(Degrees/Certifications/Training are Listed as Provided by Experts)

Omar M. Al-Qudah, Ph.D

Chemical & Environmental Engineer, Environmental Engineering Department and RGV Engineering Initiative

Areas of Expertise:

Water Resources, sustainability aspects of water resources, Hydrology/Hydrogeology as it relates to the environment; Environmental remediation; Hazardous waste treatment, management, and disposal technology; nanofiltration and membrane technology for water purification and air remediation. 

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• ·B. S., Chemical Engineering
• ·M. S., Chemical Engineering
• ·Ph. D., Environmental Science and Engineering

Certificates in:

• Advanced Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) modeling and advanced data processing
• Geographic Information System (GIS)
• Analysis Using HPLC
• Laboratories Safety and Hazardous Chemicals Management
• Quality Infrastructure-Accreditation & Conformity Assessment Bodies-Concepts
• Teaching - Quality Matters certificate of instructing online and hybrid courses
• College Teaching

 

Mohammad S. Alam, Ph.D., Fellow – IEEE, IET, OSA, SPIE, IoP, IS&T, and IAPR

Professor and Dean, Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering

Areas of Expertise:

Pattern recognition and tracking, digital/optical image processing, multispectral/hyperspectral/infrared image processing, biomedical imaging, renewable energy, smart energy management and control, ultrafast computing, wireless sensor networks, assessment and accreditation, strategic planning

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, 1992
• M.S. Computer Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, 1989
• M.S. Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), 1985
• B.S. Electrical and Electronic Engineering, BUET, 1983
• Program on Negotiation for Senior Executives, Harvard Law School, Harvard

University, Massachusetts, 2006

• ·Managing Technical Professionals, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts

Institute of Technology, 2003

Chairing the Academic Department, American Council on Education, Washington DC, 2002

Shah Alam, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Industrial engineering

Areas of Expertise:

Offshore and Subsea Structures and Equipment Design and Analysis; Pressure Vessels and Piping System; Design and Analysis; Cranes and Crane Foundation Design and Analysis; Composite Structures Design and Analysis; Mechanical System Design and Analysis; Solid Mechanics; Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics; Finite Element Analysis (Static, Dynamic, Impact, CFD, Thermal, etc.);Structural Integrity of Aerospace, Offshore and Subsea Structures

Degrees/Certifications/Training

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering
• M.S., Mechanical Engineering
• M.S, Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
• B.S., Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
• Registered Professional Engineer in Texas (TBPE No. 113655)

Matthew Alexander, Ph.D., P.E., Associate Professor, Department of Chemical and Natural Gas Engineering

Areas of Expertise:

Biochemical engineering; renewable fuels; environmental site remediation; groundwater remediation

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Purdue University
• M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
• B.S. in Engineering Science and Chemistry, Trinity University
• Professional Engineer in states of Texas and Alabama
• Board Certified Environmental Engineer

 

Steve Bain, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Counseling, Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor

Areas of Expertise:

Individual/Family/Couple Counseling; Anger Management; Crisis Intervention; Weight Management Counseling; Youth Violence Intervention; Self-Injurers/Mutilators; Ethics; Spirituality; Grief and Loss; Death and Dying; Career; Life Coaching

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Bachelor of Science degree in History-University of North Alabama
• Master of Science degree in Counseling and Personnel Services-University of Memphis, Tennessee
• Doctor of Ministry in Counseling-Luther Rice University
• Licensed Professional Counselor
• LPC-Intern Supervisor
• Certificates in:
• Anger Management
• Crisis Intervention
• Weight Management
• Youth Violence Intervention
• Licensed and Ordained Minister

 

Sajid Bashir, Ph.D., Professor, Chemistry

Areas of Expertise:

