Faculty Affairs News

With the start of a new academic year and 2026 commencements only recently completed, we are in the midst of a very busy season. We congratulate the recent graduates, welcome new and returning students, and celebrate the achievements of our faculty community.

I hope everyone is enjoying the final month of summer and looking forward to the start of another exciting academic year. It has been a productive and eventful season across our institution, with even more activities and opportunities on the horizon in the coming weeks.

While this is traditionally the time when work slows down for many of us, there is no shortage of exciting activity and accomplishments across UTMB. We are proud to shine the spotlight on the successful Texas Brain Economy Summit and the winners of the 2026 Faculty Excellence and Lifetime Achievement Awards.

As we head into the summer months, I hope you are feeling a well-deserved sense of pride and accomplishment following another exceptional academic year. Congratulations to each of you! As our students and trainees graduate and take their next steps, please know how meaningful your contributions have been to their success.

The U.S. News & World Report “Best Graduate Schools” rankings once again reflect the excellence of our programs, the impact of our scholarship, and the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students. UTMB programs not only earned top 100 recognition but also improved their standing since last year.

Spring at UTMB brings some of our most meaningful academic milestones, from Match Day to the first commencement ceremonies of the year. Each one reminds us of the extraordinary talent and commitment within our university community.

At UTMB, we are proud to offer impactful career development programs that foster faculty growth and strengthen collaborative practice. I want to highlight two recent achievements that further amplify this impact.

As we all work in our respective roles to advance excellence at UTMB, I want to highlight an important milestone that is nearing the horizon: our 10-year reaccreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

As we welcome the start of a new year, I hope you feel refreshed and energized after the holiday season. Whether you traveled, spent time with loved ones, or enjoyed quiet moments of rest, taking time to recharge is essential; I trust it has prepared us all for the exciting year ahead.

I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. This season of gratitude is the perfect time to express my heartfelt thanks to my team in the Academic Enterprise and to my colleagues across UTMB. Your dedication and unwavering commitment to our mission make me proud to serve UTMB as Senior Vice President, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer. I am looking forward to what’s ahead!

One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is witnessing faculty members grow in knowledge, confidence, and impact as they pursue meaningful and fulfilling careers. Recently, we have had the pleasure of supporting faculty at every stage of their journey, from welcoming new colleagues at New Faculty Orientation to honoring those who’ve reached significant milestones at the annual Newly Promoted Professors’ Dinner. These moments of celebration and connection reflect our deep commitment to faculty success.

Every day, I’m inspired by the dedication and excellence of our faculty community. The tremendous turnout at our Second Annual Faculty Recognition Reception was a testament to that spirit. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate your achievements and those of your peers. The positive energy and feedback from attendees reaffirmed the value of this new tradition, and I look forward to building on its success in the years ahead.

The start of a new academic year always brings both energy and excitement. Congratulations to our faculty and graduates who participated in August’s commencement ceremonies! With orientations now complete across all schools and programs, we have officially welcomed a new class of students. I know you share my enthusiasm as we begin another successful and rewarding year.

I hope everyone is enjoying the last few weeks of summer and looking forward to another successful and productive academic year! Although summer gives us time to take some well-deserved rest, it has not been without plenty of activity.

We have lots of great news to celebrate this summer. I am pleased to shine the spotlight on the many recent achievements by our faculty, staff, and students!

A few of our schools have recently held their commencement ceremonies, and I extend my sincere congratulations across the board! Our students’ success is a strong reflection of our faculty members’ hard work, expertise, and commitment. Your work here at UTMB is shaping the future in a myriad of important ways, and you should be very proud.

It is an exciting time since the academic year comes to a close. As we watch our students receive the degrees they have worked hard to earn, commencement is also a gratifying experience for our faculty members.

I am extremely pleased by your exceptional response to the AAMC StandPoint Surveys, and I sincerely appreciate each person who shared their input. Thank you for making time for this worthwhile effort. Your insights will help us take the right steps to identify opportunities for improvement and thus enhance engagement and satisfaction across our campus.

I extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has taken the time to complete the AAMC StandPoint Surveys for faculty and staff. The survey is open through this Friday, March 7; I strongly encourage everyone who has not yet taken the survey to do so this week.

Just one month into 2025, the Office of Faculty Affairs is busy with many exciting programs and activities to support our terrific faculty. I am pleased to update you on some of our current projects.