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Wide angle perspective of the All-American Club at Kyle Field, which was the site of the 2024 College of Arts and Sciences New Faculty Welcome Reception on September 12, 2024, on the Texas A&M University campus
The College of Arts and Sciences celebrated 82 new faculty during a September 12 reception held in the All-American Club at Kyle Field. | Image: Butch Ireland

The College of Arts and Sciences kicked off the fall semester by welcoming 82 new faculty members as part of a comprehensive multi-year hiring initiative designed to bolster teaching, research and academic leadership in one of Texas A&M University’s newest academic units, which marked its second anniversary on September 1.

Members of Texas A&M Arts and Sciences Dean Dr. Mark J. Zoran's leadership team welcomed these new members of the Aggie family at a September 12 reception in the All-American Club at Kyle Field, where they had the opportunity to network with colleagues and learn about life in Bryan-College Station.

Texas A&M University biologist and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Mark Zoran (right) sits at a table, talking with fellow Texas A&M biologist Matthew Moulton
Dean of Arts and Sciences Dr. Mark J. Zoran (right) chats with Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Matthew Moulton (left). | Image: Butch Ireland

“We’re excited about this foundational hiring strategy, which is bringing in bright new faculty to the College of Arts and Sciences,” said Zoran, a professor of biology and holder of the R.H. Harrison Family Dean’s Chair in the College of Arts and Sciences. “New talent means new ideas that will enhance the landscape and trajectory of our college and Texas A&M University.”

Each of the college’s 18 departments gains new faculty members with research and scholarship ranging from early modern Shakespearean studies and ancient philosophy to data science and the use of artificial intelligence in meteorology. This year’s cohort features 43 tenured/tenure-track professors, 24 academic professional track professors including seven professors of practice, and 15 visiting professors and lecturers.

“These new faculty bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the college,” said Senior Executive Associate Dean and Professor of Anthropology Dr. Cynthia Werner. “We look forward to seeing how they will enrich the lives of our students and make important research contributions that will transform their disciplines and have broader impacts on our communities and beyond.”

Custom-decorated cookies featuring maroon and white icing and the words "Howdy" and "Texas A&M" and the Texas A&M logo
Image: Butch Ireland

New faculty for the 2024 fall semester include:

Anthropology
Kristine Richter, Assistant Professor

Atmospheric Sciences
Judy Dickey, Instructional Assistant Professor
Dan Fu, Assistant Professor
Kelly Núñez Ocasio, Assistant Professor

Biology
Mohsen Hooshyar, Lecturer
Matthew Moulton, Assistant Professor

Chemistry
Ashfaq Bengali, Instructional Professor
Lauren Hagler, Assistant Professor
Sungyub Han, Instructional Assistant Professor
Arkajit Mandal, Assistant Professor
Saranya Pullanchery, Assistant Professor
Tye Thompson, Instructional Assistant Professor

College of Arts & Sciences/Leadership Studies
William Diaz, Professor of Practice
Nathan Reed, Professor of Practice
Wendy Woodard, Professor of Practice

Communication & Journalism
Isaac Blacksin, Assistant Professor
Nicholas Bradley, Visiting Lecturer
Mariano Castillo, Professor of Practice
Flora Charner, Professor of Practice
Xuanjun Gong, Assistant Professor
Michael Gonzalez, Visiting Lecturer
Paul O’Donnell, Professor of Practice

We’re excited about this foundational hiring strategy, which is bringing in bright new faculty to the College of Arts and Sciences. New talent means new ideas that will enhance the landscape and trajectory of our college and Texas A&M University.

Dr. Mark J. Zoran

Economics
Yunus Aybas, Assistant Professor
Emily Cook, Assistant Professor
Niraj Khatiwada, Visiting Assistant Professor
Liqun Liu, Visiting Lecturer
Manvendu “Manu” Navjeevan, Assistant Professor
Anna Ziff, Assistant Professor

English
Raymond Leonard, Assistant Professor
Altay Ozkul, Lecturer
Whitney Sperrazza, Assistant Professor
Robert Stagg, Assistant Professor
Buran Utku, Lecturer

Geography
Christy Jean, Instructional Assistant Professor
Tobi Morakinyo, Assistant Professor
Fikriyah Winata, Assistant Professor

Geology & Geophysics
Sherilyn Williams-Stroud, Professor of Practice

Global Languages & Cultures
Emmanuel Aprilakis, Visiting Lecturer
Tatiana Artamonova, Instructional Assistant Professor
Benjamin Davis, Assistant Professor
Constantine Karathanasis, Assistant Professor
Bo Liu, Lecturer
Sean McKinnon, Assistant Professor

History
Kenneth Howell, Visiting Lecturer
Lina Nie, Assistant Professor
Justin Randolph, Assistant Professor
Collin Rohrbaugh, Visiting Lecturer
Miranda Sachs, Assistant Professor
Shae Smith Cox, Assistant Professor
William Weeks, Visiting Lecturer
Che Yeun Whang, Instructor/Assistant Professor

These new faculty bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the college. We look forward to seeing how they will enrich the lives of our students and make important research contributions that will transform their disciplines and have broader impacts on our communities and beyond.

Dr. Cynthia Werner

Mathematics
Elliot Cartee, Instructional Assistant Professor
Galen Dorpalen-Barry, Assistant Professor
Muhammed Rashad Erukulanga, Instructional Assistant Professor
Nicolas Favrie, Visiting Professor
Jake Fillman, Assistant Professor
Runjie Hu, Visiting Assistant Professor
Hang “Amy” Huang, Assistant Professor
Yi Sheng Lim, Visiting Assistant Professor
Qiaochu Ma, Visiting Assistant Professor
Angelique Morvant, Lecturer
Min Ranabhat, Instructional Assistant Professor
Joshua Siktar, Visiting Assistant Professor
Timo Sprekeler, Assistant Professor
Xueyin Wang, Visiting Assistant Professor
Andrea Welsh, Visiting Assistant Professor

Oceanography
Angela Knapp, Professor

Philosophy
Lianghua Zhou, Assistant Professor

Physics & Astronomy
Aysenur Bicer, Instructional Assistant Professor
Kevin Huffenberger, Professor

Psychological & Brain Sciences
Kristy Cuthbert, Clinical Assistant Professor
Zhou Fang, Instructional Assistant Professor
Rongxiang “Catherine” Tang, Assistant Professor
Ze Zhu, Assistant Professor

Sociology
Rhonda Evans, Instructional Assistant Professor
Joseph Lariscy, Associate Professor
Katherine Maich, Assistant Professor
Thomas Marlow, Assistant Professor
Jonathan Reid, Assistant Professor

Statistics
Mary Lockhart, Instructional Assistant Professor
Xiyu Peng, Assistant Professor
Abhishek Roy, Assistant Professor


See additional event photographs and learn more about faculty excellence in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Texas A&M University College of Arts and Sciences Dean Mark Zoran addresses the crowd from behind the podium in the All-American Club at Kyle Field during the 2024 College of Arts and Sciences New Faculty Welcome Reception on September 12, 2024
Arts and Sciences Dean Dr. Mark J. Zoran addresses the crowd in the All-American Club at Kyle Field. | Image: Butch Ireland