraborty, Associate Professor
• John Hubbard, Instructional Professor
• James Lucas, Clinical Professor and Interim Department Head, Humanities in Medicine
• Rajesh Miranda, Professor
• Jim Song, Professor

College of Nursing

• Kimberly Belcik, Clinical Associate Professor
• Wendy Greenwood, Clinical Assistant Professor
• Matthew Sorenson, Professor
• Carmen Vela, Clinical Assistant Professor

College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts

• Tina Budzise-Weaver, Associate Professor, Graduate Assistant Teaching Director
• Matthew Campbell, Instructional Associate Professor
• Michael Gayk, Academic Program Director for Visualization and Instructional Associate Professor
• Rebecca Hays, Associate Professor
• Laura Hollis, Associate Professor
• Amanda Honeycutt, Instructional Associate Professor and Sr. Associate Program Director
• Francesca Marini, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor
• Geoge McConnell, Associate Professor
• Carolyn Rabbers, Instructional Assistant Professor
• Jinsil Hwaryoung Seo, Professor
• Andee Scott, Associate Professor, Academic Graduate Program Director for Dance
• Jon Yerby, Assistant Professor
• Stewart Ziff, Associate Instructional Professor

College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

• Christine Barron, Instructional Assistant Professor
• Charity Cavazos, Instructional Assistant Professor
• Eric Kneese, Clinical Associate Professor
• Luke Lyons, Clinical Assistant Professor

Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy

• Hamed Aly Ismail, Associate Professor
• Fadi Khasawneh, Professor and Departmental Head for Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Frank North, Instructional Assistant Professor
• Samikkannu Thangavel, Associate Professor

Mays Business School

• Anupam Agrawal, Associate Professor
• Adam Kolasinski, Professor
• Madhaav Pappu, Clinical Associate Professor
• Bin Zhang, Associate Professor

School of Engineering Medicine

• Mark Slivkoff, Instructional Associate Professor

School of Law

• William Byrnes, Executive Professor

School of Public Health

• Angela Clendenin, Instructional Associate Professor
• Rebecca Fischer, Associate Professor
• Gang Han, Professor
• Anabel Rodriguez, Assistant Professor

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES NOMINEES

Ahmed Darwish, Assistant Professor

Dr. Ahmed Darwish is an Assistant Professor of plant secondary metabolism at the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M AgriLife Research. He received his Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry from Hiroshima University, Japan 2015. He has long experience in isolating, characterizing, and testing organic compounds from natural sources like plants, fungi, bacteria, insects, and other organisms using different techniques, such as HPLC, GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, and NMR (HSQC, HMBC, COSY,NOSY). Furthermore, he has excellent experience in determining the anticancer activity for different natural products using cancer cell lines (i.e., LN229, SNB19, U87,U251, A549, Hep G2, MDA-MB-468, and MDA-MB-231). He also generated an accessible database of metabolomic profiles related to numerous traits using several southern grape populations. He has been teaching and instructing many courses related to Key metabolites in horticultural crops, garden science, organic chemistry, and biochemistry, developing new course materials for undergraduate and graduate students, and participating in different faculty committees. He has effectively collaborated as a PI and Co-PI with different national/international universities and federal institutions to secure more than $1.5 million in research funding. Dr. Darwish has published more than 45 peer-reviewed publications in high-ranked scientific journals and served as a reviewer in several international journals.

Russell McGee, Instructional Associate Professor

Academic Education Master of Military Studies, Marine Corps University, Quantico Virginia, 1999.Master of Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 1997.Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 1985. Employment Experience Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station Texas  2008-present.

Associate Instructional Professor, Sep 2023-present. Assistant Instructional Professor, 2020-2023. Lecturer 2010-2020. Assistant Research Scientist, 2008-2015. Instruct classes and advise students in BAEN department as required. Asst Research Scientist, 2008- 2018. Manage graduate research and administrative requirements of the Center for Agricultural Air Quality Engineering.  Create, schedule, and instruct short courses and workshops related to Air Quality Engineering. Director, Belgium Study Abroad Program, 2018-present. Administer, plan, and execute department Environmental Science and Engineering program in Leuven, Belgium with approximately 25-30 students annually. Coordinate activities with Flemish and Belgium governmental agencies and industries.

Director, Agricultural Systems Management (AGSM) Undergraduate Program, 2012-2025. Supervise and direct activities of AGSM undergraduate program including curriculum and recruiting. Instruct classes and advise students in the AGSM and BAEN Curriculum as required.  United States Marine Corps. Commissioned Officer, 1985-2007. AH-1W Cobra Helicopter Pilot and Instructor. Multiple international operational deployments including two wartime operations.  

Senarath Dharmasena, Instructional Associate Professor

Dr. Dharmasena is Instructional Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics. He has taught various undergraduate and graduate level classes, agricultural marketing, food and agricultural price analysis, macroeconomics of agriculture, consumer demand analysis, and machine learning/artificial intelligence applications in agricultural economics over the past 14 years. He has taught over 5,400 students during his academic career. His research interests are in the areas of applied demand analysis, agribusiness and food market analysis, health and nutrition economics, economics of food security, causality modeling, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and market integration/price discovery. He is an expert in applied econometric modeling. He has published papers in Empirical Economics, Health Economics, Food Policy, Agricultural and Resources Economics Review, Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Energy Economics, Energy Policy, Machine Learning with Applications. He is member of Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, Western Agricultural Economics Association, and Southern Agricultural Economics Association. He is the recipient of the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students distinguished achievement award (college level, 2023/24. He is Associate Editor, Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies. He is former Senator of Texas A&M University Faculty Senate. He wishes to continue his service to Texas A&M University in the Faculty Advisory Council.

Tammie Preston, Instructional Associate Professor

I currently serve as an Associate Instructional Professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership Education and Communications. I have been employed at the university for over twenty-eight years, including nine and a half years as a faculty member. I earned my B.S. in Poultry Science, M.S. in Higher Education Administration, and Ph.D. in Agricultural Leadership Education and Communications from this institution.

I have previously served on the Faculty Senate and currently serve as a member of the University Core Curriculum Committee. I value collaboration, forward-thinking approaches, and solution-oriented action. My extensive background in systems thinking and team development uniquely positions me to contribute effectively as a member of the inaugural Faculty Advisor Board.

Seockmo Ku, Assistant Professor

Dr. Seockmo Ku earned his M.S. in Food and Nutrition from Seoul National University (2009) and completed his Ph.D. (2015) and postdoctoral training (2015–2017) in Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University. He served as an Assistant Professor in the Fermentation Science Program at Middle Tennessee State University from 2017 to 2023, where he achieved tenure and promotion in 2023. Since 2023, he has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology.

Dr. Ku’s research focuses on the microbiome, probiotics, and food fermentation. He has secured > $2.5 million in research funding, holds three patents, and has published >70 peer-reviewed articles. In addition to his academic achievements, he has industry experience at the CJ CheilJedang Food RandD Center, where he contributed to the development and reformulation of > 30 commercial food products and received recognition from the Chairman and Vice CEO of CJ Group.

He also serves as an Associate Editor for Microbial Cell Factories and Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins and received the 2025 Editor of Distinction Award from Springer Nature in recognition of his editorial contributions.

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE NOMINEES

Julie Ann Hartell, Assistant Professor

Dr. Julie Ann Hartell joined the Department of Construction Science in the School of Architecture as an assistant professor in Fall 2020. She earned her Master’s and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from McGill University (Montreal, Canada) in 2009 and 2014, respectively. Her expertise is in construction materials, means and methods. Dr. Hartell has secured more than $4.5 million in federal, state, and industry funding. Her research emphasizes recycling strategies, sustainable material design, characterization of material performance at the material and system levels, and innovations that advance affordable, resilient and sustainable housing. 

She teaches both laboratory and lecture-based courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, primarily in materials and construction means and methods. She serves on the University Sustainability Advisory Committee and the Waste Management Working Group as a Faculty Representative, the department’s Executive Committee and has twice served on the department's Faculty Search Committee. She is an active member of the American Concrete Institute and the NIST Additive Construction by Extrusion Consortium, she contributes at both the local and national levels as a voting committee member. She looks forward to continued service through the Faculty Advisory Council Committee.

Aarika McCloskey, Lecturer

Aarika McCloskey is a Lecturer in the Department of Construction Science. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Science from Texas A&M University and later received her Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law. After passing the Texas Bar Exam, she practiced patent litigation, developing advanced skills in legal research, writing, and analytical reasoning. She subsequently returned to the construction discipline, where she integrates legal scholarship with industry-focused education. Ms. McCloskey joined the Department of Construction Science faculty in 2019. Her teaching portfolio includes courses in business law, construction law, and construction risk management, with an emphasis on developing students’ literacy, critical thinking, and professional judgment. Her instructional approach focuses on applying legal principles to real-world construction scenarios and preparing students for the regulatory and contractual complexities of the construction industry. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Ms. McCloskey serves as the Undergraduate Program Coordinator for the Department of Construction Science, where she supports curriculum development, student advising, and program administration. She is actively engaged in university and college service and currently serves on the University W and C Committee and the College of Architecture Academic Affairs Committee. Through her teaching and service, Ms. McCloskey is committed to advancing undergraduate education and supporting student success within the construction science discipline.

Zofia Rybkowski, Professor

Zofia K. Rybkowski, PhD, is a tenured Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator in the Department of Construction Science of the School of Architecture at Texas A&M University. She holds degrees from Stanford, Brown, Harvard, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and UC Berkeley, where she earned a PhD. Her interdisciplinary background, which includes biology (MS, BS), architecture (MArch), and civil engineering (PhD, MS, MPhil) facilitates systems-level research intersecting disciplinary boundaries. She specializes in Lean-Integrated Project Delivery simulation gaming tools to collaboratively address complex, multidisciplinary challenges. For her research in interdisciplinary systems thinking, Dr. Rybkowski has been awarded the J. Thomas Regan Interdisciplinary Faculty Prize, the Harold L. Adams Interdisciplinary Professorship in Construction Science, and in 2019 was named by Texas A&M as a prestigious Presidential Impact Fellow. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Education and Research Foundation, and as a member of the Lean in the Public Sector (LIPS) Steering Committee. She has been invited to serve as keynote speaker at conferences in Sweden, Korea, India, Hong Kong, and throughout the US. Dr. Rybkowski has been the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship and is a legacy LEED AP.

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES NOMINEES

Ugochukwo Anieto, Instructional Associate Professor

My name is Ugochukwu Anieto, an Instructional Assistant Professor of Biology in the Department of Biology from 2018 to 2024 to date. I primarily teach introductory biology courses for majors (currently teach a class with 800 plus students). I have also taught at the McAllen Higher Education Center. I am interested in making sure that the voice of faculty members is part of the discourse at every level of university operations. My approach to issues is through thoughtful negotiations, willingness to reach a compromise without losing the importance of the issues on the table. As part of my goals, I plan to make sure that all groups are fairly represented, and a balanced argument is maintained. I look forward to meeting with the administration and to advocating for faculty members at all levels, including ensuring that the fear of termination does not defeat the essence of scholarship and furthermore that affiliations with legitimate groups would not be viewed as an affront to any perceived aggravation across the globe. My hobbies include taking long walks while wearing headphones. If you run into me on campus, please let me know so I can introduce myself.  

Michaela Baca, Lecturer

Michaela Baca received her PhD from Texas A&M University in 2022. She is now a Lecturer in the department of English where she serves as the Coordinator for ENGL 210 and teaches both literature and core writing courses to undergraduate students. She was a member of the Faculty Senate and continues to serve on the Core Curriculum Council. Dr. Baca is invested in Texas A&M’s Core Curriculum, and hopes to continue to serve our University in a similar capacity. She also serves as a Faculty member of both the Honors Council and the UDAP. She is particularly devoted to fostering collaborative interdisciplinary relationships across campus and believes that participation in academic governance is imperative to upholding equitable practices and the Aggie Core Values. Dr. Baca looks forward to serving on the Faculty Advisory Council to continue to engage in transparent communication and contribute to our community of mutual respect and collaboration.

Ivan Borzenets, Assistant Professor

Ivan Borzenets is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. His research work focus on Condensed Matter Experiments with applications in Quantum Computing, Quantum Information and Sensing. Prior to joining TAMU in 2021, Ivan Borzenets has been a faculty at the City University of Hong Kong, and the University of Tokyo. His Ph.D. is from Duke University, and he has a B.S. from University of California, Berkeley.  From 2023 until 2025 Ivan Borzenets has served on the TAMU Faculty Senate. Ivan Borzenets has a strong interest in maintaining academic and research freedom and responsibility. He also work towards maintaining a strong, competitive and capable student body and faculty population at TAMU. 

Mary Campbell, Professor

Mary Campbell is the Susanne M. and Melbern G. Glasscock '59 Endowed Chair in Arts and Sciences, Professor of Sociology, and Director of the Texas Federal Statistical Research Data Center at Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on the measurement of race and ethnicity in surveys and inequality between and within racial and ethnic groups. Her work has focused on groups that challenge conventional understandings of racial boundaries and hierarchies, including multiracial individuals and interracial families. She is currently working on projects that examine the predictors of racial and ethnic identification change over the life course, using powerful new linked federal administrative and survey data that make it newly possible to test the impact of data processing choices. These projects show that changes in racial and ethnic identification are linked to observed patterns of inequality, reshaping how we think about the impact of ethnoracial measurement on inequality. Her work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the America’s Data Hub Consortium, and she has been leading national efforts to expand access to federal statistical data. 