Mass Spectrometry/Proteomics; Forensic Chemistry/Homeland Security

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• BS honors in Chemistry AND Biochemistry (UCNW)
• MA in Analytical Chemistry (SUNY Buffalo)
• PhD in Analytical Chemistry (Warwick U)
• Pre-doctoral training in clinical chemistry and medicine (Aberdeen Medical School)
• Post-doctoral training in Mass Spectrometry and proteomics (Cornell University)
• Chartered Chemist
• Chartered Scientist
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
• DOT Hazmat Certified
• IATA Hazmat Certified
• Red Cross basic first aid trained

Apurba Bhattacharya, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry

Areas of Expertise:

Organic Chemistry; Pharmaceutical Industry; Generic Drug Market; Drug Research and Development

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (University of Texas at Austin)
• M.S. in Chemistry (I.I.T., Kanpur, India)
• B.S. in Chemistry (Calcutta University, India)
• Senior Vice President. Head of Global R&D Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, India (2006- 2008). ·Group Leader, Bristol Myers Squibb, Central Process Research (1997-1999).
• Lead Chemist; Innovator Group, Hoechst.( 1990-1997)
• Senior Research Chemist, Merck & Co., Inc (1983-1990)
• 7 book chapters, 119 referred publications, 50 patents, 168 research presentations in National and International meetings.
• Advisory Board of Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI).
• Member of the National Academies’ Chemical Sciences Roundtable (CSR), National ·Academies Committee on Promoting Safe and secure chemical Management in Developing countries; American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute (ACS GCI) Pharmaceutical Roundtable and Panel of Drug Evaluators for Current Drugs (CD).

 

Leonard A. Brennan, Ph.D., C.C. Charlie Winn Endowed Chair, Richard M. Kleberg, Jr. Center for Quail Research, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute

Areas of Expertise:

Quail and Grassland Birds--Habitat, Population Ecology and Management of

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley.
• 29 years of experience conducting wildlife research; 125 scientific publications, 80 magazine and extension articles.

Melinda Brou, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Voice and Opera

Areas of Expertise:

Opera; Vocal Music; Early Childhood Music Education (birth-5 years)

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• D.M.A.--UT Austin, Vocal Performance
• M.M.--University of Colorado at Boulder, Vocal Performance and Pedagogy

 

Daniel J. Burt, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Coordinator, Sport Business Program, Department of Health & Kinesiology

Areas of Expertise:

Kinesiology Pedagogy; Adapted Physical Education and Assessment, & Physical Activity

Epidemiology; Sport Management; Academic Success in Athletics; Sport Law and Administration Policy

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.A., Kinesiology, Ouachita Baptist University (AR)
• M.S., Sport Administration, Henderson State University (AR)
• Ph.D., Kinesiology, University of Arkansas
• Quality Matters Master Reviewer for online classes

 

Dana Byrd, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Sociology

Areas of Expertise:

Psychology, Neuroscience

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Masters and Doctorate in Psychology with a focus on Cognitive Neuroscience.
• Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Cognitive Neuroscience of Infants

 

Lucy Mar Camacho, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Environmental Engineering

Areas of Expertise:

Water desalination technologies, concentrate minimization, minerals and REE recovery, Membrane

distillation, electrodialysis metathesis, novel adsorbent materials for water treatment, graphene

oxide membranes and membrane technology, sustainable water reuse, recovery of wastewater subproducts.

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, New Mexico State University, USA, 2000
• M.S., Electrochemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany, 1988
• M.S., Electrochemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany, 1988

 

Jose M. Cabezas, Ph.D., Professor of Practice, Chemical and Natural Gas Engineering Department

Areas of Expertise:

Oil and gas production operations, hydrocarbon fluid properties, groundwater remediation

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.S. in petroleum engineering, Escuela Superior Politecnical del Litoral, Ecuador
• M.S. in natural gas engineering, Texas A&I University Kingsville
• Ph. D and M.S. in Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University—Kingsville
• 20 years of oil field industry practice

Jieming Chen, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology /Sociology

Areas of Expertise:

Survey Methodology; Sampling and Questionnaire Design; Statistical Analysis of Survey Data;

