IRVING, Texas (Jan. 22, 2026) — More than 150 members of the University of Dallas
community gathered this week at the annual King/Haggar/Haggerty Awards Ceremony to
honor those who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, in research and intellectual
development, as well as service to the university.
“Our faculty's achievements remind us of the deeper purpose of our daily work in promoting
the common good at UDallas and beyond,” said Provost Matthias Vorwerk, PhD.
The annual King/Haggar/Haggerty Awards Ceremony, held since 1985, honors UDallas faculty
who demonstrate excellence in teaching, in scholarship, artistic or professional achievement
and in service to the university.
Nominated by faculty and chosen by the faculty development committee, this year’s
honorees were:
- King Fellow: Bernadette Waterman Ward, PhD, English
- Haggar Fellow: Sarah Berry, PhD, English
The King Fellow is a professor whose life and work has made a significant contribution to the excellence of education at the University of Dallas and who exemplifies the best qualities of a teacher, colleague and scholar at this University. The King Fellow Award is presented to a senior faculty member with more than eight years of service.
The Haggar Fellow is recognized as an accomplished teacher and promising scholar whose
teaching manifests a continuing reflection on the place of his or her own discipline
within the mission of the University. It is presented to a junior faculty member with
eight or fewer years of service.
As is the tradition, the 2025 King Fellow, Theresa Kenney, PhD, delivered the keynote address, “Res Miranda: Wonder in the West” and the 2025
Haggar Fellow, Fr. Thomas Esposito, O.Cist., presented the Haggar Scholar Awards to the following:
- Irene Alexander, PhD, Theology
- Debra Romanick Baldwin, PhD, English
- Christopher Bell, PhD, Psychology
- Matthew Berry, PhD, Politics
- Sarah Berry, PhD, English
- Janette Boazman, PhD, Education
- Abdallah Elnwasany, MD, Biology
- Chad Engelland, PhD, Philosophy
- Jon Paul Heyne, PhD, History
- Kevin Kambo, PhD, Philosophy
- Theresa Kenney, PhD, English
- Laura Muñoz, PhD, Marketing
- Renita Murimi, PhD, Cybersecurity
- Marisa Pérez-Bernardo, PhD, Modern Languages
- Cynthia Nielsen, PhD, Philosophy
- Aida Ramos, PhD, Economics
Associate Provost John Norris, PhD, presented the Haggerty Teaching Excellence awards, given to faculty for exemplary classroom instruction and exceptional service to students as advisors and mentors. The following individuals received awards, as determined by the votes of current students and alumni:
- Irene Alexander, PhD, Theology
- Brett Bourbon, PhD, English
- Abdallah Elnwasany, MD, Biology
- Richard Miller, DBA, Gupta College of Business
- Andrew Moran, PhD, English
Additionally, a number of faculty were granted sabbaticals for one or both semesters of the 2026-27 academic year:
- Enoch Asare, DBA, CPA, Accounting
- Jennifer Bannister, PhD, Accounting
- Sarah Berry, PhD, English
- Janette Boazman, PhD, Education
- Jon Paul Heyne, PhD, History
- Christi Ivers, PhD, Modern Languages
- Tiffany Jones Miller, PhD, Politics
- Andrew Moran, PhD, English
- Renita Murimi, PhD, Cybersecurity
- Yoshi Nakazawa, PhD, Education and Classical Learning
- Mark Petersen, PhD, History
- Aida Ramos, PhD, Economics
The following faculty members are retiring:
- Mark Goodwin, PhD, Theology
- Debbie Hathaway, MLS, Library
- Andrew Osborn, PhD, English
- Dennis Sepper, PhD, Philosophy
- Phillip Shore, MFA, Sculpture
The following faculty received emeritus status:
- Mark Goodwin, PhD, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Theology
- Richard Olenick, PhD, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics
- Andrew Osborn, PhD, Associate Professor Emeritus of English
- Dennis Sepper, PhD, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy
- Ger Wegemer, PhD, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English
The Haggar Scholar, Haggar Fellow and King Fellow awards are made possible by the
generous contributions of the Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation and Mr. and
Mrs. Edmond R. Haggar. The Haggerty Teaching Excellence Awards are made possible by
the generosity of The Haggerty Family Foundation.
About the University of Dallas
With campuses in Texas and Italy, The University of Dallas is among a small list of Catholic universities recommended by the Cardinal Newman Society. UDallas is the premier Catholic liberal arts university in the country, known for its rigorous undergraduate Core Curriculum and robust graduate and professional programs in business, ministry, education and the humanities. Recently recognized as #2 in The U.S. News & World Report’s Best Value - Regional Universities (West) and one of America’s Best Colleges 2025 by the Princeton Review and Money.com, UDallas has one of America’s most challenging, comprehensive undergraduate interdisciplinary programs, offered at an excellent value to some of the happiest students in the country. UDallas stands apart as a thriving community of learners committed to an education that forms students intellectually, socially and spiritually for a life well-lived. For more information, visit udallas.edu.
