Inaugural Honors Aggie Core Values Faculty Fellows
Inaugural Honors Aggie Core Values Faculty Fellows
Jim Ball wants to live in a world where art and life bleed seamlessly into one another.
He is an Associate Professor of Performance Studies in the College of Performance, Visualization & Fine Arts and has taught at Texas A&M for 10 years. Dr. Ball also served as Director of the Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts from 2020-2025.
When Jim is not teaching or conducting research, you can find him making collages, carving woodcut prints, and taking analog photographs, often with his two young children in tow.
Learn more here: https://pvfa.tamu.edu/staff/james-ball-iii/
Robert F. Carley wants to live in a world where education, healthcare, and democracy are eminently accessible and broadly distributed.
He is an associate professor in the Department of International Affairs and has taught at Texas A&M for almost 20 years now in different roles. He's has been recognized by the Cultural Studies Association for his leadership and service (2023 recipient of The Outstanding Service and Leadership Award), the North Central Sociological Association for his contributions to social theory and social movement studies (2017 recipient of The Scholarly Achievement Award), and by the International Gramsci Society (at its fifth general assembly on 1 October 2021 in Cagliari, Italy) as a principal North American Gramsci scholar.
When he is not teaching, you can find him running errands, daydreaming about a nap.
Dan Collins wants to live in a world where integrity is important, people are kind and empathetic, and that every day brings new challenges and successes.
He is an Associate Instructional Professor in the Department of Chemistry and has taught at Texas A&M for 10 years. Dan has been awarded the 2019 Residence Life Honoring Excellence Award, 2020 McGraw-Hill ALEKS All-Star Educator of the Year award, and the 2021 Association of Former Students College Level Teaching Award for the College of Science. Dan later won the Association of Former Students University Level Teaching Award in 2022. He was named the 2023 Outstanding Advocate for First-Year Students by the Texas A&M University Office of Student Success. In 2024, Dan was named earned the APT Teaching Excellence Award given by the Office of the Provost and the Open-Access Educational Resources (OER) Award given by the Student Government Association. He is a member of the Aggie Honor Council, University Discipline and Academic Appeals Panels, and is the Co-Director of Outreach for the Chemistry Department.
When Dan is not teaching, you can find him on the campus golf course, volunteering his time as a Little League umpire, and is an avid STEM volunteer. He also loves being Sara's husband, Penny the Dog's dad, and is a movie, music, and book fan!
Discover more at: https://artsci.tamu.edu/chemistry/contact/profiles/daniel-collins.html
Dan Conway wants to live in a world in which education is valued and celebrated.
He is a Professor of Philosophy and has taught at Texas A&M for 18 years.
When Dan is not teaching, you can find him exploring the surrounding area on his mountain bike.
Learn more at https://philosophy.tamu.edu/html/bio-Conway.html
Sara Dowd wants to live in a world where hopes of peace and love aren't considered unrealistic or childish.
She is a lecturer in Psychology and Brain Sciences and has taught at Texas A&M for 4 years (more like 8 if you count when she taught during grad school). Sara has been awarded the Psychology Department's Undergraduate Teaching and Mentorship award.
When Sara is not teaching, you can find her writing, teaching ballet, and chauffeuring children.
Sara is deeply afraid of the internet and will never have a personal website.
Dr. Jen Dulin wants to live in a world where every individual has opportunities to succeed and thrive.
She is an Associate Professor of Biology and has taught at Texas A&M for 7 years. She is also an Aggie (c/o 2005) who majored in Biochemistry. Dr. Dulin has been honored with the Texas A&M College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Mentoring Award, the Betty M. Unterberger Award for Outstanding Service to Honors Education, and the Ethyl Ashworth-Tsutsui Memorial Lecture.
When Dr. Dulin is not teaching, you can find her working in her research lab, where she leads a team of 25 students on projects focusing on developing cures for spinal cord injury.