Contemporary Chinese Society; Social Support; Aging and Health; Social Stratification

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Michigan
• 15 years of teaching and research in sociology

Lee Clapp, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering

Areas of Expertise:

Water Quality and Water Treatment

Degrees/Certifications/Training

• M.S. and Ph.D. in environmental engineering
• M.S. in water resources management

Jesus De La Rosa, Assistant Professor, Department of Art

Areas of Expertise:

Graphic Design; Painting; Drawing; and Printmaking

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Master of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts,

Randy W. DeYoung, Ph.D., Research Scientist and Associate Professor, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute

Areas of Expertise:

Wildlife Genetics, Population Genetics, Molecular Ecology

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• BS in Agriculture
• MS in Range and Wildlife Management
• PhD in Wildlife Science, minor in Molecular Biology
• 12 years as a research scientist

 

Cathy Downs, Ph.D., Professor, Dept. of Language and Literature

Areas of Expertise:

American Literature; Creative Writing

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. in English, specialty is American and twentieth-century literature.

 

Horacio A. Duarte, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Chemical and Natural Gas Engineering

Areas of Expertise:

Measurement of thermophysical properties of chemicals; Modeling and simulation of chemical processes

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, TAMU

 

Tyler M. Farney, Ph.D., CSCS, USAW,Assistant Professor,Department of Health & Kinesiology

Areas of Expertise:

Exercise/Sport Physiology; Muscle Physiology; Applied Biomechanics; Strength and Conditioning;

Human Performance

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D., Louisiana State University
• M.S., The University of Memphis
• B.S., Colorado State University
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), National Strength and Conditioning

Association

• Sports Performance Coach, USA Weightlifting (USAW)

 

La Vonne Fedynich, M. Ed., C.A.G.S., Ed.D., Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership and Counseling

Areas of Expertise:

Curriculum and Instruction; Educational Leadership

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Master's degree in education
• Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAGS) on Education Leadership
• Doctorate in educational leadership

 

Dean T. Ferguson, Ph.D., Professor of History

Areas of Expertise:

Early Modern France (1500-1800); French Revolution; Renaissance and Reformation; Informal Sector;  Poverty in World History; History of European Family Life; History of Urban Poverty; Sub-Saharan Africa; Burundi; Rwanda; and East African History

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D.  – Doctoral thesis and publications in European, American, and African history

 

Manuel Flores, Ph.D.

Chair, Communications Theatre Arts, Associate Professor of Communications/Journalism

Areas of Expertise:

Mass Communications; Advertising/Public Relations; Hispanic Affairs in the USA; Tejano History and Culture; Legacy of the Vaqueros in Texas and the American Southwest; Hispanics in the Media;

Journalism Trends and History; Politics; Military; Education Trends for Hispanics

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership
• Master's degrees in Political Science and Journalism
• More than 100 scholarly presentations at regional, state and national conventions
• Retired as Captain from Texas Army National Guard

 

Cynthia M. Galloway, Ph.D., Professor of Biology

Areas of Expertise:

Botany; Mosses; Forensics; General Biology

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. In Botany
• Master's in Biology
• Certificate in Forensic Science

James (Jim) Glusing, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Director, Institute of Architectural Engineering Heritage

Areas of Expertise:

Historic Documentation & Preservation; Green Design; Space Architecture

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Bachelor of Architecture – University of Houston
• Master of Architecture – University of Houston

 

Marybeth Green, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership and Counseling

Areas of Expertise:

Instructional Technology K-12 & Higher Ed; Distance Learning

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with focus in Instructional Technology
• Certified as distance instructor through VCIP Texas A&M University

 

Dolores Guerrero, Ph.D. , LCSW, Dean of the Honors College

Areas of Expertise:

Clinical Experience (Counseling) with Children, Adolescents and Adults; Child Abuse/Neglect; Medical Settings; Geriatrics; Foster Care Children/Families; Varied Mental Health Issues

