The Victor Worsfold Outstanding Teaching Award recognizes excellence in teaching by a member of the faculty and a Graduate Teaching Assistant. A founding member of our faculty in 1975, Worsfold served with distinction as professor and administrator until his retirement in 2001. He is remembered for his extraordinary gift for teaching.
The Jo Ellen Roach Award recognizes Bass School staff who exemplify steadfast dedication to the highest standards of personal and professional action. Roach was the chief financial officer and “office manager” of the School of Arts and Humanities from 1985-2001. During her tenure, she was an exemplary financial officer — and much more. Roach is credited with establishing the environment of competence, collegiality, and gracious public service that remains the norm in our School.
The Bass School Alumni of the Year and the Council Member of the Year Awards recognize individuals for their outstanding achievements, leadership, innovation, and service at the Bass School and throughout our communities.
Kristin “Nickie” Riley is a “great choice for rhetoric,” as one student said. Known for her quiet “below the radar” demeanor, Riley’s insight, strategy, and focus on objectives and assessment make her excel at course development. She serves as the Bass School representative on the UT Dallas Senate’s Effective Teaching Committee and the Core Writing Committee. She is the first non-tenure track professor to complete the ACUE Excellence in Teaching Higher Education Certification.
Michael Wilson is a tireless advocate for helping students think critically and engage responsibly with historical scholarship. He teaches courses in European, world, and women’s/gender history. In all of them, he patiently shapes students’ abilities to ask good historical questions. Those who nominated him for this award say his teachings on how to read closely and how to engage in critical dialogue make a difference in the quality of discussions in other classes.
The nominations for Mazyar Mahan described him as incredibly dedicated and hardworking. As a VPAS graduate student, Mazyar is preparing for his field exam defense. He is also planning the RAW Graduate Student Conference and a World Cinema conference. He served on a search committee earlier this year, and he always makes time to reach out to his fellow TAs to compare syllabi and norm assignments.
Alex Lorrain-Hill is in his sixteenth year at UT Dallas. His work at UT Dallas includes American Idiot, Oedipus the King, The Rocky Horror Show, and this year’s Newsies. The nominations for Alex said, “he has dedicated so much, giving up weekends, holidays, etc.” another said, “There would be no UTD Theatre productions without Alex’s superb work.”
Jin-Ya Huang is an alum and founder of Break Bread Break Borders, a “food for good” company that teaches refugee women from war-torn countries to cook for a living. Mentored by professional chefs, restaurants, caterers, and culinary consultants, these “community cooks” acquire food handler permits and manager certifications for job opportunities in the food service industry. Break Bread Break Borders is a tribute to Huang’s chef, restaurateur, and community leader mother and was featured on the TODAY Show and TIME Magazine as a Community Bridge Builder Across America. Huang’s nominators say her work exemplifies the UT Dallas commitment to cultural dynamics and diversity.
Peter Zwick joined the Advisory Council in 2021 as a nominee from Leadership Arts with Business Council from the Arts. He quickly jumped in to financially support students, and he currently chairs the internship committee to create more opportunities for students. Zwick is a partner at Jones Day, advising companies and financial institutions on high-dollar capital markets transactions and high-profile corporate matters. He and his wife, Dr. Neetha Zwick, enjoy attending Bass School events.
