The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents recently designated 10 agency service, extension or research professionals within the A&M System as Regents Fellows.
Regents Fellow
Dean L. Schneider, Co-Director of the Southern Regional Manufacturing Center of the Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute, housed within the Texas A&M Energy Institute, was recently awarded the Regents Fellow Service Award and named a Regents Fellow by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.
Schneider is the co-director of the Southern Regional Manufacturing Center of the Texas A&M Energy Institute, and a Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) Center Fellow. He is a retired U.S. Air Force research and development engineer with over 30 years of experience in technology program management and development. After joining TEES, Schneider helped provide organization and vision to TEES researchers in responding to federal manufacturing initiatives, leading to significant involvement in five national Manufacturing USA institutes, including regional leadership in three of them. He has received many awards during his career, including an Air Force Commendation Medal, an Air Force Logistic Command Outstanding Company Grade Military Engineer of the Year Award and numerous Air Force Meritorious Service Medals.
“Dr. Schneider is a model of servant leadership and consistently demonstrates his commitment to serving others,” said Dr. Dimitris Lagoudas, TEES deputy director and associate vice chancellor for engineering research, in his nomination letter. “His sustained contributions to the mission of TEES makes him an exemplary asset to our agency providing extension in research to the citizens, both private and corporate, of the state of Texas.”
The board established the Regents Fellow Service Awards program in 1998 to recognize employees who have made exemplary contributions to their university or agency and to the people of Texas.
Charles Schwartz, chairman of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, said the newest Regents Fellows are vital members of the Texas A&M System family who bring with them unique skills and perspectives.
“These professors and professionals make The Texas A&M University System extraordinary,” Chairman Schwartz said. “Because of them, the universities and agencies within The Texas A&M University System will continue to thrive.”
Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp said the new Regents Fellows have proven their commitment to Texas A&M System’s success. “These exceptional individuals represent the best of our great system and higher education in Texas,” Chancellor Sharp said. “They are true assets.”
Recipients of the Regents Fellow Service Award are:
- Jane K. Dever, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Professor and Cotton Breeder;
- Cynthia Foster, Texas A&M Forest Service, Department Head for Planning and Preparedness;
- Ginger D. Goodin, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Director for Transportation Research Center;
- William M. Johnson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, County Extension Agent;
- Marilyn M. Martell, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, Senior Assistant Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications;
- Stacy D. Morris, Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Assistant Agency Director;
- Dean L. Schneider, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, Co-Director for Southern Regional Manufacturing Center;
- Joe D. Smith, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, Training Specialist;
- Larry A. Stein, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Professor and Extension Horticulturist;
- William R. Stockton, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Executive Associate Agency Director.
The selection process for the awards begins with a call for nominations from the Chancellor, after which an internal selection committee is formed within each institution or agency. Final nominations are put forth to the chief executive officer of each respective entity. They are then subject to a system-level review consisting of academic vice chancellors and past recipients of the awards. Finally, nominations are forwarded to the chancellor and the board for final approval.
To date, 135 agency professionals have received the Regents Fellow Service Award.