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.S.W., M.S.W. and Ph.D. in social work. 
• Licensed clinical social worker (Texas)

 

Norma A. Guzman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Bilingual Education

Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP)

Areas of Expertise:

Bilingual Evaluation Specialist; Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Students and Groups;

Over-Representation of CLD Students in Special Education

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. in Culture Literacy & Language
• M.A. in School Psychology
• Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (License #5702)
• Trained as bilingual evaluation specialist (English and Spanish)

 

Sandra Rideout-Hanzak, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Research Scientist, Dept. of Animal, Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences, and Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute

Areas of Expertise:

Fire Ecology, Restoration Ecology, Forest Ecology, Rangeland Ecology

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. and M.S. in Forestry
• Certified Senior Wildlife Fire Ecologist (by Association for Fire Ecology)
• Lead Instructor for State of Texas Certified Burn Manager program

Christopher M. Hearon, Ph.D.

FACSM, Professor and Chair Coordinator, Human Performance Laboratory Department of Health & Kinesiology

Areas of Expertise:

Exercise Physiology; Environmental Physiology; Fitness Testing; Human Performance

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.S. and M.Ed., Exercise Science, Texas Tech University
• Ph.D., Exercise Physiology, Louisiana State University
• Post-doctoral research training, United States Air Force Research Laboratory
• Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine

Brent C. Hedquist, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Geosciences

Areas of Expertise:

Physical Geography, specifically in Meteorology and Climate, Climate Change, and Geospatial Techniques, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, and GPS

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.S. (1998) in Geography
• M.S. (2002) in Geography
• Ph.D. (2010) in Geography
• Graduate certificate in GIS (2002).
• Professional certificate in GIS (GISP) in 2015.

Gahangir Hossain, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Areas of Expertise:

Artificial Intelligence; Machine Learning; Computer Vision; Multimedia Analytics; Sustainable

Cyber Systems; Complex Optimization Algorithms; Behavioral Bio-Signal Processing and Brain

& Cognitive Sciences

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• PhD 2014 University of Memphis, Engineering, Computer Engineering
• Masters 2013 University of Memphis, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Engineering·
• Masters 2008 Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Computer Science and Computer Engineering, Information Science & Security
• B.Sc. 1998 Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh Electronics and
• Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
• Graduate Certificate, 2011 University of Memphis, Psychology, Cognitive Science

 

Lorraine Killion, Ed.D., Associate Professor, Coordinator, EC-12 Physical Education Program, Department of Health & Kinesiology

Areas of Expertise:

Physical Education Curriculum, Physical Education Teacher Preparation,

Assessment/Evaluation

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.S. Education, Stephen F. Austin State University
• M.A., University of Houston-Clear Lake
• M.Ed., Prairie View A&M University
• Ed.D., University of Houston

Melody Yarbrough Knight, PhD. RN, MCHES, Professor, Coordinator, Health Program, Department of Health and Kinesiology

Areas of Expertise:

Chronic Disease (Asthma, Osteoporosis, Diabetes, Heart Disease); Global Health;

Psychoactive drugs; Nutrition; Obesity

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• PhD, Health Education, Texas A&M University
• MS, Exercise Science, Texas Tech University
• BS, Church Recreation, Southwest Baptist University (MO)
• Registered Nurse
• Master Certified Health Education Specialist

Jingbo Louise Liu, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science (US Air Force DEBI Fellow and JSPS Invitation Fellow) (JSPS: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)

Areas of Expertise:

Green Energy (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells; Solid Oxide Fuel Cells); Nanotechnology (Metal and Metal oxide catalysis); Cleantech (Water and Air Purification); Gas Storage and Capture (H 2 Production, Storage and Application, Metal-organic Frameworks for Carbon Capture and Caged Porous Materials for Shale Gas Storage) Cancer Theranostics (Amphiphilic Nanocomposites and Metal-organic Frameworks)

