Three of Angelo State University’s Finest Receive Distinguished Honorarium

Ian Brown, Trey Smith and Joe Muñoz received accolades for being named the winners of the 2014-15 Gary and Pat Rodgers Distinguished Awards, which honors outstanding staff, faculty and administrators at Angelo State University, stated a university press release Thursday.

According to the press release, Brown, manager of Outdoor Adventures, received the Distinguished Staff Award. Smith, a professor of mathematics, earned the Distinguished Faculty Award, and Muñoz, senior executive assistant to the president and general counsel, received the Distinguished Administrator Award. All three recipients were presented with a $2,500 honorarium.

San Angelo native and former Angelo State student Gary Rodgers and his wife, Pat, created the Distinguished Awards because of their association with many ASU employees over the years. The couple recognized the roles faculty, staff and administrators perform to help ASU fulfill its mission to prepare students and help them be responsible and productive citizens.

These three individuals made the grade.

Ian Brown

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On the national level, Brown was previously president of the board of directors for the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology at Towson University in Maryland and a master’s in recreation administration at Aurora University in Wisconsin. His Rodgers Award nominator praised Brown for his professionalism and for his ability to motivate others, stated the press release.

Trey Smith

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An ASU faculty member since 1994, Smith is a native of Southern California and first came to ASU as an undergraduate where he earned both a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1983 and a master’s degree in mathematics in 1991; he finished with a doctorate in mathematics from the University of North Texas in 1999. Smith teaches a variety of math classes for both math majors and liberal arts and business majors; and in 2007, he received the ASU Faculty Senate’s 2007 Teaching Excellence Award. He also earned the 2011 Presidential Award for Leadership/Service, and the 2013 Educator of the Year award from the Kappa Delta Pi international education honor society. To many, Brown’s influence extends beyond the Mathematics Department. He has written several plays produced by ASU’s University Theatre and is a member of numerous university committees and San Angelo civic organizations. The Rodgers Award nomination letter praised his selfless devotion to ASU students, stating, “I have never known anyone else who is so passionate about not only their field of study, but the success and education of students,” read the press release.

Joe Muñoz

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Since that time, the San Angelo native played a major role in ASU’s effort to achieve Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) status, which resulted in the university receiving over $6 million in HSI grants to benefit all ASU students. Muñoz also oversees the university’s Multicultural Center, and has helped create a safe environment for students of all backgrounds. He also plays an active role in the community and serves as a board member for a number of organizations, including Boys Boys and Girls Clubs of San Angelo, Sonrisas Therapeutic Riding and Friends of Art and Music Education. In addition, Muñoz served the San Angelo Independent School District for 12 years as a board member and four years as board president. In 2011, he was presented with the Criselda G. Paz Award for his volunteer work with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. In the Rodgers Award nomination letters, Muñoz was praised for serving as a positive role model and for continuing to bring energy and enthusiasm to everything he does for the university.  

The press release noted that other nominees for the Rodgers Distinguished Faculty Award included Dr. Erin Ashworth-King, Dr. Jacqueline Brown, Katherine Bunker, Dr. Kristi Cordell-McNulty, Dr. Drew Curtis, Dr. Kenneth Heineman, Dr. Blake Hightower, Dr. Crosby Jones, Dr. John Klingemann, Dr. Crystal Kreitler, Dr. Pamela Lee, Dr. Robert LeGrand, Dr. Janet Maxwell, Melissa McDowell, Ellen Moreland, Dr. Charles Pier and MSgt. Tracy Scott. 

As for the Rodgers Distinguished Staff Award, other nominees included Eldra Sanford, Travis Scott, Kristin Stanley and Michelle Vanderzant.

Finally, other nominees for the Rodgers Distinguished Administrator Award were Sharla Adam, Kim Adams, Becky Brackin, Brian Braden, Crystal Braden, Dr. Doyle Carter, Suzie Dusek, Brandy Hawkins, Cleave Pool, Dan Robertson and Jeff Sefcik.