University of Texas System Board of Regents Announces 2024 Regents Outstanding Teaching Awards Recipients

This recognition honors faculty members from UT academic and health institutions who have demonstrated extraordinary classroom performance and innovative teaching methods.

Established in 2008, the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards program aims to celebrate and reward exceptional educators within the UT System. Each awardee receives a certificate, a medallion, and a monetary award of $25,000 in appreciation for their significant positive impact on students and their respective institutions.

This year’s honorees exemplify excellence in teaching and commitment to student success, showcasing the importance of high-quality education across the University of Texas System.

About University of Texas System

The University of Texas (UT) System is the largest university system in Texas and one of the largest public university systems in the United States, comprising 14 institutions that enroll over 256,000 students. In the past year, UT institutions produced more than 66,000 graduates and awarded over one-third of the undergraduate degrees in Texas. Additionally, they educate more than half of the state’s healthcare professionals and grant approximately 60% of the medical degrees awarded annually in Texas.

In 2023, UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics facilitated over 10.8 million outpatient visits and accounted for more than 2.1 million hospital days. The UT System boasts a robust research enterprise with an annual budget of $4.3 billion, ranking first in Texas and second in the U.S. for total and federal research expenditures. With an operating budget of $32 billion for fiscal year 2025, UT institutions collectively employ over 122,000 faculty members, healthcare professionals, support staff, and students.

This comprehensive structure underscores the UT System’s commitment to education, healthcare, and research, positioning it as a vital contributor to the state’s economy and the advancement of knowledge across various fields.

The 2024 Outstanding Teaching Awards winners are:

Health Institution Recipients

Khaled Elsayes

Khaled Elsayes is a Professor of Radiology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas John P. and Katherine G. McGovern Medical School in Houston. An eminent speaker at national and international conferences, Dr. Elsayes is a fellow of numerous international societies and serves on the editorial boards of several journals.

He has authored three radiology textbooks: “Introduction to Diagnostic Radiology” (McGraw-Hill), “Cross-Sectional Imaging of the Abdomen and Pelvis” (Springer), and “Pitfalls of the Abdomen and Pelvis” (Elsevier).In addition to his academic roles, Dr. Elsayes is the Institutional Medical Director of Global Education at MD Anderson.

Carin Hagberg

Carin Hagberg serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. She is a Professor with Tenure in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the same institution and holds the Bud Johnson Clinical Distinguished Chair. Additionally, she has an adjunct appointment as a Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at UTHealth McGovern Medical School.

Laura Howe-Martin

Laura Howe-Martin Dr. Howe-Martin is the Director of Behavioral Sciences at the UT Southwestern Moncrief Cancer Institute in Fort Worth, where she treats patients, supervises trainees, and engages in clinical research. She initiated the Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizure Program at Parkland Behavioral Health Center and continues to provide care and supervision there. In the UT Southwestern Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program, she teaches Advanced Abnormal Psychology and Cultural Diversity courses and chairs the Curriculum Committee.

She joined the faculty at UT Southwestern in 2009 after earning her doctoral degree from the University of North Texas. Dr. Howe-Martin completed postdoctoral training at UT Southwestern in the Consult-Liaison Psychiatry division, where she served Parkland Hospital for five years.

Christiana Rastellini

Christiana Rastellini is a Professor of Instruction in the Department of Neurobiology at The University of Texas. Her expertise lies in organ and cell transplantation, particularly focusing on pancreatic islet transplantation for the treatment of type I diabetes and surgically induced diabetes due to chronic pancreatitis.

Dr. Rastellini’s research also encompasses immunosuppression, tolerance induction, the development of artificial intestines, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition to her research, Dr. Rastellini serves as the co-director of the Gross Anatomy and Radiology course.

Academic Institution Recipients

LaDonna Aiken

LaDonna Aiken is a Broadcast Specialist in the Department of Communication at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). She began her broadcast career in the Marine Corps, where she distinguished herself as the honor graduate of the broadcaster course at the Defense Information School (DINFOS). Following her military service, LaDonna served as a military broadcast journalist for the American Forces Radio and Television Service (now AFN) in Okinawa, Japan.

