Faculty honored for excellence in research, creativity at spring 2022 convocation

NMSU bestowed its top academic awards to a group of eight faculty members, including two filmmakers, at the spring 2022 convocation. 

Ehsan Dehghan-Niri, civil engineering assistant professor and mechanical and aerospace engineering affiliated faculty member, received the Early Career Award. Jessica Houston, chemical and materials engineering professor, and Elba Serrano, Regents professor of biology, each received the Distinguished Career Award. Raena Cota, program manager in the computer science department and connector for the Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions, received the Research Recognition Award.

Keith H. Mandabach, professor in the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, and Dawn VanLeeuwen, who has a joint appointment in the Department of Economics, Applied Statistics and International Business and the New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station, won the first Team Research Award. Mitch Fowler, Creative Media Institute associate professor, and Ross Marks, Creative Media Institute assistant professor, received the second team award.