Learn more at https://dulinlabtamu.wixsite.com/
Andrea Ettekal wants to live in a world where humans thrive in mutually beneficial coaction with the environment.
She is an Associate Professor in Educational Psychology and has taught at Texas A&M for 7 years. Andrea received the Outstanding Scholar Award from the American Education Research Association, and the Exemplary Diversity Scholar Award from the National Center for Institutional Diversity.
When Andrea is not teaching, you can find her running, hiking, or doing something active with her husband and 7-year-old son.
Learn about Andrea's research on character development:
https://youtu.be/Lq0JY2zpvEA?si=LTjkCc49njQ1RKJH
https://www.mcgillschoolpsychinstitute.com/ettekalpodcast.html
Jodie Gary wants to live in a world where we can have stigma-free care that is personalized to the health each person desires.
She is an Associate Professor in the College of Nursing and has taught at Texas A&M for 17 years. Jodie has been honored to care for those in need of critical care and is an active member of the local and national chapters of the American Association of Critical Care.
When Jodie is not teaching, you can find her honing her creativity in the kitchen.
Find more at https://nursing.tamu.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/jodie-gary.html
Jennifer Griffith wants to live in a world where everyone thinks critically and engages creatively.
She is an Instructional Professor in Health Policy and Management and has taught at Texas A&M for 17 years. Jennifer has received several teaching awards including the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health Reigelman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education (2024) and the Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching-University level (2025). In 2021 she was the Fish Camp Namesake for Session B, Yellow!
When Jennifer is not teaching, you can find her road-tripping to visit family and friends, exploring National Parks, cycling, or crafting.
You can view her department profile here: https://public-health.tamu.edu/directory/griffith.html.
Jonathan Guajardo wants to work to create a world where people feel free to make stuff, take risks, and be awesome!
He is an Assistant Professor of the Practice in the Department of Communication and Journalism and is originally from San Antonio, Texas. He has taught at Texas A&M for 6 years and serves as the Co-Director of the Creative Media Lab, the Course Director for COMM 275: Intro to Social Media, and the faculty advisor for three student organizations: the TAMU Speech and Debate Team, A-Line Magazine, and SAIL Sophomore Leadership Organization. Additionally, he is a Higher Education Administration doctoral candidate at Texas Tech University where his research explores utilizing digital communicative technologies to build a stronger sense of belonging between online students and their institutions of higher learning.
When Jonathan is not teaching or researching, you can find him running one of his three companies: a media production company called GA Media and two hyper-local online news publications, the San Antonio Sentinel and the Bryan-College Station Chronicle. He also enjoys spending time with his friends and family, attending Aggie sporting events with his wife, Areeba, playing chess with his students, gaming, reading, golfing, and listening to his extensive record collection on his HiFi system. Additionally, he loves to grill and holds end-of-the-year barbecues for the students in his classes, so be sure to drop by and see him towards the end of the semester if you want some free barbecue!
Learn more about Jonathan at the following links:
Personal Website – www.jonathanrguajardo.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/dajohnnyg
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jonathanrguajardo
James Herman wants to live in a world where excellence is pursued by all, and respect is universal. A person's integrity is without question and selfless service is a part of their daily life. A person leads in a manner that is loyal to the success of the whole and affirms the dignity of all.
He is a Clinical Professor in Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology and has taught at Texas A&M for 29 years. James has been awarded the Presidential Professor of Teaching Excellence and the University Professor of Undergraduate Teaching Excellence.
When James is not teaching, you can find him taking care of grandkids, working out, reading, and traveling.
Josh Hicks wants to live in a world where people are kind and trust each other again.
He is a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and has taught at Texas A&M University for 16 years. Josh is a fellow of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.
When he’s not teaching, you can find him driving his two sons around town and dropping them off at various events……every single day.
Learn more about Josh and his research at https://existentialpsych.sites.tamu.edu/
Claire Katz wants to live in a world where the least among us are cared for, where all cats have loving homes, and people love to read and discuss ideas.