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.S, 1989 Heilongjiang University Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
• M.Sc, 1995 Heilongjiang University Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
• Ph.D., 2001 Univ. of Sci. & Tech. Beijing Materials Science and Engineering
• PDF, 2002 University of Calgary Chemistry
• 2016 Full Professor Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Chemistry
• 2011-2016 Associate Professor Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Chemistry
• 2006-2011 Assistant Professor Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Chemistry
• 2009 Guest Faculty Argonne National Laboratory
• 2005-06 Visiting Assistant Professor West Virginia Univ. Institute of Tech
• 2004-05 Research Associate Clarkson Univ., Center of Advanced Materials Processing,
• 2001-04 Research Associate and Sessional Instructor Univ. of Calgary, Chemistry

 

Austin McCoy, Director of the Javelina Engineering Student Success Center

Areas of Expertise:

Student Success Program Development; Event Planning; Degree Checkout

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• 8 years experience in advising, degree analysis, and program assessment
• 2 years experience in degree checkout and preparation

Brian E. Menaker, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Health & Kinesiology

Areas of Expertise:

Sport Management; Risk Management; Event Management; Facility Operations and Planning;

Sport Policy

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.A., History, Grinnell College
• M.A., Sport Studies, University of Iowa
• Ph.D., Sport Management, University of Florida
• Level I Coach, USA Track and Field

Patrick L. Mills, D.Sc., Professor, Department Chair, and the Frank H. Dotterweich Chair, Chemical and Natural Gas Engineering

Areas of Expertise:

Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Catalysis; Multiphase Reaction Engineering for Chemicals, Polymers and Pharmaceuticals; Transport Phenomena, Thermodynamics, Process Design, Mathematical Modeling; Pilot Plant Design and Operation; Design and Development of Novel Experimental Systems for Reacting Systems; All aspects of Chemical Engineering R&D from Idea Inception through Commercialization

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Tri-State University, Angola, Indiana
• M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis
• D.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis
• 25+ years of R&D experience at three major Fortune 500 companies, including - Monsanto Corporate Research Center, St. Louis, MO; General Electric Corporate R&D Center, Schenectady, NY, and DuPont Company, Central Research & Development, Wilmington, DE
• 10+ years of consulting experience in chemical process research & development for various technology companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies
• Continuing Education Instructor, American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Adjunct Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware
• Adjunct Professor of Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis
• Professor, Department of Chemical & Natural Gas Engineering, TAMU-K
• Author or co-author of over 150 publications in chemical engineering and applied mathematics; Presented more than 200 papers at professional society meetings; Named co-inventor on 2 patents.
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers; Sigma Xi, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics; Past chair of the Chair of the AIChE Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Division

 

Richard L. Miller, Ph. D., Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology and Sociology

Areas of Expertise:

Social Influence: Attitude change, persuasion, compliance, leadership, social power, and organizational effectiveness; Organizational Behavior: Resistance to change, managerial transition, decision making; Cross-cultural Psychology: Conflict resolution, interpersonal attraction, multi-cultural identity, social comparison processes among sojourners, impact of sojourners on the host nation; Environment and Behavior: Isolation, environmental stressors, individual approaches to environmental coping, human territoriality; Teaching of Psychology: Critical thinking, ethical responsibilities of faculty, evaluation of teaching, academic standards, pedagogy, science and pseudoscience; Research Methodology: Field methods, policy & program evaluation, attitude measurement.

