Accolades is an occasional News Center feature that highlights recent accomplishments of The University of Texas at Dallas faculty and students. To submit items for consideration, contact your school’s communication manager.
Public Administration Society Honors Professors
Two associate professors in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS) have received awards from the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).
Dr. Meghna Sabharwal, program head of public and nonprofit management, has earned the 2020 Rita Mae Kelly Distinguished Research Award.
Teodoro Benavides, associate professor of practice of public and nonprofit management, won the 2020 Paul Van Riper Award for Excellence and Service.
Sabharwal was recognized for her work on gender-related issues and subjects significant to women’s roles in public administration and for making an impact through research on women’s lives.
“I feel truly honored to have won this award,” Sabharwal said. “I am especially excited since Rita Mae Kelly was a faculty member and former dean of the School of Social Sciences [now EPPS]. She was truly a trailblazer in research on gender and equity in political science and public administration and a role model to several women who aspired to be in leadership roles. To be included alongside giants in the field of gender and equity is quite humbling.”
Sabharwal’s research has been published in numerous academic journals, including the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Public Administration and Review of Public Personnel Administration.
Benavides was recognized for his significant contributions both as an academic and practitioner. He received the award for his track record as a distinguished professional and nationally recognized leader of public administration.
“It is unbelievably humbling to be selected by an organization that does so much to advance public service,” Benavides said. “During my career, I have been blessed by many highly experienced mentors and colleagues, and I try to share their wisdom with my students.”
Benavides is considered an exceptional innovator in the practice and study of city management and financial management and budgeting with a focus on meeting local government management challenges of the 21st century.
ASPA supports advances in the art, science, teaching and practice of public and nonprofit administration.
Computer Engineering Senior Receives IEEE Award
Fiaz Bhuiyan, computer engineering senior in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, received the Outstanding Student Award for Region 5 from IEEE.
Bhuiyan serves as president of the UT Dallas IEEE chapter and was appointed this spring as Regional Student Representative for IEEE Region 5, which includes 12 southwestern states. In those roles, Bhuiyan organizes events, workshops and competitions, and works to help students find a sense of community. He also is an undergraduate research assistant in bioengineering.
Bhuiyan said he is “truly honored and humbled by this award.”
“It would have not been possible for me to make the necessary contributions, create an impact or win this award without the support from the IEEE UTD team, IEEE Region 5 team and most importantly, UTD,” Bhuiyan said. “As an international student from Bangladesh, UTD has not only given me a world-class education, but it has also provided me with the resources to have an impact at the national and global levels. I express my sincere gratitude to each entity.”