Presidential Award Winners 2013

Professor/Associate Professor Rank

Cindy L. Royal
School Journalism and Mass Communication 

Cindy Royal is an Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.  She earned her Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communication from The University of Texas at Austin, M.B.A. from the University of Richmond, and B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Royal teaches online, digital, and social media courses in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.  She leads curriculum development and faculty focused on emerging media.  Her students have gone on to digital media careers for prominent organizations, including The New York Times, Austin American-Statesman, Blackbaud, Spredfast, HomeAway, South By Southwest, and more, with several pursuing academic careers focusing on digital media.  She was selected for the prestigious Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford for 2013-2014 to develop a platform for teaching programming to journalists.  In 2011 and 2012, she was awarded grants by EJMC/Knight Foundation to implement technology in the curriculum.

Assistant Professor/Instructor/Lecturer Rank

Kymberly J. Fox
School Journalism and Mass Communication

Kym Fox is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.  She earned her M.A. in Communications from the University of the Incarnate Word and B.S. in Journalism from Arizona State University.  She coordinates the journalism sequence in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.  Ms. Fox spent 23 years as a daily journalist before joining the faculty in 2002.  She serves on the national board of the Society of Professional of Journalists as campus adviser at-large, working with students and professionals from around the country.  She also teaches University Seminar and serves on the University Seminar Advisory Board, helping to develop some of the current curriculum for that course.  In 2008 she was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Service at Texas State.

Professor/Associate Professor Rank

Jian Shen
Department of Mathematics

Jian Shen is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics.  He earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Queen’s University (Canada) and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Mathematics from the University of Science and Technology of China.  After completing his postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Shen joined the Texas State faculty in 2001.  Dr. Shen has secured external research grants as PI from NSF, THECB, NNSF (China), NSERC (Canada), and has published over 70 papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings.  Dr. Shen has mentored many star high school students through Mathworks, including the 2009 National Champion team in the Siemens competition in mathematics, science, and technology; a 2012 International Mathematical Olympiad gold medalist; and two 2013 Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad gold medalists.

Assistant Professor/Instructor/Lecturer Rank

Oleg Komogortsev
Department of Computer Science

Oleg Komogortsev is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science.  He earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in Computer Science from Kent State University and B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Volgograd State University in Russia.  Dr. Komogortsev's research is in eye tracking with an emphasis on cyber security (biometrics), Human Computer Interaction, usability, bioengineering, psychology, and physical therapy.  He has more than 55 peer-reviewed publications related to these topics.  He collaborates with multiple departments within Texas State and outside of the university.  Dr. Komogortsev recently won an NSF CAREER award on the topic of ocular biometrics and cyber security.  His research was covered by the national media including NBC News, Discovery, Yahoo, and others.  Dr. Komogortsev's eye movement classification algorithms are employed commercially by the eye tracking vendors. 

Professor/Associate Professor Rank

Roseann M. Mandziuk
Department of Communication Studies

Roseann Mandziuk is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies.  She earned her Ph.D. in Rhetorical Studies from the University of Iowa, M.S. in Communication from Illinois State University, and B.A. in Speech Communication and English from Wayne State University.  Dr. Mandziuk’s institutional service includes 10 years chairing the Presidential Work Life Advisory Council, and membership on numerous university, college, and department committees.  Her professional service features significant leadership roles in the National Communication Association, including two terms as Finance Board Director, and the Executive Committee, Affirmative Action Committee, and Women’s Caucus; she also has been a leader in the Southern States Communication Association.  In the community, she served on three non-profit boards of directors, including SafePlace in Austin and the Friends of the Wimberley Village Library.
 

Assistant Professor/Instructor/Lecturer Rank

Kathy Ybanez-Llorente
Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology

Kathy Ybanez-Llorente is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology.  She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and M.A. in Counseling from Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi, and B.A. in Psychology from Baylor University.  Dr. Ybanez-Llorente served on Scholarship Review and Dual Language Symposium Committees, among other university service functions.  Her professional service includes serving as president, committee chair, committee member, reviewer, and editorial board member for professional counseling organizations at the national, regional, and state levels. She served as a state liaison to the licensing board, was honored by the Texas Counseling Association with the Advocacy Award, and soon after was named in Senate Proclamation Number 543, commending her advocacy efforts within the counseling profession.  Dr. Ybanez-Lorente was also awarded the SACES Pre-tenured Counselor Educator Award, a competitive biannual award.
 

Taylor W. Acee
Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Taylor W. Acee is an Assistant Professor in the Graduate Program in Developmental Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.  He earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in Educational Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin and B.S. in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. His program of research is focused on cognitive, metacognitive, motivational, and affective factors that contribute to or detract from student success in postsecondary education. His research activities have resulted in 25 refereed publications, 4 funded research grants totaling over $800,000, and a number of other scholarly activities.