PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Nov. 27, 2024) – Two members of Prairie View A&M University have been honored by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.
Ali Fares, Ph.D.
The board, which designated 18 faculty members and 13 professionals within the A&M System as Regents Professors and Regents Fellows for their exemplary performance during the 2023-2024 fiscal year, has recognized Dr. Ali Fares, an endowed professor of water security at PVAMU, and Sheryl Austin of the PVAMU Cooperative Extension Program.
“Each of these distinguished individuals has made significant contributions to their fields and to the state of Texas,” said Bill Mahomes, chairman of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. “Their achievements embody the A&M System’s mission of service and innovation, and I hope their dedication will motivate others.”
At a time when global greenhouse gas emissions are breaking records, and a growing number of people are living with diabetes, Fares’ work in climate resilience and Austin’s work as a dietitian are more life-saving than ever.
Being a TAMUS Regents Professor is a prestigious honor that recognizes Fares’ extraordinary contributions to higher education, research and service. “This honor reflects the collective efforts of my students, colleagues and collaborators,” he said. “It affirms the power of teamwork and our shared dedication to creating positive change for our communities and the world.”
For Fares, the award is a meaningful milestone in his decorated career that also highlights the larger mission of PVAMU: to train the next generation of leaders to tackle global environmental challenges. Fares, who has been serving PVAMU since 2013 in various roles, including associate dean, interim dean and interim vice president for research and innovation, has led a significant impact on the University and the broader Texas community, especially in water scarcity, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture that have shaped local and national conversations around environmental sustainability.
His projects, which range from water management in Texas to research on the food-energy-water nexus, have influenced policies and practices in drought-prone regions and beyond. “I hope my work continues to provide solutions to help communities adapt to climate change and improve resilience,” Fares added.
Sheryl Austin
Austin, an extension agent-family and community health, has called Prairie View home for 24 years. After receiving a BS in dietetics from Texas Woman’s University in 1998, she became a registered dietitian thanks to a PVAMU internship, where she says she found and “fell in love with” the Cooperative Extension Program.
Now Austin is this year’s Regents Fellow. “Receiving this award means a lot,” she said. “I’m still passionate about what I get to wake up and do every day, and I see this career as a calling. To be honored for that is the cherry on top.”
She expressed her gratitude to the Cooperative Extension Program, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for the opportunities and support she has received over the years. Because she is grateful to those who came before her, offering mentorship and partnership, Austin said she is intentional in how she represents PVAMU.
“I hope that every time I give a presentation, provide a resource, or just answer a question, that I help to make someone’s life better,” she said. “I hope that I am friendly and make them smile; that I am informative to help them make wise and healthy decisions; and that through partnerships with others, I can create change in my community.”
The Regents Professor Awards program and the Regents Fellow Service Awards program, established in 1996 and 1997, respectively, was created to honor employees who have made extraordinary contributions to their university or agency, as well as to the people of Texas.
To date, the Regents Professor Award has honored 323 Texas A&M System faculty members and the Regents Fellow Service Award 201 agency professionals.
By Christine Won
-PVAMU-