Division of Student Affairs Awards 2026
Congratulations to members of the Division of Student Affairs and Texas A&M University staff who received awards at the 2026 DSA Awards Ceremony for their outstanding contributions to our students and programs!
RANDY MATSON ’67 ASSOCIATION OF FORMER STUDENTS AWARD
Davanna Minter
Student Life
Bryce Reed
Music Activities
JOHN J. KOLDUS III FACULTY AND STAFF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Allison Elsbernd
Texas A&M University School of Law
Debbie Starnes
Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering
J. MALON SOUTHERLAND ’65 AWARD
Barclay Osborne
Career Center
AWARDS OF DISTINCTION
Alex Hersperger
Student Life
CJ Stancheski
Recreational Sports
Megan Buck
Student Life
Nickie McDaniel
Student Life
Russell Tipton
Music Activities
Annie Rose Wipke
Graduate Assistant, MSC Programs
AWARD OF DISTINCTION – TEAM
Club Crawl Transition Team
Josh Seese, Luisa Craig, Jamie Arrexi, Sofia Lafaire, Annie Rose Wipke, Dylan Murray
MSC Programs and DSA Marketing & Communications
DSA AFFILIATE AWARD
Hillary Barth
Human Resources & Organizational Effectiveness
YEARS OF SERVICE
5 Years
Career Center
Clarissa Kerl
Paul Rainey
DSA Marketing & Communications
Victoria Oduba
Multicultural Services
Abigail Ramos
Music Activities
Kate Bertelson
Bryce Reed
Recreational Sports
DJ Scott
Kevin Snyder (Finance)
Residence Life
Carly Smith
Student Affairs, Planning, Assessment & Research
Jon Hill
Student Activities
Rebecca Rodriguez
Student Life
Alex Hersperger
Olivia Elliot
Technology Services – Student Affairs
Mark Lacy
Tim McCaghren
Andrew Plaisance
Jason Stephens
10 Years
Residence Life
Andrea Johannes (Finance)
Student Activities
Lauren Fitch (Finance)
Carly Rice
Elizabeth L. Windon Hiney
Student Life
Kristen Brunson
15 Years
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Hillary Barth (Human Resources)
Desiree Wilson
Recreational Sports
Oscee Wheatfall III
Residence Life
Anna Blackmon
Dr. Gennie Lynn
20 Years
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Julie Anderson
Career Center
Paul Pausky
MSC Programs
Jennifer Santos
25 Years
Disability Resources
Lenny Sanders
MSC Programs
Raye Leigh Stone
Recreational Sports
Sylvia Hernandez (Finance)
Residence Life
Kate Kiernat
Student Community Standards
Lori White
Student Life
Angela Winkler
Technology Services – Student Affairs
Naiyu Zhang
Victor Delgado
30 Years
Music Activities
David Kipp
Student Life
Anna Satterfield
40 Years
Technology Services – Student Affairs
David Swanson
FISH CAMP NAMESAKES
Josh Brown, Student Activities
Dawn Tonkinson, Student Activities
Barclay Osborne, Career Center
Kyle McCraken, Residence Life
Abigail Ramos, Multicultural Services
AGGIE TRANSITION CAMPS NAMESAKES
Jennifer Boyle, T-Camp, MSC Programs
Susan Keough, Howdy Camp, Career Center
ADVISORS OF THE YEAR
New Advisor of the Year: Brandon M. Flores, Space Delta 0
Registered Category: Grace Adinku, African Graduate Students Association
Associated Category: Nathan Harness, Brotherhood of Christian Aggies
Partnered Category: Raye Leigh Stone, MSC Student Conference On National Affairs (SCONA)
Sponsored Category: Christa Paull, International Student Association
DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Maggie Guzman, Residence Life
Dr. Kristie Orr, Disability Resources
PRESIDENT’S MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD
Caitlin Dartez, Career Center
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Grants Awarded
- Ifeoma Edoka, Residence Life
- DSA Professional Development Grant: Spring Learning Conference Participation, NODA Excellence Fund (NEF), National Orientation Directors Association (NODA)
- Dylan Murray, MSC Programs
- Aggie Green Fund Grant
- Shante Hearst, Student Activities
- Dr. David W. Gardner ’76 and Jackie Gillar Gardner ’82 EAHR Graduate Student Award, Texas A&M University
- Stephanie Walker, MSC Programs
- Aggie Green Fund Grant
Professional Publications
- Ifeoma Edoka, Residence Life
- Shante Hearst, Student Activities
- Darby Roberts, Student Affairs Planning, Assessment & Research
- Melanie McKoin Owens, Student Life
Professional Awards
- Lauren Dorsett, Student Life
- Connecting the Students: Innovative Practices in College Health award at SWCHA (Southwest College Health Association) – 2026
- Asia Smith, Student Community Standards
- Association of Student Conduct Administrators Felice Dublon Award of Excellence 2026
- Dorothy Kopecek, Residence Life
- The Friend of Resident Hall Staff Council – 2026
- Dylan Murray, MSC Programs
- Good Bull Award, University Youth Programs, Texas A&M University
- JC Lagman, Human Resources, Student Affairs
- Society for Human Resource Management – Brazos Valley (SHRM-BV) Krystal Broussard HR Award of Excellence 2025
- Luke Altendorf, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
- 2026 Association of College Union International (ACUI) – Emeritus Award
- Shante Hearst, Student Activities
- Sawubona 30 Under 40 in Advocacy, ACPA’s Pan African Network, 2026
- Department of Student Activities Values Award in Selfless Service, Texas A&M University, 2025