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.S. Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology - Weber State University
• M.A., Ph. D., Social Psychology – Northwestern University
• CASE/Carnegie Foundation: United States Professor of the Year, 2009

 

Michael T. Muzheve, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Mathematics

Areas of Expertise:

Mathematics Education

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction, with an emphasis in Mathematics Education
• Master of Science in Mathematics
• Master of Philosophy in Mathematics
• Bachelor's degree in Mathematics

Dung Ngo

Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Sociology

Areas of Expertise:

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder; Trauma/Domestic Violence; Asian-American Mental Health

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. Clinical Psychology

Barbara R. Oates, Ph.D., Professor of Marketing

Areas of Expertise:

Marketing; Retailing

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State University)
• B.S. Marketing, M.B.A.-University of North Texas, Ph.D. Marketing
• Worked for Lever Bros, R. T.  French Co, and GMAC prior to teaching
• Family background in operating a grocery store and motel

 

Joon-Yeoul Oh

Ph.D., Associate Professor, Accounting and CIS

Areas of Expertise:

Telecommunications; Network Optimization; Wireless Telecommunication Network Expansion and Optimization; Information Systems Engineering; Non-Linear Programming; Heuristic Integer Programming; Linear Programming; Algorithm Development; Software Development

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering 

 

Sung Park, Ph.D., Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Areas of Expertise:

Signal Processing; Speech Processing; Image Processing

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering

 

Larry Peel, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Areas of Expertise:

Flexible and Traditional Composite Materials; Mechanical Engineering; Materials Science; Aerospace Structures

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.S., Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering;
• M.S. in Engineering Mechanics;
• Extensive research in Aerospace structures, flexible & traditional composite materials, work experience, summer research residencies, PE license

Jonathan Plant, Museum Director, John E. Conner Museum

Areas of Expertise:

Public History, Museum Studies, Artifact Preservation, American History, 18th-19th Centuries, The

Alamo, Civil War History, Victorian Social History, Decorative Arts, 19th Century Texas History,

History of the Trans-Mississippi West, TAMUK History, Genealogy.

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• M.A., American History/Southwestern Studies & Museum Studies
• B.A., English Literature & English Technical Writing
• Demonstrator of Living History, 19th Century
• 5 years’ experience as Park Naturalist/Interpreter
• 20 years’ experience working in Public History, including museums, historic sites, and battlefields

David Ramirez, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Engineering

Areas of Expertise:

Air quality and pollution control

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• M.S. and Ph.D. in environmental engineering

 

George Allen Rasmussen, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies

Areas of Expertise:

Rangeland Management; Rangeland Fire Ecology; Rangeland Improvements; Invasive Species

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. in Range Science, focus on fire ecology on rangelands
• M.S. range science interactions of wildlife
• Livestock interactions with prescribed fire and rangelands
• Worked as a rangeland specialist at Utah State University working in the Western United States, Canada, Australia, Morocco, Ethiopia-- continued this work at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, working in other areas, including Mexico,  Jordan and Israel.

 

Susan Roberson, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Professor, Language and Literature

Areas of Expertise:

19^th Century American Literature; American Travel Writing

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• M.A. and Ph.D. in English

Alberto Rodriguez, Ph.D, Assistant Professor History Department, Managing Editor of the Journal of South Texas History, and Coordinator of Publications for the Institute for Architectural Engineering at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Areas of Expertise:

Gender, Race, Class, and Ethnicity on the Borderlands; Mexican/Mexican American, Black/African America, and Anglo Migration; Latina/o and Chicana/o History; Baseball History; Tejano and Conjunto Music; Texas/South Texas History

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. in History, University of Houston, 2011
• M.A. in History, University of Texas-Pan American, 2005
• B.A. in History, University of Texas-Pan American, 2003

Elda E. Sánchez, Ph.D., Co-Director of National Natural Toxins Research Center, Assistant Professor

Areas of Expertise:

Biochemistry of Venoms; Antivenoms; Snakes

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.S. and M.S. in Biology
• Ph.D. In Toxinology
  
  

Nestor W. Sherman, Ph.D., Regents Professor, Department of Health & Kinesiology

Areas of Expertise:

Standardized Testing, Olympic Games

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ed.D. in in Physical Education with an emphasis in Measurement & Evaluation from the

University of Houston:

• Coursework at the Deutsche Sporthochschule in Cologne, Germany regarding the Ancient & Modern Olympics