Prabir Daripa, Professor

I am a full professor in the Mathematics Department and I have been in this university since 1987. Given almost 40 years of my service to this University in various capacity. I think I am more then eligible to serve in the new Faculty Advisory Council. Moreover, I have served in the College of Science Faculty Advisory Council from during 1196-1997 m 1993 till 1998, first as a member, then as a Vice-Chair and then as a Chair of the Council during 1997-1998. I have also served on various committees of the Faculty Senate during 2000-2008. Some of these committees are  International Programs Subcommittee, Research Committee, Budget Information Committee, Committee on the Status of Women, Scholarship Subcommittee, Personnel and Welfare Committee, Academic Affairs Committee, Planning Committee and Faculty Development Leave Committee. Some of these committees I have served several times. Besides these Senate level committees, I have also served University level committees and various Panels such as Undergraduate Academic Appeals Panel. Thus I am very much aware of the kind of issues that might come up in various departments within the College of Science and I will put forth those issues and will do my best to find a positive solution.

Marian Eide, Professor

I am the Murray and Celeste Fasken Endowed Chair and a Professor of English. For twenty-nine years I introduced myself as an affiliate faculty member in Women's and Gender Studies (WGST).  In the fall of 2026, I will have worked at the university for thirty years. I have seen the university through periods of explosive growth and radical structural change. During this time, I has served in several, minor administrative roles, including Associate Director of graduate studies and Associate Head in English. I served as director of WGST on two occasions. In that capacity, I advised the first undergraduate to earn this degree; this year I may be teaching the last. I have an enduring, practical commitment to faculty governance and have contributed to committees at the department, college, and university levels. Additionally, I have consulted with twenty units across campus as they formed strategic plans.  This side-hustle has given me extraordinary insight in the excellence faculty bring to the research enterprise and our wide-spread, shared commitment to generous and effective pedagogy   Also I am the author of three books and over twenty articles in the areas of ethics, aesthetics, gender, and literature.

Jonathan Guajardo, Associate Professor of the Practice

Jonathan Guajardo is an Associate Professor of the Practice in the Department of Communication and Journalism (CMJR). He is in his 7th year teaching at Texas A&M and serves as the Co-Director of CMJR's Creative Media Lab, the Course Director for COMM 275: Intro to Social Media, and the faculty advisor for three student organizations. He also serves as an Honors Academy Faculty Fellow, where he contributes to the development and implementation of the Honors Academy Minor, and he is a member of the Spring 2026 APT to Lead cohort. He designed a core-curriculum course, COMM 377: Entrepreneurship and New Media, as well as five other courses for a minor he proposed in New Media Production.

Jonathan incorporates experiential learning into all of his classes and develops facilitative spaces for experimentation and entrepreneurial exploration. Additionally, he is a Higher Education Administration doctoral candidate at Texas Tech University (graduating Spring 2026). His research explores utilizing digital communication technologies to build a stronger sense of belonging between online students and their postsecondary institutions. Jonathan is also an entrepreneur and owns two businesses: a media production company called GA Media and a hyper-local online news publication called the Bryan-College Station Chronicle.

James Howell, Instructional Associate Professor

My name is James F. Howell, and I have been a proud member of the Texas A&M faculty since the fall of 2019, and I previously had the privilege of representing the College of Arts and Sciences in the Faculty Senate from 2022 to 2025. As a faculty member, I have taken every opportunity presented to me to engage with and to serve my colleagues and the students throughout the university. Currently, I am serving as the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Global Languages and Cultures, Chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Instruction Committee, and the Co-Chair of the University's Core Curriculum Council. In all of these roles, I have witnessed the level of passion, dedication, and expertise that makes Texas A&M the amazing place to work and study that it is, and I am committed to continuing to contribute to that spirit of community and excellence. I am confident that my background in multiple areas and levels of service gives me the knowledge and perspective necessary to be an effective advocate in the Faculty Advisory Council during these times of transition and change.

Andrew Klein, Professor and Director of Distance Education Programs

I am a Professor in the Department of Geography and currently hold the EOG Teaching Professorship in Geosciences. I arrived at Texas A&M in 1998 and was a long-serving Faculty Senator. I served as its Speaker twice; the last as its final Speaker when it was disbanded last summer. Since then, as Former Speaker, I have continued to represent the faculty across our campus. As co-chair of the Faculty Advisory Executive Committee Transition Team I have worked diligently to establish the new Faculty Advisory Council (FAC) including helping author the University rule establishing it, overseeing its initial apportionment, and aiding in its initial election. I seek service on the FAC to see my efforts of the past months through to their completion with its successful launch. I would bring an informed perspective of what needs to be accomplished to ensure the FAC hits the ground running in September. It is vital that the FAC continues the faculty’s appropriate role in overseeing the curriculum, which was previously codified in the Faculty Senate Bylaws. I will also work diligently to help the FAC build the necessary trust with both faculty and administration for its sustained success into the future. 

Kristy Kulhanek, Instructional Assistant Professor

Dr. Kristy Kulhanek has been with the Department of Communication and Journalism for eleven years. She started her higher education career in academic advising and transitioned to CMJR faculty in 2022. She has a BA in Communication from Texas A&M University, an MS in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas State University, and an EdD in Educational Leadership from Arizona State University. She has prior experience with on-campus leadership, serving as President of University Advisors and Counselors (UAC) in 2021. She is passionate about undergraduate education and cultivating a classroom of lifelong learners. As an Instructional Assistant Professor, she is currently the Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Communication and Journalism. 

Rupak Mahapatra, Professor

Dr. Rupak Mahapatra is the Mitchell-Heep Chair in Experimental Particle Physics. He joined TAMU in 2008 after his postdoctoral work stint at after receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 2000 and completing postdoctoral work at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is an international expert in high-energy particle physics and has considerable expertise in building particle detectors based on quantum technologies. A 2010 DOE Early Career Research Award recipient, Mahapatra, has served since 2003 as a PI with the international Super Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (SuperCDMS) experiment. In 2017, he also founded a new world-class experiment, the Mitchell Institute Neutrino Experiment at Reactor (MINER) at the TAMU NSC, and is currently being moved to the ORNL HFIR reactor. In 2023, his detectors helped establish a new world-leading, low-mass Dark Matter search experiment, named TESSERACT, which is currently approved as a DOE project.  He is involved in developing next-generation detectors made of semiconductors with superconducting transition edge sensors utilizing dedicated semiconductor device fabrication instruments in his laboratories. He has funded collaborative research projects with 7 National Labs on projects ranging from fundamental particle physics to applied quantum information sciences and nuclear safeguards. 

Justine Michaudel, Instructional Associate Professor

Dr. Justine N. Michaudel earned a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Sciences from Scripps Research in 2019, where she developed methods for the synthesis and modification of druglike biomolecules. Shortly thereafter, she joined the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Texas A&M University for a post-doctoral appointment in Education Administration. Since joining the Department of Chemistry instructional faculty in 2021, Dr. Michaudel has developed or redesigned eight different lecture and lab courses—including a university-required writing-intensive course—for thousands of students and hundreds of graduate teaching assistants. In 2023, she was selected to lead an Enhancing the Design of Gateway Experiences (EDGE) redesign of the organic chemistry teaching program. This initiative, supported through the Office of the Provost and in collaboration with the Center for Teaching Excellence, seeks to improve student performance and retention through intentional cross-course alignment, validated inclusive teaching methods, and modernization of the lab curriculum. Dr. Michaudel’s research and teaching efforts have been recognized with local, national, and international awards, including most recently the 2025 Association of Former Students College-Level Teaching Award.  

Martin Peterson, Professor

I am a philosopher with a strong interest in academic freedom. I have worked at Texas A&M since 2014; I currently hold the Bovay Chair for the History and Ethics of Professional Engineering in the Department of Philosophy. If elected, I will emphasize that Texas A&M is a public good that belongs to all Texans, regardless of political, religious, sexual, or ideological orientation. We have to push back against attempts to politicize the university by censoring our courses. 

Asha Rao, Instructional Professor

I am an Instructional Professor of Biology and Assistant Department Head for Academic Affairs at Texas A&M University. After earning my M.S. and Ph.D. in Entomology from Texas A&M, I transitioned to Biology in 2013. I teach introductory biology to over 1,200 students each year and direct the First-Year Experience course, supporting more than 700 biology freshmen and 65 transfer students annually. My commitment to student and faculty success led me to develop initiatives including the Science Peer Learning Center, BioFirst for first-generation biology freshmen, and the Biology Supplemental Instruction program, collectively benefiting over 10,000 students. I have secured more than $1.4 million in NSF and NIH grants, contributed to science education research, and co-led the Biology undergraduate curriculum redesign. I organize the Mobile Summer Institute for Scientific Teaching, training STEM faculty in evidence-based pedagogy, founded our departmental Teaching Chalk Talk, and co-led our transition to OpenStax textbooks, saving students ~$600,000 each year. I have extensive administrative and committee service, including the Biology Executive Committee, Promotion Committee for APT faculty, Scholarship Committee, Digital Learning Committee, Undergraduate Instruction Committee, University Capacity Study Committee, and former Faculty Senate committees. Nationally, I am active in SABER, NIST, and the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. If elected to the Faculty Advisory Council, I will leverage my experience to advance the university’s academic mission, promote innovative teaching, and support faculty and student success.

Dale Rice, Associate Professor of the Practice

An associate professor of the practice in the Department of Communication and Journalism, I have been involved extensively in shared governance at Texas A&M for the past 18 years, including serving two terms as speaker of the now-extinct Faculty Senate. As a former member and co-chair of the Core Curriculum Council, I helped lead the extensive overhaul of the core a decade ago and fully understand the value of faculty input in the curricular process and the overall operation of the university. Although the role of the new Faculty Advisory Council has been diminished from that of the Senate, I believe it's important to have people on the new council who are willing to honestly represent the needs and concerns of the faculty and who are willing to speak truth to power. I am one of those persons, and I believe my work in faculty governance has demonstrated that.

Alexei Safonov, Professor

Since joining TAMU in 2006 as a tenure-track faculty member, I have been proud to see our university grow in national and international stature through academic excellence, impactful research, and intellectual leadership. Recent developments, however, raise serious concerns that these gains could be reversed—at significant cost to our faculty, our students, the broader public, and the state of Texas.

I am a Professor of Physics and Astronomy and hold the Mitchell/Heep Chair in Experimental Particle Physics. I have taught thousands of undergraduates, mentored graduate students, and built a large research program supported by the DOE, NSF, and U.S. national laboratories. I have served on numerous university committees and currently serve on the Collaboration Board of the CMS experiment, representing a global partnership of leading research institutions.

If elected, I will advocate for academic freedom, shared governance, and first-class education free from political influence. I will work constructively—but firmly—to uphold these principles. I am committed to representing you with clarity, integrity, and resolve.

Amber Schaefer, Instructional Associate Professor

Amber Schaefer has been an APT faculty member in the Department of Chemistry since 2009. Over the course of her career, she has coordinated large-enrollment laboratory courses at the 100- and 200-level for both Chemistry majors and non-majors, supporting student success across a wide range of academic backgrounds and career paths. She has taught both Writing (W) and Communication (C) designated courses in Chemistry, emphasizing clarity, critical thinking, and effective scientific communication. Amber is highly involved in the broader university community. Most notably, she has served on the Honor Council for the past seven years, demonstrating her deep commitment to academic integrity and the values that strengthen a scholarly community. She values integrity and honor in the classroom on the part of both student and instructor and believes that the concerns and perspectives of non-administrative APT faculty deserve a strong and thoughtful voice on campus.

Rebecca Schlegel, Professor

Rebecca (Becca) Schlegel is a Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences (PBSI). She is currently a co-PI in the TAMU Existential Psychology Collaboratory associate head for undergraduate studies in the PBSI department, and the interim director of the TAMU Institute for Technology Infused Learning (TITIL). Becca holds a PhD from the University of Missouri and a BS from Kansas State University. Becca’s research is in social and personality psychology, with a focus on existential psychology. She studies issues related to self/identity, authenticity, and meaning in life. As part of TITIL, Becca has worked with education researchers, computer scientists, and engineers in an interdisciplinary effort to develop and test interventions that aim to foster an academic sense of self among students in elementary, middle, and high school. These interventions utilize “making” to infuse state mandated science curricula with hands-on experiences with technology.

Andrew Seely, Instructional Associate Professor

I have taught and served in higher education since 2017, beginning with a faculty position at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB). There, I was full-time faculty and part-time administrator. I was Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and worked with faculty across the institution to identify and meet needs in teaching and retention. I was also a full voting member of the UACCB Faculty Senate and served on the Faculty Affairs Committee. From 2020-2022 I served as Faculty Senate President and on the Chancellor Advisory Committee.Since joining Texas A&M in 2023, I have served on the College of Arts and Science's First Year Experience Committee and been involved in redesigns and course updates for numerous courses in the Department of Biology. I believe my experiences both in Arkansas and at TAMU have granted me insight into institutional workings and administrative governance, as well as taught me best practices in communication between faculty and administrators. My perspectives and ability to communicate will allow me to contribute in a versatile fashion as a part of the Faculty Advisory Council.