- Darby Roberts, Student Affairs Planning, Assessment & Research
- Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs through Teaching Award, NASPA Region III, 2026
- Brooke Turner, Recreational Sports
- NIRSA Championship Series Hall of Fame, Contributor, 2026
- Maggie Guzman, Residence Life
- James L. Gibson Exceptional Service Award, Southwest Association of College and University Housing Officers, 2026
Professional Association Leadership Positions
- Lauren Dorsett, Student Life
- Secretary, United States Health Promoting Campuses Network, 2025-2027
- Asia Smith, Student Community Standards
- Region 5 Chair, Association of Student Conduct Administrators, 2025-2027
- Ifeoma Edoka, Residence Life
- Peer Review Process Work Group Member, Educational Initiatives Committee, National Orientation Directors Association (NODA), 2026-Present
- Peer Reviewer, NODA Spring Learning Conference, 2026
- Case Study Judge, NODA Spring Learning Conference (Irvine), 2026
- Reviewer, International Journal of Event and Festival Management (IJEFM), 2026–Present
- Reviewer, Advancing Women in Leadership (AWL) Journal (Texas A&M University), 2026–Present
- Justin Jeffery, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
- NASPA Foundation Board of Directors, 2025-2028
- Susan Keough, Career Center
- Chair, Military & Veteran Faculty and Staff Network (MilVetNet), 2022-Present
- Amarette Renieri, Career Center
- Co-Chair for the Student Career Development Knowledge Committee, NASPA, 2023-2026
- Hullabaloo U Curriculum Committee (Goals & Careers), Texas A&M University, 2024-Present
- Shante Hearst, Student Activities
- Undergraduate & University Affairs Taskforce Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., 2025-2026
- 50th Anniversary Planning Committee Member, Association for Fraternity & Sorority Advisors, 2025-2026
- Darby Roberts, Student Affairs Planning, Assessment & Research
- Board of Directors At-Large Member, NASPA, 2025-2027
- Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification Board Member, 2025-2026
- Fred Dillard, Residence Life
- Leadership Council Administrator, ACPA–College Student Educators International, 2026-2027
- Maggie Guzman, Residence Life
- Conference Coordinator, Southwest Association of College and University Housing Officers, 2026-2028
Degrees/Certifications
- Lauren Dorsett, Student Life
- Doctor of Public Health, University of Illinois – Chicago, 2025
- Ifeoma Edoka, Residence Life
- Mental Health First Aid Instructor Certification (National Council for Mental Wellbeing), 2025
- Dorothy Kopecek, Residence Life
- IAAP Business Writing Eight-Week Certificate Course, 2026
- Shante Hearst, Student Activities
- Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration, Texas A&M University, 2025
Presentations
- Lauren Dorsett, Student Life
- Student Leader Summit, Texas A&M University, 2026
- Texas Society of Public Health Educators, 2026
- Southwest American Health Association Conference, 2026
- Limerick Framework for Action Launch, University of Limerick, 2025
- Texas Society for Public Health Education (TSOPHE) Conference, 2025
- International Health Promoting Campuses Conference, 2025
- Asia Smith, Student Community Standards
- Association for Student Conduct Administrators (ASCA) Conference, 2026
- Ifeoma Edoka, Residence Life
- National Orientation Directors Association (NODA) Spring Learning Conference, Towson University, 2026
- National Orientation Directors Association (NODA) Spring Learning Conference, University of California, Irvine, 2026
- Texas A&M University Student Leadership Summit, 2026
- School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, 2026
- Dylan Murray, MSC Programs
- European Conference for Student Affairs & Services Conference, 2025
- Caprice Risby, Residence Life
- ACUHO-I One Symposium Conference, 2025
- ACUHO-I Webinar Series, 2025
- 37th Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference, 2026
- Southwest Affiliate of College and University Housing Officers Conference, 2026
- Student Leader Summit, Texas A&M University, 2026
- Justin Jeffery, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
- NASPA Annual Conference, 2026
- Amarette Renieri, Career Center
- NASPA Annual Conference, 2026
- Luke Altendorf, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
- NASPA Annual Conference, 2026
- Shante Hearst, Student Activities
- ACPA – College Student Educators International Annual Convention, 2026
- Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors Annual Meeting, 2025
- Delta Sigma Theta 57th National Convention, 2025
- Darby Roberts, Student Affairs Planning, Assessment & Research
- NASPA Annual Conference, 2026
- Fred Dillard, Residence Life
- Southwest Affiliate of College and University Housing Officers Conference, 2026
- Marley Cobb, Student Life
- NODA Annual Conference Research and Resource Fair, 2025
- Stefanie Baker, Student Life
- NASPA Region III Summer Symposium Planning Committee, 2025
- Mariah Patrick, DSA Marketing & Communications
- NASPA Annual Conference, 2026
- Amarette Renieri, Career Center
- NASPA Annual Conference, 2026
