JAVELINA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION DISTINGUISHED TEACHER AND RESEARCH AWARDS ANNOUNCED
By Elaine Barnes
Coordinator, Alumni & Donor Communications
Office of Alumni Services and Giving
The Javelina Alumni Association is pleased to announce the 2019 Distinguished Teacher and Research awards. The Javelina Alumni Association annually awards these distinctions in recognition of faculty of Texas A&M University-Kingsville who have brought great honor to the university through their professional accomplishments and commitment to their careers and communities.
The Distinguished Teacher Award is presented to a deserving faculty member of the university who has shown excellence and intellectual insight as well as the ability to engage student learning that has life-long impact. This year’s honoree, Dr. Christine Reiser Robbins, is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Coordinator of Anthropology, Southwest Borderland Studies and Mexican American Studies within the Department of Psychology and Sociology at Texas A&M-Kingsville. Her research and teaching combines archaeology, cultural anthropology, oral history and public humanities to explore interests in race, heritage, mobility, health and community studies. Dr. Reiser Robbins earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, and both a master’s and doctorate degree in anthropology from Brown University.
The Distinguished Research Award is presented to a deserving faculty member who has shown superior scholarship through publication, continued creativity, had research impact on their field, and has garnered other academic or professional awards. This year’s honoree, Dr. Jingbo Louise Liu, is a professor within the Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M-Kingsville. Her research involves multi-function sensor, fuel cell-solid oxide fuel cell and proton exchange membrane cell, water purification using ceramic and metal membrane, and colloid and surface chemistry. Dr. Liu earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemistry and chemical engineering from Heilongjiang University. She earned her doctorate degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Science and Technology Beijing.
The 2019 Distinguished Alumni – originally announced in June – are retired U.S. Air Force Col. Lisa Carrington Firmin (Class of 1979), Jackie C. Collins (Class of 1972) and Richard P. Ritchie (Class of 1977). The Rising Star awards have been named to C. Michelle Unda (Class of 2005) and Dr. Brian McFall (Class of 2005 and 2008).
Each honoree will be recognized by the Javelina Alumni Association and Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Oct 25, 2019, at the Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner. This event – held during Homecoming Week – will take place on campus in the Memorial Student Union Building. Tickets to this event are available at $50 per person and can be purchased until Oct. 18 at this link: purchase tickets here.