Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Names Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching and Research Award Recipients
Feb. 19, 2026 | Contact: Kristina Woods Butler
The Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà (Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà System) named 18 faculty members from each of the five Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà System universities as recipients of the 2026 Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching and Research Awards. These awards recognize excellence in academics and research, and are the most prestigious honors given to faculty members within the Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà System.
2026 Award Recipients
Texas Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ
- • Amanda N. Laubmeier, Ph.D. – Distinguished Research Award
- • Jacob Kirksey, Ph.D. – Distinguished Research Award
- • Jacob Stephens, Ph.D. – Distinguished Research Award
- • Miranda C. Reiter, Ph.D. – Distinguished Research Award
- • Allison Whitney, Ph.D. – Distinguished Teaching Award
- • Beibei Ren, Ph.D. – Distinguished Teaching Award
- • Sean P. Cunningham, Ph.D. – Distinguished Teaching Award
- • Courtney Gibson, Ph.D. – Distinguished Teaching Award
Texas Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Health Sciences Center
- • Gail A. Cornwall, Ph.D. – Distinguished Research Award
- • Ulrich Bickel, M.D. – Distinguished Research Award
- • Cynthia J. Tiongco, Ph.D., OTR – Distinguished Teaching Award
- • Rebecca Geist, DNP – Distinguished Teaching Award
- • Surendra Varma, M.D. – Distinguished Teaching Award
Angelo State University
- • You-jou Hung, P.T., M.S., Ph.D, CSCS – Distinguished Research Award
- • Tamra Kelly, Ph.D., LPC – Distinguished Teaching Award
Texas Tech Health Sciences Center El Paso
- • Rebecca L Campos, M.D., FAAFP – Distinguished Teaching Award
Midwestern State University
- • James Lawrence Sernoe, Ph.D. – Distinguished Teaching Award
- • Jason Bly – Distinguished Research Award
The awards are made possible through philanthropic gifts to the , a giving society that supports the chancellor’s priorities of impacting student lives through scholarships, recognizing faculty achievement and encouraging excellence across the Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà System. Since the council established the teaching and research awards in 2001, 281 faculty members have received a total of $1.6 million in awards.
Each award recipient will receive a $5,000 stipend and an engraved medallion at their university’s Distinguished Teaching & Research Award ceremony.
University Ceremonies Schedule
Texas Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ
3 p.m., Feb. 19
Texas Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Health Sciences Center
3:30 p.m., March 12
Midwestern State University
12:30 p.m., April 8
Texas Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Health Sciences Center El Paso
10 a.m., April 13
Angelo State University
4 p.m., April 30