Dear faculty and staff:
Every day, our employees work tirelessly to advance our missions of education, research, clinical care and community service. Established in 1985, the Presidential Excellence Awards recognize exemplary performance by individuals who consistently excel in their positions and demonstrate a strong commitment to the mission and core values of UT San Antonio. The annual awards provide the university the opportunity to recognize outstanding faculty and staff contributions.
Many deserving faculty and staff were nominated to be honored with a Presidential Excellence Award for demonstrating exceptional service in their respective fields. We are grateful to the three committees that oversaw the selection of the faculty awards, led by Jacqueline Mok, PhD, vice president for academic, faculty and student affairs, and the committee that oversaw the selection of the staff awards, led by Danielle McDavid, PHR, manager, HR service delivery, in the Office of Human Resources, for their careful review of those nominated and their selection of the following awardees.
Please join us in congratulating our 2026 Presidential Excellence Award recipients who will be honored during an April dinner event.
Distinguished Senior Research Scholar
Xianlin Han, PhD, Professor and Methodist Hospital Foundation Chair in Aging Studies and Research, Barshop Institute for Aging and Longevity Studies, Long School of Medicine
Junior Research Scholar
Allison D. Ihle, PhD, FN, FAAN, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
Elizabeth V. Wasmuth, PhD, Assistant Professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Freeman Hrabowski Scholar, Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Long School of Medicine
Clinical Excellence
Paula Christianson-Silva, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, DipACLM, Associate Professor/Clinical, School of Nursing
Georgia A. McCann, MD, Professor/Clinical and Division Director, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Long School of Medicine
Teaching Excellence – Emerging
John J. Byrne, MD, MPH, Associate Professor and Residency Program Director, Peter W. Nathanielsz, MD, PhD, ScD Endowed Professorship Fund in Pregnancy and Newborn Research, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Long School of Medicine
Cynthia Linkes, DNP, MSN-CNS, RN, CPHQ, CCM, Associate Professor/Clinical, School of Nursing
Aditya Raghunandan, MD, Professor/Clinical, Rehabilitation Medicine, Long School of Medicine
Anjali Sivaramakrishnan, PhD, PT, Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy, School of Health Professions
Teaching Excellence – Sustained
Moshtagh Farokhi, DDS, MPH, Professor/Clinical, Predoctoral Dental Education, School of Dentistry
Neil A. Kirby, PhD, Professor, Radiation Oncology, Long School of Medicine
Azizeh Sowan, PhD, RN, MSN, MSDA, MBA, FAAN, Professor and Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives, IBS Foundation Endowed Professor in Nursing Informatics and Administration, Thelma and Joe Crow Endowed Professor, School of Nursing
Staff Individual Excellence
Julie Bazan, PhD, MHA, MHP, CHWI, CHW, Director, Academic Programs, Mid Rio Grande Border Area Health Education Center, School of Nursing
Cindal Dominguez, MEd, MBA, Assistant Director, Finance & Administration II, Pharmacology, Long School of Medicine
Daifeng Jiang, PhD, Research Scientist – Senior, Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Long School of Medicine
Paulina Mazurek, EdD, Director, Academic Programs, Undergraduate Medical Education, Long School of Medicine
Mary Guerrero-Muñoz, PhD, MAA, BS, CNMT, Director, Clinical Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, Facilities and Capital Planning
Staff Team Excellence
Team Name: Kyle Seale Parkway Radiology
Team Leader: Edward Devora, Jr., RT(R)(ARRT), Practice Manager
Team Members:
Alexa Anzaldua, Radiology Clinical Facilitator
James C. Berry, RT(R)(CT)(ARRT), Computerized Tomography Technologist-Senior
Josie Evans Bledsoe, RT(R)(MR)(ARRT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist – Athletics
Valerie Cervantes, RT(R)(MR)(ARRT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist
Tameka Collins, RT(R)(ARRT), ARDMS(AB), RVT, Ultrasound Technologist-Senior
Art Escobedo, RT(R)(ARRT), Radiologic Technologist-Senior
Daniel Fernandez, RT(R)(MR)(CT)(ARRT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist
Abelardo Gonzalez, RT(R)(MR)(ARRT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist – PRN
Kristin Jensen, RT(R)(M)(MR)(CT)(ARRT), Practice Supervisor
Maya Ritzil Mason, Registered Nurse-Senior
Bianca Denise Padilla, RT(R)(ARRT), Radiologic Technologist-Intermediate
Melissa Renae Ramirez, Medical Office Receptionist-Intermediate
Jessica R. Rendon, Medical Office Receptionist-Intermediate
Lynne M. Torres, RT(R)(MR)(ARRT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist – PRN
We offer our sincerest congratulations to all.
Taylor Eighmy, PhD
President
Francisco G. Cigarroa, MD
Senior Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Health System