Danila Serra, Associate Professor

Danila Serra is an Associate Professor of Economics at Texas A&M University, where she holds a joint appointment in the Economics Department and the Bush School of Government and Public Service. She is the holder of the Claudius M. Easley, Jr. Faculty Fellowship in Liberal Arts. Dr. Serra earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Oxford. She is an applied behavioral economist, using experimental methods to address key questions in political economy, education, and gender economics. In 2017, she was the inaugural recipient of the Vernon Smith Ascending Scholar Prize, given by the International Foundation for Research in Experimental Economics to an exceptional scholar using experiments in economics research. Dr. Serra teaches courses in Experimental Economics, Policy Economics and International Development Economics. Her work has been published in leading economics journals. While at Texas A&M, she has secured over 2 million dollars in research funding from institutions including the Sloan Foundation, the Russell Sage Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, the World Bank and the Gates Foundation. Dr. Serra's research informs evidence-based policy-making, generating insights on how individuals make decisions in contexts shaped by economic, political, and social constraints, both in high-income and low-income countries.

Andrew Tag, Instructional Associate Professor

I received my Ph.D. in Plant Pathology and Microbiology from Texas A&M University in 2003 and joined the Department of Biology as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate and Lecturer in 2003. I’m currently an Instructional Associate Professor and Director of Introductory Biology.  I served as a Faculty Senator for two terms, on the Core Curriculum Council for six years, and served as the College of Arts and Sciences Caucus co-leader through the creation of the College of Arts and Sciences to the present.  I currently serve on the Interim University Curriculum Council and Core Curriculum Council. I view active faculty representation as critical to the livlihood of the University and will continue to fulfill my obligation if reelected or selected.

David Tarvin, Instructional Professor

Dave Tarvin, Ph.D., is an Instructional Professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism and has been teaching at A&M since 2014. His courses focus on intercultural communication and rhetorical theory. He is the department coordinator for education abroad and is a strong advocate for the life-changing impact of global learning. His courses reflect this international focus, incorporating Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects connecting students with peers across the globe. Beyond the classroom, Dr. Tarvin contributes to the A&M community through his dedicated service. He is the current President for the Texas A&M Chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society. From 2019 to 2025, he served on the Texas A&M Faculty Senate. In 2024/2025, he was the Secretary of the Faculty Senate and was co-Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee. He has also worked on the Legislative Affairs Committee, Elections Committee, and Executive Committee in his tenure as Senator. He has represented the Faculty Senate on several taskforces and advisory committees, including AHSO, transportation, scheduling, and athletics.  He is running to be a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee to contribute to the continued success of our university. 

Zhe Zhang, Associate Professor

Dr. Zhe Zhang is an Associate Professor of Geography at Texas A&M University (TAMU), with joint appointments in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center, and Gulf of America Coastal Ocean Observing System. Dr. Zhang has served as Chair of the Cyberinfrastructure (CI) Specialty Group of the American Association of Geographers and was elected to the Board of Directors of the Cartography and Geographic Information Society. She also serves as Chair of the Research Committee of the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science. Her research focuses on developing spatial decision support systems by integrating advanced CI, GeoAI, and participatory design to address critical challenges in disaster management and sustainability. Her research has been funded by federal agencies such as the NSF, NASA, USDOT, and NOAA. She serves as the Co-PI of the TAMU FASTER High-Performance Supercomputer (over $3 million) and as a Co-I of the TAMU ACES Supercomputer (over $12 million). In addition, she serves as PI on eight externally funded grants, totaling over $3 million. Dr. Zhang has been honored to receive the Pathways Award from TAMU Faculty Affairs and the NSF CAREER Award in recognition of her impactful research.

THE BUSH SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE NOMINEES

Soren Jordan, Associate Professor

Soren Jordan is an Associate Professor of Political Science specializing in American politics and political methodology. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Texas A&M University in 2015 and is a 2010 graduate with a BA in Political Science. He joined the faculty in 2024. His research focuses on ideological polarization, particularly how divisions among political elites develop and how these divisions shape public opinion and attitudes toward political institutions. He is especially interested in how polarization influences citizens’ evaluations of government and their support for emerging policy issues. He also studies political methodology, emphasizing improving statistical inference in political science research. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in American politics, as well as the department's introductory course to the field as a large lecture section.

Kenneth Taylor, Associate Professor of the Practice

Dr. Kenneth Anderson Taylor serves as an Associate Professor of the Practice within the Bush School’s Public Service and Administration department. Prior to arriving at Texas A&M University in 2017, he led the Nonprofit Leadership Studies degree program at Murray State University in Kentucky. Dr. Taylor earned his MBA from Bellarmine University’s Rubel School of Business, holds a BA in Sociology from the same institution, and earned his PhD in Leadership Studies from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.

Dr. Taylor has more than twenty years of leader experience with nonprofit organizations. His self-defined career highlights include the 12 years he served the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and his five-year career as a nonprofit consultant; Dr. Taylor is also a Credentialed Mediator in the state of Texas. Years ago, when he set his sights on transitioning into academia, he put the Bush School of Government and Public Service at the top of his list and strives to contribute to its namesake’s philosophy of educating principled leaders for public service.

COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY NOMINEES

Jane Cotter, Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene

Jane C. Cotter is an Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene at the Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, where she has served as a faculty member since 2016 and earned tenure in 2023. A dedicated educator, clinician, and academic leader, she has served on Faculty Senate 2023-2025, Academic Freedom Council since 2024 and currently serves on the University Interim Curriculum Committee. Professor Cotter has been honored with the TAMU Alumni Association Distinguished Achievement Award, the Teaching Excellence Award, and the Teacher of the Year Award.  Her commitment to pedagogical excellence is further demonstrated through advanced certifications in effective college instruction and inclusive teaching, as well as her selection as a Mentoring Fellow in the TAMU Graduate Mentoring Academy. Her professional leadership includes service as a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) site visitor, Fellow of both the American Academy of Dental Hygiene and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, and active contributor to interprofessional education initiatives.Professor Cotter has a strong record of university and college service, including participation in curriculum development initiatives, faculty mentoring activities, accreditation preparation, and interprofessional education programming. Her collaborative approach and commitment to institutional excellence position her as a valuable contributor to university governance.

Elham Ighani, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Elham Ighani moved to the United States to pursue her dream of higher education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Texas in Austin, followed by postgraduate studies and graduated from Texas A&M College of Dentistry.  She practiced general dentistry in private practice for ten years during which she owned her practice and treated her patients with excellence, dedication and care. Her passion for teaching led to teaching the summer and international programs at Texas A&M College of Dentistry. She was later offered a part-time position in the preclinical lab and clinic within the operative discipline of the Restorative Science Department. In 2019, she joined the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry as an Assistant Group Leader, teaching and supervising third and fourth-year students. She has played a pivotal role in creating clinical manuals, calibrating students and faculty, and revising assessments to ensure effective evaluation. She reintroduced the Preceptor Selective Program, enhancing students' clinical experience. Recently, she was sought out to teach second-year didactic and preclinical operative courses. Currently, she is pursuing a fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning and staying updated with the latest methods, materials and technology.

Shirley Lewis, Clinical Associate Professor

Shirley Lewis earned her dental degree in India and completed both a pediatric dentistry residency and a master’s in dental public health at Boston University. She completed a forensic odontology fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.Dr. Lewis is currently a Clinical Associate Professor at Texas A&M College of Dentistry (TAMCOD) in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry. She represented the College as Faculty Senator from 2021–2025.Alongside her clinical, didactic, and research roles, Dr. Lewis developed forensic odontology lectures and electives in forensic odontology and Disaster Day training. As coinvestigator‑, she contributed to securing funding from HRSA, and COD. She has served as a peer reviewer for various journals, including the American Dental Education Association, and has presented widely across her areas of expertise at a national and international level. She serves on TAMU Graduate and IPER committees and multiple College of Dentistry committees. She has chaired ADEA’s Internationally Trained Dentists Special Interest Group (SIG) and is the current chair of the Forensic Odontology and Forensic Sciences SIG. She is a board member of the International Association of Forensic Odontology for Human Rights and provides pro bono forensic services nationally and internationally.

Patha Mukherji, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Partha Mukherji is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Texas A&M College of Dentistry, having returned to the faculty in April 2025 after previously serving as an Adjunct Assistant Professor (2015–2019). A proud 'Double Aggie'—earning his BS in ’97 and DDS in ’01—he strives to embody the Aggie Core Values in both his life and practice.Dr. Mukherji brings over two decades of clinical experience to his academic role, where he focuses on preparing third- and fourth-year students for patient-centered care. Beyond the clinic, he is actively involved in school governance, currently serving as an Assistant Group Leader and as Secretary for the Faculty Advisory Committee. These roles have provided him with a clear understanding of the administrative and collaborative efforts required to support faculty interests.Recognized with multiple fellowships for excellence and service, Dr. Mukherji is dedicated to fostering a supportive learning environment rooted in clinical competence and professionalism. He looks forward to bringing this balanced perspective of clinical expertise and active committee leadership to the Faculty Advisory Council. Gig ’em! Best,Partha  Gig 'Em!

Hongjiao Ouyang, Associate Professor

I am a tenured Associate Professor of the Department of Endodontics, College of Dentistry. I am a clinician/scientist with research interest in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate the health and diseases of bone. My research had been continuously funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and foundation grants for 17 years, which has totaled approximately $4,500,000, and cited for more than 15,000 times as of 2025. Our research is the first to demonstrate the essential role of Wnt-mTOR signaling crosstalk in tumorigenesis and bone formation. Our research established the essential roles of DNA damage repair signaling and unfolded protein responses (UPR) signaling in regulating bone aging and pathogenesis of tumor bone diseases. In addition, I served/serve in several roles in professional communities, e.g., Chair of American Association of Dental Research (AADR) Fellowship Committee, Scientific Advisory Board member of the Journal of Endodontics, Scientific Reports, and Journal of Dental Research, Councilor for the AADR Stem Cell Biology group, and ad hoc reviewer for the NIH Skeletal Biology Development and Disease and Cancer Genetics study sections. I hold a patent for monitoring UPR signaling to predict patient responses to cancer treatment.

Dhwani Shah, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Dhwani Shah, DDS, MS, MS, is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Texas A&M College of Dentistry, where she leads initiatives that strengthen clinical training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and faculty engagement. With advanced degrees in dentistry, biotechnology, and global medicine, she brings a strategic, systems-oriented perspective to academic leadership.Dr. Shah is passionate about building environments where faculty feel supported, heard, and empowered to do their best work. Her leadership style emphasizes clear communication, thoughtful decision-making, and a strong commitment to professional growth and well-being within the academic setting.Through her work in curriculum innovation, resident mentorship, and institutional service, she has developed a reputation as a collaborative leader who brings people together to solve complex challenges. As a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee, Dr. Shah would advocate for faculty perspectives, strengthen cross-department dialogue, and help shape policies that support a thriving academic community.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT NOMINEES

Adam Alvarez, Associate Professor

Dr. Adan (Adam) Julian Alvarez is an Associate Professor in Urban Education in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture. His scholarship examines how schools and teacher preparation programs respond to student well-being, educator stress, and the social conditions that shape learning—especially in under-resourced contexts where students may face exposure to economic hardships, opportunity gaps, and trauma. Drawing on interdisciplinary research in education, sociology, and policy, Dr. Alvarez explores widely relevant questions about student well-being and educational opportunity through an evidence-based, student-centered lens that emphasizes academic excellence, strong professional preparation, and supportive learning environments for all students. He is especially interested in how teacher education can strengthen candidates’ relational skills, ethical judgments, and readiness to serve all communities well, while meeting program standards and accreditation expectations. Dr. Alvarez collaborates with school and community partners to translate research into practical guidance for educators, with attention to feasibility, clear implementation, and continuous improvement. In service roles, he prioritizes constructive dialogue, confidentiality when appropriate, and solutions that help academic programs thrive. As a Faculty Advisory Council member, he would bring a collegial, forward-looking approach focused on shared governance, clear communication, and the long-term strength of Texas A&M’s teaching, research, and public mission.

Julie Barrett, Senior Lecturer

Dr. Julie Ann Barrett is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture at Texas A&M University, where she prepares preservice teachers with a strong focus on mathematics education in the same classrooms where she was once an undergraduate student. She teaches elementary and secondary math methods and problem-solving courses, emphasizing research-based instructional practices, differentiated instruction, and purposeful integration of technology to support student learning. Dr. Barrett brings energy and enthusiasm into her classes, using manipulatives, games, and interactive activities to engage preservice teachers and inspire them to cultivate positive mathematical mindsets in their future students. With experience spanning K–12 special education, general education, and campus leadership—including a decade of service in campus administration—Dr. Barrett brings deep practical insight to her university teaching. Her professional work centers on effective instruction, student achievement, and STEM learning. She has presented and published on topics related to technology integration, problem-solving, and student achievement. Committed to mentoring future educators, Dr. Barrett models reflective practice, data-informed instruction, and collaborative leadership. Her background in mathematics, special education, and school leadership positions her to contribute thoughtfully to faculty governance and to advocate for the highest quality education for students at Texas A&M University. 