She is a professor of philosophy and education in Teaching, Learning and Culture and the Department of Philosophy and has taught at Texas A&M for 19 years. She is an Arts and Humanities Fellow (2022-2025) and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Humanities Alliance. She was recognized by Texas A&M with the 2020 Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence and the 2019 Association of Former Students University Level Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching Excellence. She was recognized by the American Philosophical Association with the 2019 Prize for Excellence in Philosophy Teaching and the 2020 APA/PDC Award for Excellence and Innovation in Philosophy Programs for P4C Texas and the Aggie School of Athens Philosophy Camp for Teens. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Kappa Delta Pi, and Phi Sigma Tau.
When she is not teaching, you can find her reading, watching movies, walking, swimming, hanging out with her family, which includes her husband, two daughters, and three cats.
http://p4ctexas.sites.tamu.edu
https://directory.education.tamu.edu/view/ckatz
https://artsci.tamu.edu/philosophy/contact/profiles/claire-katz.html
Curry Kennedy wants to live in a world where words give life.
He is an Assistant Professor in English and has taught at Texas A&M for 2 years. Curry is a member of the American Society for the History of Rhetoric Steering Committee, where he develops programming for teaching wisdom and eloquence.
When Curry is not teaching, you can find him drawing or writing.
Andrew Klein wants to live in a world where facts matter, we respect everyone and strive to work productively together to improve our world.
He is a Professor in Geography and has taught at Texas A&M for 26 years. Andrew has been awarded the AFS College Level Teaching Award twice and currently holds the EOG Teaching Professorship in Geosciences.
When Andrew is not teaching, you can find him directing an Online Masters of Geoscience program, sometimes gardening and occasionally going to Antarctica.
Discover more at https://artsci.tamu.edu/geography/contact/profiles/andrew-klein.html.
David Koepsell wants to live in a world where libraries are desired hangout spots for all.
He is an Instructional Assistant Professor in the Philosophy Department and has taught at Texas A&M for four years. He has also been admitted to the NY Bar as an attorney for 29 years.
When David is not teaching, you can find him walking, playing with any dogs he finds, tossing the ole pigskin with his kids, or reading on a porch.
Discover more at https://davidkoepsell.com
Kristine Korzow wants to live in a world where we can all feel empowered to express ourselves in the myriad of human ways.
She is an Assistant Professor in the Archaeology Department and has taught at Texas A&M for less than one year. Kristine has been recognized for both her teaching and research.
When Kristine is not teaching, you can find her singing or playing with her four-legged canine companion named Persephone.
Discover more at www.zalag.org
Manuela Marchesini envisions a world where global cultures and languages are valued, understood, and celebrated through education and cultural exchange.
As an Associate Professor of Italian in the Department of Global Languages and Cultures, she has taught at Texas A&M for twenty years. Manuela has been a published author of multiple scholarly books including the monographs Scrittori in funzione d'altro (2005) and La galleria interiore dell'Ingegnere (2014). Her research appears in prestigious American and Italian journals such as MLN, Italica, and Intersezioni, and others. She has been a presenter at international academic conferences, including upcoming research she'll present at Oxford University.
When not in the classroom, Manuela explores the world through travel and cultural immersion, experiences that inform both her teaching and her current book project. Her global perspective enriches her courses on figures like Émilie du Châtelet, where she connects French Enlightenment thinking with global scientific movements and cross-cultural intellectual exchange.
Dr. Francesca Marini wants to live in a world where everyone can be themselves, while also respecting and protecting everyone else. A world where we can communicate without animosity. A world where people, animals and nature are all equally respected. A world without violence and hatred. We can get there!
She is an Associate Professor with tenure in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts (we do not have departments) since its inception (September 2022), and she previously worked in the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives for eight years; she has been at Texas A&M for over 10 years. Francesca is a former President of the Theatre Library Association and has held leadership positions in several theatre and archival associations. Before joining Texas A&M, she served as Director of Archives at the Stratford Festival in Canada, and taught at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. She was a 2007 Honorary Research Fellow and Arts and Humanities Data Service-Performing Arts Visiting Fellow at the University of Glasgow.
