Graduate College Awards Recipients

Garrett Douglas, who earned a Master of Music with a Major in Music, is the recipient of the Graduate College’s 2024-2025 Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Humanities and Fine Arts. His thesis, Rediscovering Three Texas Women Composers and Their Music: Zulema Garcia (1870-1907), Stella Kaiser (1873-1953), And Julia D. Owen (1868-1964), was directed by Dr. Nico Schüler, University Distinguished Professor in the School of Music. Congratulations to Garrett for his outstanding research.

Adrian Fernandez, who earned a Master of Science with a Major in Biochemistry, is the recipient of the Graduate College’s 2024-2025 Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in Math, Physical Sciences, and Engineering. His thesis, Temperature-Dependent Supramolecular Remodeling of Polyether Perylene Diimides, was directed by Dr. Sean M. Kerwin, Regents’ Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Congratulations to Adrian for his outstanding research.

Dr. Adam Clark, who earned his Ph.D. in Geography, won The Graduate College’s 2025-2026 Outstanding Dissertation Award in the Humanities and Fine Arts. His dissertation, The Role of Cartography and Visualization in Hazard Risk Communication: An Examination of the Houston Chronicle, 1945 to 2020, was directed by Ron Hagelman, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies.

Dr. Mar Moretta-Urdiales, who earned her Ph.D. in Aquatic Resources and Integrative Biology, won The Graduate College’s 2025-2026 Outstanding Dissertation Award in the Biological and Life Sciences. Her dissertation, Host-pathogen dynamics of the amphibian-killing fungus in mainland Ecuador, was directed by David Rodriguez, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Biology.

The 2024-2025 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award recipient is Dr. Melissa A. Martinez, Professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education and School Psychology.  She was recognized in particular for her long-standing success as a dissertation director and mentor to many doctoral students in her program, who attested to her positive influence on their careers. She also developed effective resources for her own students that are now shared with students across education programs.

Dr. Paula Williamson, a faculty member in Biology and a former associate dean in The Graduate College, is the 2016–2017 recipient of the regional CSGS Outstanding Contributions to Graduate Education in the Southern Region Award. She received the award for her excellent contributions to graduate education at Texas State and at the regional and national levels.

Distinguished Texas State Biology Graduate Alumnus (1966), Dr. Kenneth Wilson, received the 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award on October 25, 2013 at the Distinguished Alumni Awards Gala organized by the TXST Alumni Association. Wilson has worked both in the biotechnology industry and taught at universities such as the Royal University of Phnom Penh in Cambodia. The Wilsons have established the Wilson International Exchange Scholarship through the Center for International Studies at TXST. The scholarship allows faculty and students to carry out collaborative research and teaching in Cambodia and other parts of the world.