August Campbell, Instructional Professor

August John Campbell is an Instructional Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Sports Management at Texas A&M University.  His career reflects sustained excellence in teaching, program coordination, and university service across departmental, college, and university levels. Mr. Campbell currently serves as a Coordinator in the Physical Education Activity Program, overseeing multiple activity areas and coordinating all coaching courses. He previously served as Program Coordinator for the Kinesiology Program at Texas A&M University at Qatar, managing curriculum, budgeting, scheduling, and facilities. A dedicated advocate for shared governance, Mr. Campbell has been an active member of the Faculty Senate since 2019 and has served on numerous university committees, including the Honor Council, Core Curriculum Committee, Undergraduate Admissions Advisory Committee, and University Disciplinary Appeals Panel. His depth of institutional knowledge, collaborative leadership style, and commitment to faculty and students make him a strong nominee for the Faculty Advisory Council

Florina Erbeli, Associate Professor

Dr. Florina Erbeli is an associate professor with tenure in the Department of Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University. She is also a Chancellor EDGES Fellow. Dr. Erbeli received her Ph.D. in special education from University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. She completed her postdoctoral training at the Florida Center for Reading Research and Department of Psychology at Florida State University. She joined the faculty at A&M as an assistant professor in 2018. Dr. Erbeli's research focuses on dyslexia, typical and atypical reading development, and predictive factors of reading achievement. Her work has been published in several top-tier peer-reviewed journals (e.g., Scientific Studies of Reading, Child Development, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry). She has been involved in projects that have secured $9.5 million in external funding ($5.3 million sub-awarded to Texas A&M) from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Erbeli has received numerous department-, college-, university-, and international-level research awards/fellowships for innovative research and outstanding promise to the field (e.g., The Rebecca L. Sandak Young Investigator Award - Society for the Scientific Studies of Reading). She has been named a Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science. Dr. Erbeli teaches graduate courses in literacy.  

Daniel Gomez, Instructional Professor

Mr. Daniel Gomez earned his Master of Education in Pedagogy from Texas A&M University in 2010.  Mr. Gomez assumed a full time Instructional Assistant Professor position in the Fall of 2010.  Mr. Gomez was promoted to Instructional Associate Professor in 2016 and was promoted to Instructional Professor in 2021.  He consistently ranks in the top ten for A-1 (annual review) points.  Mr. Gomez has taught a variety of different activities and class topics, including KINE Major's classes,  while developing new activity and Major's classes.  Mr. Gomez has served on the Faculty Senate, the core curriculum committee, and the planning committee. Mr. Gomez also serves on various department and College Committees.  Mr. Gomez serves the students by coaching the National Championship Texas A&M Judo team and he serves the community as the Director of Camp Adventure. He is also the President of the National Collegiate Judo Association.  His teaching philosophy is to create an active learning environment so that students apply critical thinking skills to their personal health, fitness, and wellness.  

Rafael Lara-Alecio, Professor

Rafael Lara-Alecio, Ph.D., is a Texas A&M University System Regents Professor and Director of the Center for Research and Development in Dual Language and Literacy Acquisition, Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). His primary scholarly agenda includes the co-development of bilingual literacy and scientific literacy, with a focus on the psychometric evaluation of English academic language as a vehicle for content-area mastery. Highly connected with his scholarly productivity, since his arrival at TAMU in 1991, he has secured over $136 million in external funding. Recently, he and his team were awarded a $15M expansion research grant from the U.S. Department of Education. For 2½ terms, he represented the CEHD in the former Faculty Senate, where he played leadership roles. Currently, he represents the CEHD on the Council of Principal Investigators (CPI), where he also has served on the CPI Executive Committee. He represented the CEHD on the university-wide Tenure and Promotion Committee. Currently and for three consecutive terms, he has served as Senior Advisor to multiple TAMU presidents. If elected, he will continue representing ALL the CEHD faculty at any level, on any issues affecting their academic life at the college and university levels.

Yeping Li, Professor, Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture (TLAC)

I have been on the Faculty of TLAC at Texas A&M University since 2006 and also served as Executive Head of TLAC and Claude H. Everett Jr. '47 Endowed Chair (2011-2015). I wish to serve the faculty as a member of the New Faculty Advisory Council.  

Karen Rambo-Hernandez, Professor

Dr. Karen E. Rambo-Hernandez is a professor at Texas A&M University in the College of Education and Human Development. Her research focuses on access for all students— particularly high achieving and those historically missed in the gifted identification process— to high quality education and the assessment of educational interventions to improve STEM education.  Along with her research teams, she has received over $30 million in external grant funding from organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education. She also served as the Interim Department Head of the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Culture from September 2024 to August 2025 and currently serves on the board of the National Association for Gifted Children. Dr. Rambo-Hernandez was the District Teacher of the Year in Coppell, Texas in 2006, received the National Association of Gifted Children’s Early Scholar Award in 2019, and is currently serving as the Fulbright Research Chair in Advanced Academics and Academically Gifted and Talented Students at the University of Calgary in spring 2026. 

Michael Thornton, Clinical Assistant Professor

I have been a part of the Dept. of KNSM (or HLKN) since 1996. I have served in various capacities, including Faculty Senate, Faculty Advisory Council, as well as leadership in other on-campus groups as an advisor or committee member. Additionally, I currently serve as the Executive Director of the Thornton-McFerrin Coaching Academy, house in the Huffines Institute and as the Executive Director of Read Youth Charities, a service component of the Dept. of KNSM. As a APT faculty member, I look forward to providing service to my colleagues at the University through this role. 

Wendi Zimmer, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Wendi Zimmer is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University whose work reflects a sustained commitment to shared governance, faculty mentorship, and institutional service. Her professional focus centers on teaching excellence, program and curriculum development, faculty development, and communication self-efficacy with the goal of strengthening academic programs and supporting student success. Dr. Zimmer has served in numerous leadership and service roles across the university, including college and department strategic planning, accreditation, faculty mentoring, and advisory committees. She brings a collaborative, evidence-based approach to decision-making and is known for bridging faculty perspectives with broader institutional priorities through cross-unit collaboration and engagement, particularly in contexts involving instructional innovation, faculty support, and student learning outcomes. Mentorship is a central component of Dr. Zimmer’s service. She has supported dozens of graduate students as a committee member and chair, serves as a graduate teaching mentor, and is actively involved in faculty mentoring initiatives through the Center for Teaching Excellence. She values open dialogue, careful listening, and inclusive processes that elevate faculty voices and inform university leadership and institutional decision-making. Through her service, Dr. Zimmer contributes a prepared, thoughtful, and faculty-centered perspective focused on the long-term strength of Texas A&M University.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING NOMINEES

Saira Anwar, Assistant Professor

Saira Anwar is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering, Texas A and M University, College Station. She received her Ph.D. in Engineering Education from the School of Engineering Education, Purdue University, USA. The Department of Energy, and National Science Foundation, funds her research. Her research potential, implication of her work, and teaching are recognized through national and international awards, including the 2023 NSTA/NARST Research Worth Reading award for her publication in the Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 2023 New Faculty Fellow award by IEEE ASEE Frontiers in Education Conference, 2022 Apprentice Faculty Grant award by the ERM Division, ASEE, 2020 outstanding researcher award by the School of Engineering Education, Purdue University, and outstanding teacher awards in 2013 and 2006 respectively. 

Mark Balas, Professor

Mark Balas is the Leland T. Jordan Professor of Dynamical Systems at the Texas A&M University. He has the following technical degrees: PhD in Mathematics, MS Electrical Engineering, MA Mathematics, and BS Electrical Engineering. He has been a university professor for over 45 years with University of Tennessee, RPI, MIT, University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Wyoming, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and has mentored 50 doctoral students to completion of their degrees. He has over 400 publications in archive journals, refereed conference proceedings and technical book chapters. He has been visiting faculty with the Institute for Quantum Information and the Control and Dynamics Division at the California Institute of Technology, the US Air Force Research Laboratory-Kirtland AFB, the NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the NASA Ames Research Center. He is a life fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a life fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). He is the recipient of the AIAA GNC Control Systems HeritageLifetime Achievement award 2018. My experience as a former Department Chair and my extensive Research and Teaching would give me a broad perspective as a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee. 

Amarnath Banerjee, Professor

Dr. Amarnath Banerjee is a professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. He serves as the Associate Department Head for Undergraduate Affairs where he oversees the undergraduate program office serving the Industrial Engineering and Data Engineering students. As the Associate Head, he oversees the curriculum of the industrial engineering and data engineering programs, monitors the academic progress of more than 850 undergraduate students, and is the primary interface with the college of engineering’s undergraduate academic program office. Dr. Banerjee has served on several department committees, including as chair of the promotion and tenure committee and the chair of the Task Force that designed and developed the new BS Data Engineering program. He serves as the department representative in the college of engineering’s Undergraduate Council on Academic Affairs. He has served as the department representative on the College of Engineering Tenure and Promotion Advisory Committee. At the institution level, Dr. Banerjee was an elected member of the Faculty Senate and the Aggie Honor Council. He served on the Aggie Honor Council Advisory Council and the Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate. If elected, he will continue to serve and represent his colleagues in the FAC.

Anthony Cahill, Associate Professor

After much thought and consideration on my part, I ask for your vote for the Faculty Advisory Council. During my 8 years on the Faculty Senate I was a member of the Core Curriculum Committee where I was the sole representative from the College of Engineering.  While the CoE teaches no core courses, our engineering students are extremely impacted by what happens to the Core.  The work of the Core Curriculum Committee will continue as part of the new Faculty Advisory Council, and I would like to share my experience with the task of curricular evaluation in the previous Committee to try to make sure the new Committee gets off to a good start.

John Criscione, Professor

John C. Criscione is a graduate of Purdue (BS) and Johns Hopkins (MD and PhD) who started at Texas A&M in 2001 and is now a Professor in Biomedical Engineering. His primary research interest is the discovery and development of technologies that can be used to treat heart disease and / or improve access to healthcare for children born with heart defects. His expertise in quality systems engineering is the driving force behind his approach to higher education administration. In particular, he strives to convert expectations into measurable metrics that can be used to ensure that programs are performing as intended. Such an approach is needed for restoring trust in higher education nationally. Taxpayers expect public institutions such as Texas A&M to spend appropriations wisely and to educate without indoctrinating students. As a member of the faculty advisory council, Professor Criscione will seek to align the expectations of faculty with those of students, administrators, taxpayers, and legislators. With aligned expectations, rational decisions will be made openly and with direct effort to maintain our credibility with constituents in Texas, and throughout the nation and world. Credibility is foremost for an institution that is dedicated to the pursuit of truth.

Garth Crosby, Associate Professor

Dr. Garth V. Crosby is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution (ETID). Since joining the university in 2019, he has demonstrated a profound commitment to academic excellence and institutional service. As a former Program Coordinator for Multidisciplinary Engineering Technology, Dr. Crosby led curriculum development, managed budgets, and advocated for faculty interests. His leadership background includes serving as a Provost Faculty Fellow at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he gained firsthand insight into shared governance, academic planning, and policy recommendations. A recipient of the ETID Faculty Service Excellence Award and an ABET Program Evaluator, he is uniquely qualified to uphold the rigorous academic standards valued by the Faculty Advisory Council. Dr. Crosby’s extensive research in cybersecurity and STEM education further underscores his ability to contribute diverse perspectives to university-wide decision-making. His experience in program administration and interdisciplinary collaboration makes him an ideal representative to advise the President and administration on the continued success of Texas A&M’s academic programs.

Rudy Geelen, Assistant Professor

Rudy Geelen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University. His research focuses on computational mechanics, specifically the integration of scientific machine learning and model order reduction with classical mechanics. Through this work, he aims to develop efficient numerical methods to address complex challenges within aerospace structures and systems. Before his current appointment, he held the Peter O'Donnell Jr. Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin. During this time, he worked under the mentorship of Professor Karen Willcox, contributing to the development of physics-based reduced-order models. Dr. Geelen earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University. He also holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands.

Eduardo Gildin, Professor and Associate Department Head

Dr. Eduardo Gildin is a Professor, Associate Department Head and Graduate Program Director at the Petroleum Engineering Department at Texas A&M University. He is the holder of the Rob L. Adams '40 Professorship in Petroleum Engineering.  Dr. Gildin received his PhD from The University of Texas at Austin in Aerospace Engineering and has held post-doctoral positions with Rice University and UT Austin before joining the Petroleum Engineering Department at Texas A&M as an Assistant Professor. He was promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure in 2015, and then Professor in 2021.  He also holds an MS in Mechatronics (University of Sao Paulo) and a BS in Mechanical Engineering (FEI), both from Brazil.  Dr. Gildin served in the Texas A&M Faculty Senate for two terms. Dr. Gildin teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in mathematics of reservoir simulation, data analytics and reduced-order modeling and has published more than 150 papers in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. Dr. Gildin was inducted into the Society of Petroleum Engineering (SPE) Distinguish Membership in 2021 and was the recipient of the Texas A&M “Dean of Engineering Excellence Award – Associate Professor” (2018) and the College of Engineering Outstanding Contributions Award (2020). 

