Posted on May 1, 2025 by Nick Ward
The College of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA) is proud to celebrate the achievements of seven outstanding faculty members recognized at the 2025 UTSA University Excellence Awards. These annual awards honor faculty and staff who exemplify the university’s commitment to academic excellence, community engagement, student success, and groundbreaking research.
Winners of the University Excellence awards alongside COLFA leadership
The College of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA) is proud to celebrate the achievements of seven outstanding faculty members recognized at the 2025 UTSA University Excellence Awards. These annual awards honor faculty and staff who exemplify the university’s commitment to academic excellence, community engagement, student success, and groundbreaking research.
This year’s honorees from COLFA represent a diverse range of disciplines and professional tracks. Each recipient has made a distinctive impact on UTSA’s academic mission and student experience.
2025 President’s Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award Recipients – COLFA
Excellence in Core Curriculum Teaching
-
Drew Stephen, Associate Professor, Music (Tenured/Tenure-Track)
-
Mimi Yu, Professor of Practice, Modern Languages (Fixed-Term Track)
Excellence in Community Engagement
-
Tracy Cowden, Professor, Music (Tenured/Tenure-Track)
-
Guillermina Zabala Suárez, Professor of Practice, Interdisciplinary School for Engagement (Fixed-Term Track)
Research Achievement
-
Juliet Wiersema, Associate Professor, Art (Tenured)
-
Thomas Yee, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Music (Fixed-Term Track)
Faculty Mentoring
-
Kasandra Keeling, Professor, Music (Tenured/Tenure-Track)
Richard S. Howe Faculty Excellence in Service to Undergraduate Students Award
-
Andria Crosson, Assistant Professor of Practice, History
— Nick Ward