At UTA, LaDonna teaches broadcast and video production courses while also serving as the advisor for the student media club. Her academic contributions include being awarded the top paper in the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) History Division paper competition in 2016 for “The Far East Network Okinawa: Impact and Influence of Broadcast Programming for the Military, 1945 – 1995.” Since 2016, she has presented on service learning and various broadcast topics at BEA conferences.

Jason Boyle

Jason Boyle is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), specializing in Physical Therapy and Movement Sciences. He attended Texas A&M University in College Station, TX, where he obtained graduate degrees in Kinesiology with an emphasis on Motor Neuroscience.

Throughout his career, Dr. Boyle has received several awards and honors, including the Teaching Excellence Award from the College of Health Sciences for 2023 and serving as the UTEP College of Health Sciences Undergraduate Marshal of Students in 2022.

Marcela Hebbard

Marcela Hebbard is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she teaches courses in composition, linguistics, and teacher preparedness. Her research interests encompass online writing pedagogies, language and mixed-race identities, first-year composition, and writing across the curriculum.

She co-authored multiple book chapters and published several articles in academic journals, contributing significantly to her field. She holds five master’s degrees and a doctoral degree in Women’s Studies. Currently, she is a PhD candidate (ABD) in the Composition and Applied Linguistics Program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Matthias Hofferberth

Matthias Hofferberth completed his M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science at Goethe University in Frankfurt before joining the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) in January 2013, where he achieved tenure in 2018. His research focuses on world politics and global governance, particularly the emergence of agency beyond nation-states, including the roles of multinational enterprises and intergovernmental organizations like the United Nations.

At UTSA, he teaches courses on global governance and international organizations, utilizing a student-centered pedagogy to enhance learning experiences. In 2019, he received the President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Advancing Globalization and serves as the faculty advisor for the Model United Nations Society and Sigma Iota Rho. Additionally, he is the Program Coordinator for the MA in Global Affairs, welcoming inquiries about the program and his activities.

Oziel Rios

Oziel Rios is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 2008, following his M.S. in the same field in 2005. He also holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics from The University of Texas-Pan American, obtained in 2002.

Dr. Rios specializes in the modeling, design, and control of robotic systems, with research interests that include computer-aided geometric design as well as the kinematics and dynamics of machines. His work contributes to advancements in robotics and engineering education, reflecting his commitment to integrating theoretical knowledge with practical applications.

Melanie Sattler

Melanie Sattler is currently serving as the Department Chair for Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). She previously held positions as Associate Department Chair, Advisor for the Sustainable Engineering Minor, and Civil Engineering Graduate Advisor. With a focus on sustainable engineering, air quality, and solid waste management, Dr. Sattler engages students through experiential learning methods, including service-learning and class projects.

She played an important role in developing UTA’s Sustainable Engineering Minor and has supervised 46 students in their senior design projects for the program. Over her 21 years at UTA, she has successfully graduated 26 master’s thesis and 32 Ph.D. students who now hold significant roles in consulting, industry, government, and academia.

Rebecca Schroeder

Rebecca Schroeder is the Associate Dean of University College and a Professor of Instruction in Multidisciplinary Studies and Academic Introduction and Strategies at the University of Texas at Arlington. She earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Science with a focus on Experimental Therapeutics and Pharmacology from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, following her B.S. in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University.

As a member of the GenAI Consortium, Dr. Schroeder has played an important role in introducing over 10,000 students across various disciplines to the fields of Data Science, machine learning, and AI technologies. Her primary goal is to help students thrive and develop essential skills to achieve their academic and professional aspirations through engaging educational experiences.

Etienne Vouga

Etienne Vouga is an assistant professor in the Computer Science Department and the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences (ICES) at the University of Texas at Austin. He completed his Ph.D. at the Columbia Computer Graphics Group and subsequently served as a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard SEAS. His research interests are in the intersection of computer science and engineering, focusing on advancements in computational techniques and their applications in various fields.