Angie Hill Price, Associate Dean - Faculty

I am an Associate Professor in the Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology program, in ETID in the College of Engineering. I am a passionate advocate for shared governance. We continue to operate in the midst of challenging and extraordinary times, and we must work together to preserve and promote the faculty voice in the University. I have served as Speaker of the Faculty Senate three times, as Secretary-Treasurer, chair of Legislative Affairs Committee, and numerous years on the Executive Committee of the Senate, as well as the inaugural Engineering Faculty Ombudsperson. I now serve and support my fellow faculty members as the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs in Engineering.  I represented faculty across the University as a Faculty Senate representative on a number of University level committees. I am fully engaged as a faculty member -- still teaching, working with graduate students, and engaging in scholarship. With my previous experience, if elected I would be able to contribute to the support of the Faculty Advisory Council (FAC), the faculty across all colleges, and provide historical context for the FAC, as we develop with the changes of the University. I ask for your trust and your vote. Thank you.

Richard Hutchinson, Instructional Associate Professor

I have been teaching at Texas A&M for 25 years as an APT faculty. I have an undergrad degree from Texas A&M in Ocean Engineering and my masters in Coastal Engineering from A&M I also have an education degree from Lamar.  Prior to teaching at A&M, I worked in industry with Oceaneering. I started in the ETID department teaching design courses using CAD and Freshman Engineering before moving to Civil Engineering where I've been for the past ten years. I'm an Associate professor of instruction.  My years at A&M, in industry and as an educator has given me a clear understanding of the needs of educators and what is needed to prepare our learners for the workplace.  Because of my primary mission at the university being teaching,  I feel I have the clear understanding of what we need as faculty to produce highly qualified graduates that exemplify our core RELLIS values. I also feel that it is crucial to have not only tenured representation on the council, but also a voice for the APT faculty.  I hope I can have the opportunity to represent my fellow faculty in trying to achieve our goals to educate the next generation of Aggies.  

Abhishek Jain, Associate Professor

I am an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and hold the Barbara and Ralph Cox’53 faculty fellow position within our university. I was elected to the faculty senate (Faculty Senate ENGR seat 6) in May 2025, but did not serve as it was dissolved. As a member of the university Vision 2040 sub-committee on health enterprise, I have enjoyed the privilege to understand the variables and stakeholders' views and work across multiple college leaders in drafting a strategic plan on health strategy for our campus.  I have also been involved in various fundraising, innovation, and strategic partnership building activities of the Division of Research and our COE, and supported their leaders in active marketing of our research. As a first generation immigrant-American, I am also sensitive and committed to building and fostering a thriving campus for our students and faculty who may come from anywhere in the world, but with a common unifying vision of educating the next generation of youth. I recognize that our institution is under flux, and if selected as an advisor, I aim to bring these perspectives and add value by supporting and elevating our mission of research-inspired education, strategic alliances with global outlook, and academic freedom. 

Daniel Jimenez, Professor

I have been a faculty senator for most of my career, and am currently on the Faculty Advisory Council Transition Team as part of the former Faculty Senate Executive Committee. I have served as faculty senate caucus leader for Engineering at TAMU, and I've been on CPI, the CPI EC, and EFAC. Through these and other service roles I have gotten a deeper understanding of how the university works, and how to make progress toward our shared goal of making this a better place. As we all know, especially now, there is a lot of work to be done toward that goal. It is important to facilitate the right kind of communication between faculty, administration, and other parties. In other service roles, such as department chair and chair of the IEEE Technical Community on Computer Architecture, I have had to bring arguing factions together to negotiate, and I would like to continue to apply that skill while on the FAC. For what it's worth I'm a full Professor and an accomplished researcher with awards, grants, publications, and I'm not afraid of making good trouble. I would appreciate your vote and the chance to continue advocating for you on the FAC.

Shreyas Kumar, Professor of the Practice

With three A&M graduate degrees, I have had unique education and leadership opportunities here spread across 22 years. During my time as Professor of Practice at CSE, I have volunteered on many committees at the department and University level, including the MS admissions committee, PandT Committee, School of Computing committee, TAMU IT Data Governance committee, and Aggies Honor Council.You may consider my candidature for the following reasons:I will always be available and willing to listen about how can I represent you better.It is my passion and love for Aggieland for which I left my corporate career at its peak to dedicate rest of my productive years to this great UniversityI have a “hobby” law degree, and that helps in navigating a lot of complexities around rules, processes, particularly at the time of uncertainties.While working in the industry (Adobe, Uber, Oracle) in California, I started the A&M club of San Mateo, and served on the External Advisory Board of the CSE. Donated an endowed scholarship.As a APT, I am always passionate to ensure APTs get the voice, opportunities and representation they deserve.I have a stellar teaching record, as reflected in my course evaluations.Gig'em!

Stacey Lyle, Professor of the Practice

Stacey D. Lyle, Ph.D., RPLS, is a Professor of Practice in the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M University, where he brings more than three decades of expertise in geospatial engineering, land surveying, and applied geodesy. Dr. Lyle holds a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Georgia and is a Registered Professional Land Surveyor in both Texas and Georgia. His career spans leadership roles in academia, industry, and government collaborations, including over 20 years within TAMUS. Dr. Lyle’s applied research has been supported by NASA, NOAA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. As an ABET Commissioner and Team Chair, he leads accreditation visits to peer institutions, engaging with university presidents, provosts, chief information officers, chief financial officers, and academic deans. Dr. Lyle has also provided strategic leadership to BP North America, serving in an advisory capacity as Chair Employee PAC. A nationally recognized educator and expert witness, Dr. Lyle has received multiple teaching and service awards, including the 2025 Engineering Teaching Impact Award. He continues to shape the future of surveying and geomatics through professional leadership, student mentorship, and industry partnerships.

Daniel McAdams, Professor

Dr. McAdams is the holder of the Robert H. Fletcher Professorship in Mechanical Engineering. He has served in multiple faculty leadership and advisory roles, including Chair of the College of Engineering Faculty Advisory Committee and Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Faculty Mentoring Committee. He also served as a Program Director at the National Science Foundation, where he gained experience with research policy, faculty evaluation, and strategic investment at the national level. His sustained commitment to mentoring and student engagement was recognized with the 2018 Texas A&M Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award for Individual Student Relations. He has also received national recognition, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Design Theory and Methodology Committee Award. Dr. McAdams teaches undergraduate courses in engineering design methods, biologically inspired design, and machine element design, as well as graduate courses in product design and engineering dynamics. His research focuses on design theory and methodology, with particular emphasis on functional modeling, innovation in concept synthesis, biologically inspired design methods, inclusive design, human–computer collaboration during early-stage design, and technology evolution in product development. He has edited a book on biologically inspired design and has published extensively in leading archival journals.

Johnathan McKenzie, Instructional Assistant Professor

Johnathan McKenzie is an Instructional Assistant Professor in the College of Engineering, where he teaches first-year engineering courses. His background is in industrial engineering, specifically human factors. 

Farzan Sasangohar, Associate Professor

I am an Associate Professor in the Wm Michael Barnes ’64 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University and a Mike and Sugar Barnes Fellow. I have been actively engaged in faculty governance and shared leadership at Texas A&M, with a strong commitment to advancing academic excellence, faculty welfare, and institutional effectiveness. I have served as a member of the former Faculty Senate since 2019. During this time, I also served as the final Leader of the Engineering Caucus, working to represent the interests and perspectives of engineering faculty across the university. My committee service within the Senate includes the Academic Affairs Committee (2021–2024), the Personnel and Welfare Committee (2020–2021), and the Core Curriculum Committee (2019–2020). In addition, I have served on the Honor Council (2019–2021). Currently, I serve as a member of the Curriculum Committee (2025–present) and the Working Group on Ancillary Reviews Associated with the Human Subjects Research Committee (2024–present). Through these roles, I have gained broad experience in curriculum oversight, academic policy, faculty governance, and cross-college collaboration. I seek to bring this experience, institutional knowledge, and a collaborative approach to the Faculty Advisory Council in service of Texas A&M’s faculty and mission.

Duncan Walker, Associate Dean - Faculty

Duncan M. (Hank) Walker is professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs. He has been a member of the Texas A&M faculty since 1993, serving as associate head, department head, and graduate advisor. He was previously a research faculty member at Carnegie Mellon. He has worked at Hughes Aircraft, Digital Equipment and IBM. His research interests include integrated circuit testing, design automation and software engineering. He holds a BS in engineering from Caltech, and MS and PhD in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University. He is an ACM Distinguished Scientist. In his past service to the Faculty Senate, he has served as on the Executive Committee, and as chair of the Legislative Affairs Ad-Hoc Subcommittee, member of the Research, Academic Affairs, Emeritus Status and CAFRT committees and representative on the Enterprise Information Systems Steering Committee. 

Shiren Wang, Professor

Dr. Shiren Wang is Professor and Jill and Charles F. Milstead '60 Faculty Fellow in the Wm Michael Barnes ’64 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University. He also holds Affiliated Faculty positions in Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. He joined Texas A&M University as an associate processor in 2015 and promoted to full professor in 2021, and is a fellow of the International Society of Advanced Materials.  Dr. Wang ever served as faculty senate and university award committee during 2020-2023. He has been serving as the university laser safety committee singe 2022. Dr. Wang’s research is focused on the advanced material and manufacturing, and has pbulsihed 130 peer-reviewed journal papers, 5 US patents, and >60 conference papers (with H-index 53), with funding from the multiple federal agencies and industries. He looks forward to serving on the Faculty Advisory Council and to contributing his time and expertise to advance the council’s goals. 

Justin Wilkerson, Associate Professor

Justin Wilkerson ’09 is an associate professor of mechanical engineering and the Sallie and Don Davis ’61 Career Development Professor. He currently co-chairs a departmental committee, is an associate editor of two journals, and serves in elected leadership positions with HVIS, ASEE, and ASME. Wilkerson earned his B.S. from Texas A&M and was recently inducted into their Distinguished Aerospace Engineering Alumni Academy. He obtained his M.S.E. and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. His national awards include the NSF CAREER, AFOSR Young Investigator Award, and PECASE (awarded by the U.S. President). 

Last year, I was honored to be elected to the Faculty Senate and the Academic Freedom Council (AFC). Following SB 37, I was not seated as a Senator. The dissolution of the Faculty Senate raises serious concerns about the erosion of shared governance. While the Faculty Advisory Council is an imperfect structure, faculty voices still matter. My AFC colleagues and I have advised university leadership on matters of free expression and First Amendment protections, and our voices have been heard.  I believe that academic freedom, shared governance, institutional autonomy, and robust tenure protections are essential to the long-term health of our university. If elected, I will advocate for these principles. 

COLLEGE OF MARINE SCIENCES AND MARITIME STUDIES NOMINEE

Philip Matich, Instructional Associate Professor and Assistant Department Head of  Marine Biology

Dr. Philip Matich joined the Marine Biology Department at Texas A and M University at Galveston in 2018, where he teaches a variety of undergraduate courses in marine biology and fisheries. Most recently, Dr. Matich developed experiential learning courses with Dr. Jamie Steichen, where they teach students about marine ecosystems by taking them snorkeling in coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests for two weeks in Puerto Rico’s La Parguera Nature Reserve. Dr. Matich uses this immersive pedagogical approach across his courses, challenging students to figuratively and literally put themselves into the environments they are studying. Beyond his teaching, Dr. Matich serves TAMUG, TAMU, and the broader community as a member or chair of numerous committees and organizations seeking to improve student success and ocean stewardship through curricular and pedagogical improvement; creating connections between students, faculty, and professionals; and offering students real-world experiences. While research is not part of his defined role as an APT faculty member, Dr. Matich is active through his scholarship, student mentoring at TAMUG and other institutions, and service to the non-profit organization Saving the Blue, which fosters marine conservation through international research and education.

NARESH K. VASHISHT COLLEGE OF MEDICINE NOMINEES

Robert Carpenter, Clinical Professor

Rob Carpenter completed undergraduate work in biochemistry at Texas A&M University in 1995.  He attended Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) earning an MD in 1999. He then accepted a non-clinical faculty appointment within the Departments of Cell Biology and Allied Health Education at BCM teaching on the gross anatomy faculty and writing interprofessional health education curriculum. Dr. Carpenter completed an MPH during general surgery residency followed by clinical fellowship in advanced laparoscopic surgery at Vanderbilt University. He remained on staff at Vanderbilt before joining the Department of Surgery at Scott and White Healthcare in October 2009.  There, he helped lead surgical education efforts and joined the core faculty for Medical Gross Anatomy eventually promoting to the rank of Clinical Professor at the TAMU College of Medicine.  Dr. Carpenter became Medicine’s Director of Health and Well-being in February 2020. He transitioned from surgical practice to focus on healthcare team member well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and helped direct TAMU’s multidisciplinary pandemic response.  He was elected to TAMU’s Faculty Senate and the American College of Surgeon’s Board of Governors in 2021.  As a member of the FAC, he would bring experience and greater focus to the well-being of our Aggie community in challenging times.

