Texas A&M University and The Association of Former Students selected 25 outstanding faculty and staff to be honored with the 2024 university-level Distinguished Achievement Awards. Since 1955, the Distinguished Achievement Awards have been granted to those who exhibit the highest standards of excellence at Texas A&M.

The award honors Texas A&M faculty and staff members in teaching, research, individual student engagement, graduate mentoring, administration, staff and extension/outreach/continuing education/professional development.

The selection process for this award is rigorous, with the recipients chosen by a campus-wide committee composed of faculty, staff, students and former students. The award is a testimony to the esteem and high regard in which colleagues hold the recipients.

Jennifer Ford, senior associate director in the Department of Student Life, and Col. Gerald "Jerry" L. Smith '82, USMC (Ret.), director of the Veteran Resource and Support Center were the only staff members honored with the award.

Ford has worked for the Division of Student Affairs for 25 years in various roles. In each role, she has remained focus on the goal of serving students.

“Jennifer’s focus on three small phrases to live by, Be Kind, Do Good, and Choose Joy, are a living embodiment of her impact,” Dr. Stephanie Baker, director of Student Life, wrote in Ford’s nomination packet. “I find these three small sentiments reflect the essence of who Jennifer Ford is at work, at home, as a volunteer, as a friend, and everywhere she goes.”

Ford has been described by her colleagues as a trailblazer who is committed to progress. This past year, she spearheaded an initiative to reimagine the former Women’s Resource Center into the form of the Women’s Support Services unit within the Student Assistance Services office, a change that was made to better support the changing landscape of women’s programming. Her ability to innovate and adapt to the diverse needs of students is part of what makes her such a key part of her department, the university and the community.

Smith’s career at Texas A&M has spanned a total of 15 years. As both a proud member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie class of ’82 and a United States Marine Corps Veteran, Smith fits well into his current role as the first director of the Veteran Resource and Support Center. Smith has led the growth of his department from a $171,444 budget to over $15 million, including development dollars in the past 11 since the department was created.

“As a result of Col. Smith’s vision, the center has been able to make a profound difference in the lives of veteran students in a relatively short period of time,” Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Kristen Harrell said. “This monumental shift in resources that directly serve veteran students comes from a tremendous amount of work that Col. Smith has put into the department.”

In addition to serving the student-veteran population at Texas A&M, Smith has also assisted other institutions of higher education in developing strategic plans for veteran services which has situated Texas A&M’s Veteran Resource and Support Center as a leader in veteran support services.

Through their work to support the ever-changing student population at Texas A&M, it is clear why Jennifer Ford and Col. Jerry Smith are deserving of the Distinguished Achievement Award. The Division of Student Affairs is incredibly proud to have such outstanding staff members who are committed to student success.