When Francesca is not teaching/writing/serving on committees/attending College events/meeting with students/etc., you can find her attending shows, playing with her pets, having coffee with friends, visiting the beautiful Texas countryside with her husband, or visiting her family in Italy.
Learn more at https://pvfa.tamu.edu/staff/francesca-marini/.
Tommy McDonald wants to live in a world where people truly care about each other and strive to do their best at whatever they do.
He is a Regents Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and has taught at Texas A&M for 20 years. Tommy McDonald has been awarded the TAMU AFS Distinguished Teaching Award at the College Level, was named a TAMU Regents Professor, and was Recognized by Aggies Celebrate Teaching-Recognizing Transformations Learning. In addition to the teaching awards, he was awarded the Excellence in Service and Leadership Award by the HSC and is a Fellow in the TAMU Institute of Sustainable Communities.
When Tommy McDonald is not teaching (if he is at work), he can be found in his laboratory.
Learn more at https://public-health.tamu.edu/directory/mcdonald.html.
Dr. Joshua Peeples wants to live in a world where everyone has equal access to education and support to pursue their dreams/aspirations.
He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and has taught at Texas A&M for three years. Dr. Peeples has been awarded with the Florida Education Fund's McKnight Doctoral Fellowship, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, and US Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship.
When Dr. Peeples is not teaching, you can find him watching football, taking a nature walk, and hanging out with family.
Learn more at https://avll.engr.tamu.edu/.
Noah Peterson wants to live in a world where students are excited to learn.
He is a Senior Lecturer in the English Department and has taught at Texas A&M for 14 years. Noah Peterson is the convenor of the Medieval Studies Working Group, a Glasscock Center Humanities Research Working Group.
When Noah is not teaching, you can find him painting miniatures or planning for sessions of D&D.
Rhonda Rahn (Aggie class of '97, '00, & '14) wants to live in a world where everyone surrounds themselves with people and activities that bring them joy.
She is an Instructional Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior in the School of Public Health and has taught at Texas A&M for 13 years but has worked on campus for 30 years starting when she was an undergraduate. Dr. Rahn has been awarded the Margaret Annette Peters Advising Award, the Reta Haynes Faculty Fellowship Award, honored as a FishCamp and T-Camp namesake, and is a member of several professional organizations such as the Society for Public Health Education, American College Health Association, and Association of Schools and Programs in Public Health. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist.
When Dr. Rahn is not teaching, you can find her engaging with her husband (Aggie class of '97 & '16) and two sons (Aggies class of '25 & '29), working out, or reading.
Hector Ramos wants to live in a world where people are led by generosity and development of our potential as a community.
He is a lecturer in Educational Psychology and has taught at Texas A&M for 10 years. Hector has been awarded the alumni award at Buffalo State, NY and has become the president of the 40-year-old American Creativity Association. His greatest grant award is a $500,000 REEU (intensive summer camp lab experience) with the Entomology Department.
When Hector is not teaching, you can find him either involved in a church activity (prayer, home group) or following history-based movies and documentaries on Prime TV.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-ramos-ph-d-966139/
Philip Ritchey wants to live in a more just, verdant, and peaceful world.
He is an Instructional Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and has taught at Texas A&M for more than 10 years. Prof. Ritchey has won awards and been recognized, but most importantly, he is the loudest and proudest member of the Fighting Texas Aggie Class of 2007.
When Prof. Ritchey is not teaching, you can find him on the way to or from a class or meeting, or in his office, or on Zoom, or in Singapore, or in da club.
Learn more at tx.ag/profritchey, reddit.com/u/prof_ritchey, and twitch.tv/prof_ritchey.
Niki Ritchey wants to live in a world where education, community, and self-improvement are valued above all else.