Sanjukta Chakraborty, Associate Professor

Dr. Sanjukta Chakraborty is an Associate Professor of Medical Physiology at Texas A&M Health College of Medicine. She earned her Ph.D. in cancer genetics from the Indian Institute of Science and completed postdoctoral training in the Lymphatic Biology Division at Texas A&M Health. She leads a nationally funded research program on lymph node metastasis and lymphatic inflammation associated pathologies, supported by CPRIT, NIH, NASA, and the AHA, integrating cancer biology and immunology to develop translational strategies targeting metastatic progression. Her scientific contributions have been recognized with the “Outstanding Investigator” and “Excellence in Lymphatic Research” awards from the Microcirculatory Society, the “Sanfilippo Distinguished Lectureship” from American Society for Investigative Pathology, and selection as a TAMEST Protégé. Dr. Chakraborty has demonstrated sustained institutional and national leadership. She was elected to the TAMU Faculty Senate (2024–2025) and currently represents faculty on the Council of Principal Investigators. Nationally, she serves as a CoM representative to the Council of Faculty and Academic Societies within the Association of American Medical Colleges and was elected to the Executive Council of the Microcirculatory Society. Within the College, she serves on the Research Advisory and Graduate Program Executive Committee, and remains deeply committed to advancing institutional excellence and faculty leadership.

John Hubbard, Instructional Professor

I am an Instructional Professor and a course co-director for the Medical Gross Anatomy and the Neuroscience courses. I also maintain an active role in teaching in numerous other courses for the Vashisht College of Medicine. I have served as one of your Faculty Senators and as the elected Chairperson for the Anatomical Board of the State of Texas for numerous re-elected terms. Through these roles, I have gained a significant amount of experience dealing with administrative, legislative and legal processes and issues. As a result of my interactions with administrators and our elected legislators, I have gained a reputation for being a vocal advocate for openness, transparency, equity, and fairness for all. WE need more vocal leaders, not mere passive agreeing “head-nodders”. My platform rests on doing the right thing for the right reason. While there are times where we need to do what we are told to do, I feel strongly that those tellers of what we are dictated to do need to validate their dictums rather than just pronouncing them. The more we understand how the administration and legislature works, the better we can work with them to promote shared governance and academic integrity.

James Lucas, Clinical Professor and Interim Department Head, Humanities in Medicine

Colonel (ret.) Jim Lucas, MD, FACS is Clinical Professor and Interim Head of the Department of Humanities in Medicine at Texas A&M Vashisht College of Medicine.  While a student at Texas A&M University, Dr. Lucas earned a baccalaureate degree in Biomedical Science (Cum Laude), a Doctor of Medicine (with Honors), and membership in the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Board-certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a distinguished member of the Order of Military Medical Merit - Col. Lucas was formerly a Core Faculty member for a joint military Otolaryngology training program. In that role, he was widely recognized for his teaching excellence and clinical expertise. He served in numerous leadership roles over 28+ years in the United States Army - culminating as a Deputy Commander, Chief Medical Officer, and Affiliate Associate Dean for Texas A&M College of Medicine’s Fort Hood clinical training site.  Now as full-time faculty for his beloved alma mater, Dr. Lucas teaches and/or co-directs numerous courses in the pre-clinical curriculum. He serves as Councilor for Alpha Omega Alpha, co-directs the Military Medicine Program, and actively mentors numerous medical and graduate students as future healthcare leaders.

Rajesh Miranda, Professor

Rajesh Miranda is a TAMUS Regents’ Professor and Professor of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics at the Vashisht College of Medicine. His preclinical research on non-protein coding RNAs and fetal neural stem cells and studies in human populations on predictive biomarkers for infant birth outcomes are funded by grants from NIAAA and NICHD. He previously served as TAMU Senator, member of the TAMU faculty senate executive committee, on the TAMU faculty grievance committee and on the Committee on Academic Freedom, Responsibility and Tenure, and is a former chair of the Health Science Center Senate Caucus. At national and state levels, he served as chartered member and chair of several NIH grant review panels, and on the Steering Committee for FASD prevention at the Texas Public Health Service Office for the Prevention of Developmental Disabilities, between 2012 and 2017, where he co-chaired a workgroup to assess FASD prevalence in Texas. He currently serves on the board of the Research Society on Alcohol. Rajesh Miranda received his PhD in 1989 in Neurobiology and Biopsychology at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY and completed postdoctoral training in neuroendocrinology at Columbia University, New York, NY. He joined the faculty at Texas A&M University in 1995

Jim Song, Professor

Dr. Jim Song is the R.L. Bricker Endowed Professor in Cancer Immunology in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology at the Texas A&M University College of Medicine. His research program focuses on immune regulation, immunometabolism, and translational immunotherapies, with strong interdisciplinary and collaborative components. Dr. Song has extensive experience in faculty governance, academic planning, and institutional service. He currently serves on multiple university and college-level committees, including those related to promotion and tenure, academic professional track faculty, strategic planning, and graduate education. He has also been actively involved in mentoring faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students, and regularly participates in faculty recruitment, evaluation, and curriculum development efforts. With experience spanning research, education, and administration, Dr. Song is committed to transparent communication, inclusive decision-making, and constructive faculty engagement. As a member of the Faculty Advisory Council, he would bring a collaborative perspective and a strong commitment to representing faculty interests while advancing the academic mission of the university.

COLLEGE OF NURSING NOMINEES

Kimberly Belcik, Clinical Associate Professor

Kim Belcik is a clinical associate professor at Texas A&M University College of Nursing. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 2002, completed her PhD at the University of Texas at Austin in 2011, and most recently obtained her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, becoming a board-certified family nurse practitioner. Since 2002, she has been an active member of the Texas Nurses Association, where she has served as Vice-President and chaired the Policy Council. Additionally, she is involved with Texas Nurse Practitioners and volunteers in medically underserved communities. Her research focuses on fostering cultures of scholarly caring in nursing schools, re-envisioning relationships between nursing faculty and students, and utilizing open educational resources.

Wendy Greenwood, Clinical Assistant Professor

As a Clinical Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing, I am deeply committed to educating future nurses to become exceptional clinicians, effective patient advocates, and confident leaders in multifaceted clinical settings. My professional background includes extensive experience in nursing and leadership roles, collaborating with interprofessional teams, leading projects, enhancing processes, and fostering a positive and resilient work culture. I have experience at the state-level, advocating for legislative change to improve care access, and to advance scope-of-practice initiatives for clinicians. Within the College of Nursing, I previously served as the representative to the Faculty Senate, where I championed academic freedom, supported faculty concerns, and contributed as a member of the Budget Committee. My priority is to listen attentively to our college’s constituents and represent their perspectives at both the college and University levels. I believe in maintaining transparent, truth-driven dialogue with leadership, addressing challenges within academia, and working collaboratively with stakeholders to develop meaningful solutions. Through focused advocacy and action, we can strengthen the student experience and promote supportive, sustainable work environments for faculty and staff. I respectfully ask for your vote to continue representing the College of Nursing on the Faculty Advisory Council.

Matthew Sorenson, Professor

Dr. Matthew Sorenson is Professor in the College of Nursing. He is an active member of the Graduate and Professional Council along with experience on other committees related to curriculum and programming. Prior to coming to Texas, he was at DePaul University in Chicago for 15 years where he served as Director of the School of Nursing for three years. Post-doctoral education includes a three-year fellowship with the neurology service at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital (Focus on Multiple Sclerosis) and a year-long fellowship in Disability Ethics through the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now Shirley Ryan Ability Lab). He is an Adult Nurse Practitioner, working primarily with underserved populations with expertise in telehealth and street outreach programs. As an educator, he teaches coursework in the Advanced Practice and Practice Doctorate Programs. His research focuses on immunologic correlates of fatigue, particularly in those with MS. He is Editor in Chief for Chronic Illness (Sage). He is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).

Carmen Vela, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Carmen Vela is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Certified Nurse Educator at the Texas A&M College of Nursing, Round Rock campus, where she has also served as Interim Assistant Dean. She was the Director of Faculty and Preceptor Engagement for the Office of Interprofessional Practice, Education, and Research (IPER). She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Educational Leadership from American Sentinel University, Master of Science in Nursing Education from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lubbock Christian University. Dr. Vela’s scholarly interests encompass simulation, curriculum design, distance education, interprofessional learning, and student success. She teaches across the undergraduate curriculum, leading courses in adult health, critical care, and community nursing, and contributes to online graduate programs. She has also co-authored publications about active learning and curriculum design. Dr. Vela’s service includes chairing the Faculty Affairs and Faculty of the Whole Committees and contributing to the Transformational Teaching and Learning Conference Planning Committee. She is a board member and active member in various professional nursing associations. 

COLLEGE OF PERFORMANCE, VISUALIZATION AND FINE ARTS

Tina Budzise-Weaver, Associate Professor, Graduate Assistant Teaching Director

Tina M. Budzise-Weaver is Associate Professor in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts at Texas A&M University and Graduate Assistant Teaching Director. With a professional background spanning library science, humanities, and sociology (PhD expected 2028), her interdisciplinary scholarship bridges visual culture, qualitative research, and sociotechnical systems. She is the author of two monographs and numerous peer-reviewed articles examining scholarly communication, space, pedagogy, and critical information work. She has an extensive record of academic leadership at local, state, and national levels. She currently serves as President-Elect of Phi Kappa Phi at Texas A&M University and as a member of the Committee on Academic Freedom, Responsibility, and Tenure (CAFRT), contributing to shared governance and institutional integrity. She previously served as an elected Faculty Senator, Caucus Leader, and committee member on Legislative Affairs, Bylaws, and Elections. Nationally, she has held multiple elected leadership roles within the Special Libraries Association, including Division Chair and Texas Chapter President. Her leadership philosophy centers on mentorship, holistic governance, and fostering intellectually rigorous, inclusive academic communities that support both faculty and student success.

Matthew Campbell, Instructional Associate Professor

Dr. Matthew Campbell is an ethnomusicologist and performance studies scholar whose research examines participatory culture, sound, and media as sites of identity formation and public engagement. His work has been presented at the Society for Ethnomusicology, the American Folklore Society, Music and Diplomacy (Harvard/Tufts), the British Forum for Ethnomusicology, the Electronic Literature Organization, NeurIPS, and related international conferences on sound, media, and cultural performance. Bridging ethnography, digital humanities, and creative practice, his scholarship explores how communities use performance to construct meaning across local and global contexts.

At Texas A&M University’s College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts, Dr. Campbell served as Associate Program Director for Performance and Visual Studies, where he led curricular innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. His teaching integrates ethnographic fieldwork, archival research, and practice-as-research, often culminating in public-facing projects that connect students with local arts communities. Over the past three years, he has secured over $25,000 in external support for student-centered and interdisciplinary initiatives to develop immersive media projects, oral history archives, and arts-in-health programming.

Michael Gayk, Academic Program Director for Visualization and Instructional Associate Professor

Michael Gayk is the Academic Program Director for Visualization and Instructional Associate Professor in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts at Texas A&M University.  He is a member of the Academic Freedom Council and serves on various college leadership committees including Executive Leadership and Facility Committee for PVFA. Michael is currently a member of the learning community APT to Lead. Professor Gayk earned his MFA from the University of Washington in Metal Design. Professor Gayk is an industrial designer with 15 years’ experience in advanced manufacturing and design in transportation, medical, and national defense products. Professor Gayk is also a national and international exhibiting artist and scholar. Professor Gayk’s teaching and research centers on crafting algorithms that redefine making, and the relationship between the hand, material and tool.  Professor Gayk’s has exhibited at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Museum of the City New York, Mercer Museum, ACM SIGGRAPH, Etruscan Academy Museum of the City of Cortona, Italy; published in Metalsmith Magazine, How Design Magazine, The Magazine Antiques, The Architect’s Newspaper, and Cast: Art and Objects. His work is represented in the collections of General Motors Design, Polk Industries Corporate Collection, and the Museum of the City New York.

Rebecca Hays, Associate Professor

Dr. Rebecca Hays is an award-winning soprano, native Texan, and esteemed educator whose career spans the global stage. Currently an Associate Professor of Music at Texas A&M University’s College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts, Dr. Hays previously spent a decade at Texas Tech University, where she was recognized for both her vocal prowess and her dedication to mentorship. Her lush, full-bodied soprano has graced prestigious venues such as Chicago Symphony Hall and international stages in Italy, France, and Hungary. A versatile performer, Dr. Hays has embodied iconic operatic roles, including the title character in Tosca, Nedda in I Pagliacci, and Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte. Her concert repertoire is equally vast, featuring soprano solos in masterpieces like Verdi’s Requiem and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Beyond the traditional canon, she is a fierce advocate for underrepresented voices, frequently commissioning and recording works by female and diverse composers such as Libby Larsen and Susan Brumfield. Her recordings, released under labels like Albany and Centaur Records, reflect this scholarly commitment. As the Artistic Director of Music in the Marche in Mondavio, Italy, Dr. Hays fosters the next generation of "global citizens" through intensive operatic training. Whether she is leading a masterclass or exploring the physiological effects of singing through her multidisciplinary research, Dr. Hays remains a transformative figure in the world of vocal performance. 