 

Amber M. Shipherd

Ph.D., CC-AASP, Assistant Professor, Coordinator, Performance Psychology Program, Department of Health & Kinesiology

Areas of Expertise:

Applied Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology (SEPP), Coaching Psychology,

Psychology of Injury, Self-Efficacy in Sport, Exercise, and Performance, Leadership Development

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.S., Human Development/Psychology, University of California - Davis
• M.S., Educational Psychology/Sport Psychology, The Florida State University
• Ph.D., Educational Psychology/Sport and Exercise Psychology, Texas Tech University
• Certified Consultant #458, Association for Applied Sport Psychology
• United States Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry
• Certification in Program Evaluation, The Florida State University
• 9 years of mental performance consulting with novice and elite athletes, exercisers, and performers

 

Tushar Sinha, Assistant Professor, Environmental Engineering

Areas of Expertise:

Water Quantity and Quality Modeling; Surface Water-Groundwater Interactions, Streamflow and Drought Forecasting; Climate Change Impacts Assessment; Water Resources Management; GIS applications

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. in Hydrology, 2004-2008 (Purdue University)
• M.S. in Water Resources Engineering, 2001-2002 (IIT Delhi, India)
• B.S. in Agricultural Engineering, 1997-2001 (MPUAT, Udaipur, India)
• ESRI Virtual Course Certificates on ArcGIS and Spatial Analysis

 

Forrest Smith

South Texas Natives Director

Areas of Expertise:

Native Plants; Wildlife Habitat Restoration; Exotic and Invasive Plant Control

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.S. Range and Wildlife Management-Texas A&M University-Kingsville
• Employed 10 yrs. at South Texas Natives Project at Texas A&M University-Kingsville

 

Michael Tewes Ph.D., Regents Professor and Frank D. Yturria Endowed Chair for Wild Cat Studies

Areas of Expertise:

Wild Cats (mountain lion or cougars, bobcats, ocelots, jaguarundis, and others)

Endangered cats (ocelots, jaguarundis, margays, clouded leopards, etc.)--NOT ENDANGERED SPECIES

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. and 30 years of experience in wild cat research, management and conservation

 

Jacqueline Thomas, Ph.D., Regents Professor of French and Chevalier, Ordre des Palmes Académiques

Areas of Expertise:

French Language and Culture; Bilingual Education; Linguistics

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ed.D. in Bilingual Education, and has been a French teacher for 40 years.

 

Daniella G. Varela, Certification Officer, Office of Student Services, College of Education

Areas of Expertise:

Educator Preparation; Educator Certification; Educator Testing.

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and English Writing/Rhetoric
• Will complete a Master of Arts in Public Administration this December
• Work experience with the Texas Education Agency in the division of Educator Certification and Standards prior to employment at Texas A&M University-Kingsville

 

Zhaohui Wang, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Areas of Expertise:

Medical imaging; Biosensor & MEMS; VLSI & Micro/Nanoelectronics, Remote sensing, Artificial intelligence

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Postdoctoral training in Center for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics, Heart & Vascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, 07/2011-09/2013.
• Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, May 2011, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, May 2008, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
• Master of Science in Bioengineering, July 2005, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio

 

Colin Wark, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Sociology

Areas of Expertise:

U.S. Drug Laws, U.S. Death Penalty Laws

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Missouri

Chongwei Xiao, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Natural Gas and Chemical Engineering

Areas of Expertise:

Hydraulic fracturing fluids; gas hydrates; microfluidics; complex fluid mechanics; chemical engineering

Degrees/Certifications/Training:

• B.S. in Chemistry, Hubei University, China
• M.E. in Applied Chemistry, Beijing, China
• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Wyoming, USA
• Extensive research in hydraulic fracturing fluids, gas hydrates, CO₂ capture and storage, CO₂ enhanced oil recovery, reservoir simulation, multiphase fluid flow, computational fluid dynamics (CFD)