Admin, Faculty, and Student of the Year Awards

Each year, the Center for International Studies honors students, faculty, and administrative personnel who have gone above and beyond. 

Awardees for 2022-2023

Students

Undergraduate Student of the Year

Levi Oliver, BAIS in International Business, was awarded as the Undergraduate Student of the Year. Levi minored in Military Science and joined the Army ROTC where he was a distinguished military graduate, and ranked among the top 1% of all Army ROTC cadets across the country. Levi served as the batallion commander at Texas State University, as a campaign aid to Texas State faculty member's bid for local office, and wrote a distinguished thesis work on Gray Zone Warfare along with other scholarly work on structural racism in Texas and global competition and force projection. 

Graduate Student of the Year

Alyssa Vandervelde, MAIS in International Studies, was awarded the Graduate student of the Year award. Alyssa is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Cambodia, an Americorps volunteer in Las Vegas, and Texas State's Coverdell Fellow in International Studies. Alyssa interned with USAID Bureau of Resilience for Food Security where she coordinated with climate programs and organizations to research and evaluate countries' food security, climate needs, and youth engagement opportunities. 

Administrators and Faculty

Dr. Popescu and Dr. Hart stand in fron tof the IS logo with an award plaque

Dr. Ionut Popescu

Faculty Member of the Year

For his work sponsoring student events with diplomats and statespeople, and for teaching IS 4380.
Dr. Paul Hart and Isis De La O stand in front of national flags with an award plaque

Isis De La O

Staff Member of the Year

Joint Award with Dr. Sergio M. Martinez for their work on the 2023 Ecuador study abroad program.
Dr. Paul Hart and Dr. Sergio Martinez stand in front of the IS logo with an award plaque

Dr. Sergio M. Martinez

Staff Member of the Year

Joint Award with Isis De La O for their work on the 2023 Ecuador study abroad program.