Laura Hollis, Associate Professor

Hollis Hammonds is an Associate Professor of Art and Design in the Visualization program in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts. She joined TAMU in Fall 2025 after serving as a Professor of Art and Chair of then Department of Visual Studies at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. In her 18 years at St. Edward’s Hammonds held several leadership roles and served on many university level committees including the Promotion and Tenure Review Committee, the Faculty Evaluation Committee, the Research and Creative Works Committee, and the Strategic Plan 2022 Committee. At TAMU she teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses  in Visualization. Hammonds is a multimedia artist in the expanded field of drawing, whose immersive installations, pulling from memory and the collective consciousness, address issues related to climate grief, natural and human-made disasters, and ecological restoration. 

Amanda Honeycutt, Instructional Associate Professor and Sr. Associate Program Director

Amanda "Jill" Honeycutt, Instructional Associate Professor and Sr. Associate Program Director in the Visualization program, holds a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Communication from East Texas A&M University. Since joining the College Station faculty in 2016, she has brought more than 15 years of professional experience in branding and design methodologies, emphasizing tactile problem-solving and hands-on learning. As the lead faculty member for Graphic Design in the College of Performance, Visualization, and Fine Arts (PVFA), Professor Honeycutt has significantly shaped the curriculum. Jill is recognized for her impactful teaching methods and unwavering dedication to ensuring student success. She serves on the university-level WandC Committee and multiple college-level committees. Some of her relevant accolades include the PVFA Outstanding Service: Collegial Commitment Award, the development of the new Graphic Design and Studio Art Minor Programs, and serving as Board Member Elect for the Texas Association of Schools of Art. Through her dedication to experiential learning, unwavering service, and curriculum innovation, Professor Honeycutt remains a transformative educator and administrator at Texas A&M University.

Francesca Marini, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor

Dr. Francesca Marini is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and a tenured Associate Professor at Texas A&M University, College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts. She holds a doctorate in Library and Information Science (UCLA), a master’s degree in Archival Studies (Modena State Archives), and a bachelor’s degree in Film and Theatre Studies (University of Bologna). Her research focuses on performing arts documentation and archiving and on theatre history. She publishes in performing arts journals and archival and library journals. Dr. Marini teaches courses on various topics, including aesthetics of activism, devised theatre, applied theatre, and arts documentation. Prior to her current role, Dr. Marini worked for eight years in the Texas A&M University Libraries, Cushing Memorial Library and Archives, and also served as Director of Archives at the Stratford Festival (Canada) and as Assistant Professor of Archival Studies at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Dr. Marini served on the Texas A&M Faculty Senate from September 2024 through August 2025, and is currently serving on the Interim University Curriculum Committee, which performs the curriculum function of the former Faculty Senate. Dr. Marini is committed to shared governance and to ensuring the University functions at its best.

George McConnell, Associate Professor

Dr. George McConnell is an Associate Professor of Devised Theatre. He has twelve years of experience working in full-time faculty appointments across four different institutions that include a community college (Guilford Tech Community College), a teaching-focused university (Adams State University) and two R1s (Florida State University and Texas A&M). At these institutions george has served on numerous university-wide and departmental committees, chaired program level subcommittees, revamped and facilitated the Creative Collaboration Theatre Major Track at Adams State, and was the Head of the Drama Program at GTCC. george’s artistic practice is directing devised theatre that is entirely based upon collaborative decision making and problem solving. This creative work requires him to be an excellent communicator who listens carefully to all stake holders and is still able to lead a project to meet a deadline. Theatre is inherently a collaborative artform that requires interdisciplinary collaboration amongst theatre practitioners who each have a different expert skillset: directing, set design, acting, costume design, etc. As part of PVFA, george works with colleagues from the Visualization, Music and Dance programs to broaden his collaborative artistic reach. Dr. george mcconnell will bring years of institutional experience and collaborative creative skills to the FAC. 

Carolyn Rabbers, Instructional Assistant Professor

Carolyn Pampalone Rabbers is an Instructional Assistant Professor in Dance at Texas A&M and the Executive Artistic Director of CPR Dance: Inhale Movement. She holds an MFA from the University of the Arts and a BFA as a Presidential Scholar from Western Michigan University. Carolyn has performed nationally and internationally with companies including Wellspring/Cori Terry and Dancers, Diavolo, Royal and Celebrity Cruises, Clairobscur, and LACDC, in works by Sidra Bell, Seyong Kim, Erik Hawkins, Yvonne Rainer, Loïe Fuller, and Gerald Arpino. Her choreography has been featured at Small Plates Dance Festival, RAD Fest, Dance City Festival, Grand Rapids Ballet, Art Prize, and as a Maggie Allesee Choreography Competition Finalist. She choreographed Chase Your Dreams for Texas A&M’s Virtual Production Institute with Academy Award-nominated director Brandon Oldenburg and Limbert Fabian, as well as THAW with Lynn Vartan, Stewart Ziff, and Michael Bruner. Carolyn is certified in ABT NTC Level VII, Graham Technique, PBT, PCT, Pilates, Reiki, Yoga. Recently she is a Sidra Bell Research MODULE artist, Atelier Artist in Residence, and is a prospective Countertechnique Teacher (2026). Carolyn is recently presenting her research in addressing generative AI misuse with integrity center pedagogy as part of the Transformational Teaching and Learning Conference and Hear from the Peers.

Jinsil Hwaryoung Seo, Professor

Jinsil Hwaryoung Seo is an interactive artist, researcher, and Professor in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts at Texas A&M University, where she also serves as Associate Dean for Research and Creative Works. She is Director of the Institute for Applied Creativity and founder of the Soft Interaction Lab. Her interdisciplinary practice investigates the aesthetics of interactive and immersive experiences, exploring how human interaction within technological environments can enhance learning, health, and creative engagement. Dr. Seo earned her Ph.D. in Interactive Art and Technology from Simon Fraser University and her M.F.A. in Computer Arts from School of Visual Arts. Her research bridges art and emerging technologies through interactive installations, tangible interfaces, mixed reality learning systems, and conversational AI applications, particularly in STEAM and medical and nursing education. She has published widely and curated exhibitions focused on tangible interaction, immersive learning, creative aging, and AI-driven experiences. An award-winning educator, Dr. Seo has mentored over 50 undergraduate researchers whose work has been presented at major conferences and festivals. Her teaching honors include the Montague-Center for Teaching Excellence Award (2015) and the Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching (2019).

Andee Scott, Associate Professor, Academic Graduate Program Director for Dance

Andee Scott is an associate professor and academic program director of the MFA in Dance at Texas A&M University. She received an MFA in Dance from Texas Woman’s University and BA degrees in Dance and German from the University of Texas.  In recent years, her focus on dance as public art has led her to creating, curating, and producing large-scale, site-specific dance performance events including Dance in the Time of Coronavirus, a socially-distanced dance performance series, featured in Dance Magazine, as well as Our Town and Our Trail created with funding from the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance and Creative Pinellas.  Scott is currently touring The Invitation Situation, a quartet by award winning choreographer Jeanine Durning and performing work by San-Francisco-based choreographer Robert Moses with Bliss Kohlmyer (University of South Florida). Upcoming projects include "The Professors Portrait," a short film by Kate Weare and Jack Sorokin. Scott was a member of Sharir+Bustamante Danceworks, a founding member of Blue Lapis Light in Austin, TX, and danced with Deja Donne in Italy. Her own work has been presented nationally and internationally, and she was a resident artist at Djerassi in support of her research in dance and technology.

Jon Yerby, Assistant Professor

Dr. Yerby is a professional musician and educator with over 14 years of experience in higher education, having held academic positions at universities nationwide. He has performed across four continents and is deeply committed to community building, outreach, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Dr. Yerby is recognized for his ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and for his adeptness at navigating university administration. His leadership includes serving as President of nonprofit arts organizations, where he excels at uniting people around shared goals. In August 2025, Dr. Yerby joined the faculty at Texas A&M as an assistant professor.

Stewart Ziff, Associate Instructional Professor

Stewart Ziff is a new media artist, technologist, and educator, currently serving as an Associate Instructional Professor of Virtual Production and Associate Graduate Program Director in Visualization at Texas A&M University; a founding member of the Athens-based Personal Cinema collective, his career bridges academia and industry. Ziff has held academic appointments as an Associate Professor of New and Emerging Media at Georgia State University and full-time graduate faculty roles at Parsons School of Design and the School of Visual Arts in New York; his industry work includes positions as Systems Architect for the Hayden Planetarium, Technical Director at MTV’s DTV RandD Lab, and Senior Systems Architect at Nickelodeon/Viacom, alongside contributions to Earth and Space Science visualization projects. Ziff’s work explores the phenomenology of sight, the spaces we occupy, and the interplay of history, memory, language, knowledge, and perception. This inquiry now extends into Cicero, a system that treats AI not as an answer engine but as a deliberative interlocutor: a rhetorically trained language model (drawing on Cicero’s writings and classical rhetorical theory) embodied as a real-time avatar whose gaze, gesture, timing, and affect make judgment perceptible, staging dialectical exchange and accountable reasoning within an immersive, real-time mediated environment.

COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES NOMINEES

Christine Barron, Instructional Assistant Professor

I am an Aggie Alumni, where I graduated with a BS in Animal Science. I graduated from Texas Tech University with a MS in Reproductive Physiology. I attended Ross University, School of Veterinary Medicine. After years of private practice, I found that teaching was my true calling, specifically anatomy. I traveled back to Ross to teach anatomy. After 4 years, I decided it was time to return to the States, and I took a job teaching anatomy at Long Island University, School of Veterinary Medicine. I contributed to the set-up of their program and taught the inaugural class, but I wanted to return to Texas. I moved to Canyon, TX where I joined the faculty at the new Texas A&M 2+2 program, VERO. I am a part of the original faculty and I have been here since. I have been a part of various service committees at the various institutions that I have worked at, including the selections (admissions) and curriculum committee. It is an honor to be nominated, and it would be an even greater honor to serve on the Faculty Advisory Council where I can represent and be one of the voices of the Texas A&M VMBS faculty.

Charity Cavazos, Instructional Assistant Professor

Dr. Charity Cavazos is a faculty member in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences under the Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology Department, serving Biomedical Sciences at the McAllen campus. Although her teaching focuses on biomedical sciences and translational health education, Dr. Cavazos is particularly interested in intentional curriculum design and thoughtful collaboration with community partnerships that can enhance enrollment and retention in the McAllen campus. She works across multiple programs to exchange instructional strategies and ensure course alignment between College Station and South Texas campuses. She has served on multiple university-level committees, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to faculty representation and shared governance. She values collaborative problem-solving with leadership to ensure policies function effectively across diverse campuses and student populations. Through this cross-campus perspective, she brings experience translating administrative initiatives into practical classroom implementation and providing feedback grounded in real instructional environments. As a representative on the Faculty Advisory Council, she aims to ensure regional campus faculty perspectives are included in university conversations. Her priorities include supporting effective teaching practices, strengthening communication between faculty and administration, and advocating for policies that promote academic rigor, feasibility in implementation, and responsiveness to community needs.

Eric Kneese, Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Eric Kneese is a Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University and serves as Section Chief for Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Veterinary Services. A two-time Aggie, he earned his B.S. in Dairy Science and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Since joining the faculty in 2018, Dr. Kneese has integrated clinical service, teaching, and leadership within a large-scale, multi-site veterinary program that advances experiential learning and supports the university’s land-grant mission. He oversees veterinary care for a diverse animal population within the TDCJ system while coordinating clinical training for fourth-year veterinary students. His teaching emphasizes food animal medicine, production systems, veterinary advocacy, and professional development. Committed to faculty engagement and shared governance, Dr. Kneese collaborates across departments, state agencies, and external stakeholders, gaining experience in institutional systems, budgeting, and policy coordination. He values transparent communication and thoughtful policy development that strengthens both faculty representation and institutional excellence. He has received the John Milliff Award for Teaching and the Bridges Teaching and Service Award and remains active in organized veterinary medicine at the state and national levels.

Luke Lyons, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Luke Lyons is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology (VTPP) and the director of the Biomedical Research Certificate (BRC) program in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He has been in his current role with VTPP since 2019. Dr. Lyons has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Texas A&M University (2008) and a Master of Education degree from Sam Houston State University (2009). Dr. Lyons previously taught high school biology, anatomy and physiology for 4 years prior to coming back to pursue his doctorate in 2013. Dr. Lyons completed his PhD in 2018 in the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction and Science Education. His dissertation study was awarded by the School Science and Mathematics Association (SSMA) as Dissertation of the Year in 2018 at the international level. In addition to the BRC, Dr. Lyons teaches a mix of required and elective courses for BIMS students. In 2025, he was awarded the Richard H. Davis Teaching Award. He has also served on the BIMS Curriculum Redesign and recent dean search committees for VMBS, as well as the current UIC for BIMS. 