She is an Associate Professor of the Practice in the First Year Engineering program and has taught at Texas A&M for 6 years. Niki has been awarded the Engineering Teaching Impact Award in 2024 and has served as course coordinator for ENGR 102 since 2021.
When Niki is not teaching, you can find her playing with her kids (6 and 3), knitting, or reading.
Elizabeth Robinson wants to live in a world where human life is valued, faith is respected, excellence is pursued, grace and mercy abound . . . and everybody loves a good read!
She is an Instructional Professor in the English department and has taught at Texas A&M for 35 years. Dr. Robinson has been awarded the AFS Distinguished Award, College Level, for Teaching, the Association of Former Students Distinguished Award for Individual Student Relationships, the Honors Student Council Wells Fargo Honors Faculty Mentor of the Year Award. She has also been honored as a T-Camp Namesake and a Fish Camp Namesake.
When Dr. Robinson is not teaching, you can find her spending time with her husband, sons, and dog, reading a good book, watching British detective TV shows, and actively participating in her church.
Lorenzo Rossi wants to live in a world where connections are genuine, and individual skills are celebrated. He is a passionate communicator and networker, always eager to engage with new people and start constructive discussions.
He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences and began teaching at Texas A&M in January 2025. Prior to his appointment at A&M, he served as both an Assistant and Associate Professor at the University of Florida.
Lorenzo received the Innovation in Teaching Award from the University of Florida in 2020. In 2021, he was awarded the Professional Early Career Award in Teaching and Educational Systems by the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS). That same year, in recognition of his excellence in online teaching, he received a Superior Accomplishment Award from UF. More recently, in 2024, he was honored with an Outstanding Educational Material Award from ASHS and was inducted into Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society.
When Lorenzo is not teaching, you can find him exploring new places, organizing events, or simply enjoying a chat over coffee.
Daniel Tabor wants to live in a world where people learn something new every day, and it'd also be nice if computational simulations always converged.
He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and has taught at Texas A&M for six years. Daniel has been awarded the Cottrell Scholar Award by Research Corporation for Science Advancement, the NSF CAREER award, and the Montague-Texas A&M Center for Teaching Excellence Scholar Award.
When Daniel is not teaching, you can find him working with his theoretical chemistry research group and potentially running around campus in early mornings.
Learn more at https://artsci.tamu.edu/chemistry/contact/profiles/daniel-tabor.html.
Dr. Dave Tarvin wants to live in a world where curiosity fuels progress, where people approach challenges with open minds, where empathy shapes interactions, and where unique perspectives are celebrated as opportunities for growth. In this world, value is not placed on knowledge itself, but on the ability to apply it with integrity.
He is an Instructional Professor in the Department of Communication & Journalism and has taught at Texas A&M for 11 years. Dr. Tarvin has been awarded the College of Arts & Science Undergraduate Mentoring Award in 2024, the Director's Award for Outstanding Service to Honors Programs in 2023, was named Fish Camp Namesake in 2020, and is a proud member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society, where he serves as President of the TAMU Chapter for the 2025/2026 academic year.
When Dr. Tarvin is not teaching, you can find him traveling the world with students on study abroad programs, manicuring his garden of tropical plants, or crocheting amigurumi toys for his dogs Grandma Scar, Zoey Batman, and Blue.
Discover Dr. Tarvin's humor style from his TEDxTalk, What kind of funny are you? on YouTube.
Tryon Wickersham wants to live in a world where there is more quiet and more reflection.
He is a professor in Animal Science and has taught at Texas A&M for 19 years. Tryon has been honored to be Erin's husband, Katherine & Lydia's dad, major professor to some of the most amazing graduate students in ruminant nutrition, teacher of over 6000 students, and steward of one dog (Winnie), four horses (Danny, Pepe, Kitty, and Millie), and approximately 100 cows.
When Tryon is not teaching, you can find him with his family taking care of the aforementioned animals, vacationing in the mountains, and mentoring his graduate students.
Discover more in 129 Kleberg, my office, I have never developed a website and work diligently to have a small footprint.