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News Release

TSUS Foundation Announces 2024 Regents' Award Winners (08/09/24)


(AUSTIN) – The Texas State University System Foundation today announced nine recipients of the 2024 Regents’ Professor, Student Scholar, Teacher, and Staff Excellence Awards. The honorees— faculty, staff, and a student representing four TSUS member institutions—were announced at the TSUS Board of Regents meeting in Austin.

Regents’ Professor Award, which honors professors who demonstrate a record of distinguished teaching, research or other scholarly activities, and service at the local, state, and national levels. 

  • Sean Kerwin, Ph.D. – Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University
  • Jill Pruetz, Ph.D. – Anthropology, Texas State University
  • Pamela Zelbst, Ph.D. – Management, Marketing, and Information Systems, Sam Houston State University

Regents’ Student Scholar Award, which recognizes students for outstanding academic achievement and scholarship, leadership abilities, and contributions to the institution and their community.

  • Jacob Spurlock – Junior, Communication Studies major, Sul Ross State University

Regents’ Teacher Award, which recognizes faculty for outstanding teaching, contributions to the development of courses, and the use of innovative teaching methods, among other criteria.

  • Elizabeth Eger, Ph.D. – Communication Studies, Texas State University
  • Jennifer Miller-Ray, Ph.D. – Education, Sul Ross State University
  • Cindy Royal, Ph.D. – Journalism and Mass Communication, Texas State University

Regents’ Staff Excellence Award, which recognizes staff members who excel in six areas: commitment to the university and its mission; job competency; collegiality; duration of service; community involvement; and exceptional achievements.

  • Leslie Perkins – Support Services Specialist, Lamar University
  • William “Bill” Tidwell – Director of Procurement and Business Services, Sam Houston State University

The Regents’ Awards were established in 2007 to honor faculty, students, and employees who have made extraordinary contributions to their institution, community, and state. Nominees undergo a series of rigorous evaluations by peer faculty and external reviewers.

Regents’ Professor and Student Scholar award winners will be formally recognized at the November 2024 Board of Regents meeting in Beaumont. Regents’ Teacher and Staff Excellence award winners will receive formal recognition at the February 2025 Board of Regents meeting in Austin.

About TSUS
The Texas State University System is the state’s first university system, with seven institutions serving more than 90,000 students from far West Texas to the Gulf Coast. Established in 1911, the mission of TSUS is to provide high-quality, affordable degree and credential programs to meet the needs of Texas’ diverse and fast-growing economy.