IRMA LERMA RANGEL COLLEGE OF PHARMACY NOMINEES

Hamed Alyismail, Associate Professor

Dr. Hamed Aly Ismail is a tenured Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, where he exemplifies excellence in teaching, research, and institutional leadership. A valedictorian graduate and recipient of a competitive governmental scholarship to pursue his Ph.D. in Japan, Dr. Aly Ismail has developed an internationally recognized career in medicinal chemistry and structure-guided drug discovery, advancing targeted therapeutics for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. He has led and collaborated on multiple nationally and internationally funded research initiatives as Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, and consultant.  He has authored more than 65 peer-reviewed publications and mentored over 30 undergraduate, graduate, and PharmD trainees, fostering a culture of scholarly rigor and professional growth. His contributions have been honored with the Texas A&M Distinguished Achievement Award, Teacher of the Year recognitions, and the Early Career Faculty Research Award. Deeply committed to shared governance and faculty advocacy, Dr. Aly Ismail has served as Faculty Senate Caucus Leader and Senator, Chair/Co-Chair of the Admissions Committee, Co-Chair of the ACPE Self-Study Steering Committee, and member of strategic planning and executive search committees. He is dedicated to advancing transparency, collaboration, and academic excellence across the university community.

Fadi Khasawneh, Professor and Departmental Head for Pharmaceutical Sciences

As a junior faculty member at the time (2008), Fadi realized that teaching and research are not the only components in a professor’s job. Thus, he has been engaging in service and leadership activities throughout his academic career, including as chair of several committees at all institutional levels and being elected at the national level (e.g., American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics). In terms of shared-governance, which is something he is very passionate about, while Fadi is relatively new to TAMU’s Faculty Senate, he had actually been elected to the Faculty Senate at two previous institutions. Indeed, he had the pleasure of serving in the capacity of Chair and Secretary, respectively. Fadi has represented the College of Pharmacy (COP) before, and he resides on the Kingsville campus. He was elected two years in a raw as the first executive committee member in the history of COP, and also served on the Faculty Advisory Executive Committee Transition Team. He prides himself in being a strong advocate for faculty, regardless of their track or rank and in being a voice of reason. Effective leadership is needed especially given the changes facing higher education. 

Frank North, Instructional Assistant Professor 

Dr. Frank North is an Instructional Assistant Professor in the Rangel College of Pharmacy and Director for Learning in Practice in the IPER Office. He serves as Vice/Co-Chair of the Texas A&M University Academic Freedom Council, the Immediate Past President for the National Pharmaceutical Association, Chair for the American Academies of Colleges of Pharmacy Inclusive Advancement in Pharmacy Academia (formerly Minority Faculty) SIG, and recently elected Pharmacist Community Chair-elect of the American Pharmacists Association. Dr. North attended Texas Southern University obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Doctor of Pharmacy and a Master of Public Administration. He is a licensed pharmacist, registered in Texas and the District of Columbia. He completed the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacist Diplomate Pharmacy Leadership Academy, American Society for Pharmacy and Law Diplomate program, Houston Black Leadership Institute, Higher Education Leadership Foundation Institute, ASHP/University of Kentucky Teaching Certificate for Pharmacists, and Academy of HIV Medicine’s Dr. Dawn K. Smith HIV Prevention Clinical Fellowship. Dr. North is a life member of the Booker T. Washington Alumni Association, Texas Southern University National Alumni Association, Phi Delta Chi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and the National Pharmaceutical Association. 

Samikkannu Thangavel, Associate Professor

Dr. Samikkannu Thangavel is an Associate Professor at the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, where his research and teaching focus on neurovirology, immunology, and the molecular mechanisms of disease. His scholarship investigates how viral infections and substance exposure influence brain inflammation, mitochondrial function, and epigenetic regulation, advancing the understanding of neurodegenerative mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. He has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and delivered over 90 presentations at scientific meetings. Supported by multiple NIH-funded R01 grants, his research program promotes interdisciplinary collaboration while training the next generation of scientists and health professionals. With over a decade of dedication to teaching and service, Dr. Thangavel is deeply committed to student achievement, inclusive learning environments, and faculty engagement. He mentors students across biomedical and health science programs, fostering scientific rigor, critical thinking, and professional development. His service contributions include curriculum development, advising, and participation in initiatives that strengthen academic excellence and institutional priorities. As a candidate for the Faculty Advisory Council, Dr. Thangavel seeks to advocate for faculty perspectives, enhance transparency in communication, and strengthen shared governance. He is committed to constructive dialogue, collaborative problem-solving, and advancing excellence in teaching, research, and service for the broader academic community.

MAYS BUSINESS SCHOOL NOMINEES

Anupam Agrawal, Associate Professor

Dr. Anupam Agrawal is a scholar and educator in Supply Chain Management whose work bridges industry, academia, and public policy. Before entering academia, he spent over a decade with ITW Signode, Procter and Gamble, and Tata Motors, working in procurement, supplier development, and new product development. His empirical collaborations with firms such as Tata Motors, Tata Daewoo, BMW, and Knorr Bremse have informed sourcing and buyer–supplier learning practices. He also advises the Government of India on strengthening the Public Distribution System and improving the Mid-Day Meal scheme, and works with emerging ventures on strategy and supply chain design. His research spans three areas: supply chain learning and sustainability; advanced manufacturing and materials sourcing; and operations solutions for social impact, including healthcare and women’s safety. He has published in leading journals including Management Science, Manufacturing and Service Operations Management, and Production and Operations Management. An award-winning teacher, Dr. Agrawal teaches undergraduate, MBA, MS, and Ph.D. courses and has authored multiple case studies. He is a Research Fellow at the Mosbacher Institute and serves on five major university committees, including the CAFRT, the University Grievance Committee (Vice Chair) and the Academic Freedom Council, contributing actively to shared governance and academic integrity.

Adam Kolasinski, Professor

Until last fall, I faithfully served as your faculty senator since 2018, and have been at Mays since 2013. Over that time, I have fought to ensure you have a voice in governance. I helped write and ensure passage of the rule on deans and department heads that include a faculty vote, albeit a non-binding one. I pledge to continue to faithfully serve you if elected to the Faculty Council.

Madhaav Pappu, Clinical Associate Professor

I am honored to nominate myself to represent Mays Business School on the Texas A&M University Faculty Advisory Council. With more than 40 years of leadership experience spanning maritime transportation, global supply chain management, logistics, and business strategy, I bring a results-driven, collaborative perspective to advancing faculty priorities and institutional excellence. My career blends industry insight with academic purpose – bridging operational expertise and forward-thinking innovation. As a clinical professor, I focus on equipping students with real-world, analytical, and leadership skills that strengthen Mays’ reputation for developing impactful business leaders. My work in corporate coaching and motivational speaking further enhances my ability to build consensus, foster engagement, and inspire high-performing teams within academic settings. Serving on the Faculty Advisory Council will allow me to leverage these strengths to represent the interests of Mays faculty and contribute to Texas A&M’s mission of teaching, research, and service. I am committed to advocating for transparent communication, cross-college collaboration, and continuous improvement – ensuring that faculty voices guide the university’s direction with integrity and purpose. It would be a privilege to serve as a constructive, innovative, and inclusive voice for Mays Business School on the Council.

Bin Zhang, Associate Professor

Dr. Bin Zhang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Information and Operations Management at Mays Business School. He is also an affiliate faculty member of Texas A&M Institute of Data Science and a Visiting Research Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University. Bin earned his Ph.D. in Information Systems Management and a Master's in Machine Learning from Carnegie Mellon University. His major research interests are social media analytics and deep learning. Bin's work has appeared in premier Information Systems journals, including Information Systems Research, MIS Quarterly, Production and Operations Management, and Journal of Management Information Systems. His research has been funded by federal agencies such as NSF and NIH. Dr. Zhang has served on multiple review panels for NSF, and is the former Vice Chair of INFORMS College on AI. He is also an associate editor for several premier journals such as Decision Sciences.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING MEDICINE NOMINEE

Mark Slivkoff, Instructional Associate Professor

Originally from Anaheim, California, I graduated with a BS in Biology from University of California, Riverside, then completed my PhD in Biology (Animal Physiology) at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 2001. After my postdoc at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson, Arizona, I began my full-time teaching career which continues today at Texas A&M University. I have educated pre-medical and medical students at various colleges and universities in the United States and Caribbean. I have been fortunate to receive local, national and international teaching awards along the way. I moved to Houston in early 2023 to join the medical faculty at the School of Engineering Medicine to teach physiology in various pre-clerkship courses, many of which I have also served as course director. In addition to teaching, I have been and remain heavily involved with college service activities including serving as past chair of the EnMed Curriculum Subcommittee, current chair of our EnMed/Leadership meetings, and next chair of the Admissions Advisory Committee (I am currently vice chair). I remain dedicated to the growth of our program, to the upcoming accreditation of our school, and of course to Texas A&M University.

SCHOOL OF LAW NOMINEE

William Byrnes, Executive Professor

I am an executive professor at Texas A&M University School of Law, where I developed the online graduate program in international tax, transfer pricing, risk management, and wealth, paving the way for the remaining topics that now enroll over 1,600 professional students. My mission is to provide high-quality, accessible, and innovative learning opportunities for professionals who want to advance their careers and expand their knowledge in the global tax and financial arena. I also author or co-author 13 annual books and compendia for Lexis, Kluwer, and Tax Facts that are widely used and cited by government, industry, and judicial bodies. I am a journalist member of the National Press Club, Washington D.C., with 1,600 articles published by the financial media.

I pioneered online education as an educational innovator in the early nineties. My programs received praise for pedagogical innovation and the development of best practices. India's National Board of Accreditation bestowed on me its 2012 Leadership Award, recognizing my impact on global educational opportunities and outcomes. In 2024, the Association of Former Students selected me for its Achievement Award. I was inducted as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and of the American Association of Law Schools.

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH NOMINEES

Angela Clendenin, Instructional Associate Professor

Dr. Angela Clendenin is an Instructional Associate Professor in the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department at the Texas A&M School of Public Health (SPH). She also serves as the Associate Director for the USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness. An expert in emergency preparedness and disaster epidemiology, Dr. Clendenin integrates her field and community engagement experience—including deployments with the Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team—into the classroom. She is the faculty advisor for "Disaster Day," the nation’s largest student-led disaster simulation, and received the IPER Award for Teaching Excellence for her leadership. Dr. Clendenin’s commitment to global citizenship led her to establish the SPH’s first education abroad program in Germany, the first intern hosted by a German federal agency, and a recently-launched COIL project with a German university. Her outreach extends to facilitating preparedness training for tribal nations across the U.S. and working with community partners to prioritize service-learning opportunities for students. As a senior faculty member, Dr. Clendenin  completed the ACUE Effective Teaching Practices program and is part of the first cohort of Texas A&M Innovative Teaching Fellows. By bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world practice, she empowers the next generation of public health leaders as a scholar-practitioner.

Rebecca Fischer, Associate Professor

Dr. Rebecca Fischer is a tenured Associate Professor in Epidemiology and Biostatistics whose career reflects selfless service, rigorous scholarship, and a commitment to advancing Texas A&M’s mission. Her research program—supported by multi‑milliondollar grants—integrates disciplines in animal and human health, ecology, and biomedical sciences to address complex epidemic‑ and global health challenges. She has mentored and supported a number of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers, including a Fulbright Scholar, embodying the Council’s priority to strengthen academic programs, advance academic integrity, and foster excellence in scholarship. Dr. Fischer’s extensive service record reflects dedication to shared governance and transparent academic leadership. She supported University, System, County, and State decision‑makers during the COVID19 pandemic, ensuring accurate and ethical translation of scientific evidence. At the School of Public Health, she chairs the Research Committee and serves on Promotion and Tenure and multiple search committees, promoting and advancing high standards‑ in academia.

Her professional service—through national and international societies, expert working groups, and advisory boards—demonstrates her commitment to broadening communication and contributing faculty expertise to institutional decision making as well as supporting evidence‑ based‑ policies, guidelines, and practices, aligning with the Council’s charge to advise on academic matters and support essential governance functions during this transitional period.

Gang Han, Professor

I am nominating myself to serve in this committee.  As a full professor in biostatistics in the school of public health for more than a decade, I have collaborated with faculty members in many different colleges including the whole health science center, arts and science, AgriLife. I have the experience in helping faculty with research and conflicts: I served in the CPI for six years 2019-2025, CPI executive committee 2024-2025, and university grievance committee for 4 years since 2022. I am confident that I can contribute to the faculty advisory council and help many junior faculty members.

Anabel Rodriguez, Assistant Professor

I am pleased to nominate myself for the Texas A&M University Faculty Advisory Council, bringing a strong record of internal and external service grounded in shared governance, equity, and community engagement. At Texas A&M, I serve on both the School of Public Health Scholarship Committee and Graduate Committee, and I represent Environmental and Occupational Health in the Interdepartmental Doctoral Journal Club. These roles have strengthened my commitment to transparent decision making, student support, and fostering an inclusive academic environment. Beyond the university, I contribute to statewide and national organizations that advance public health, social responsibility, and educational access. I serve on the Board of Physicians for Social Responsibility Texas, and I also bring extensive governance experience from my five-year service on the St. Edward’s University Board of Trustees, where I currently chair the Institutional Oversight of Academic Experience Committee and serve on the Executive and Trustees Committees. My prior roles on advocacy committees, municipal health initiatives, and student mentorship programs reflect my dedication to collaborative problems olving and community‑ centered‑ leadership. I would bring to the Council a principled, service ‑driven perspective committed to strengthening faculty voice and advancing the mission of Texas A&M University.