Recognition & Honors
NSM Staff Receive the 2025 President’s Excellence Award
Two NSM staff members were honored with top university awards for their outstanding service and commitment to student success.
Natalie Sumrow, Executive Director of the NSM Academic Advising Center, received the C. F. McElhinney Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor a UH staff member can receive. A UH alumna with more than 25 years of service, Natalie has transformed NSM advising into a proactive, student-centered hub that addresses academic and personal challenges. She has shared NSM’s advising model at local and national conferences, making it a benchmark for others across higher education.
Chris Watts, Director of Web & Digital Communications, received the President’s Excellence Award in the Technical, Service, and Craft Category. With more than 15 years of service, Chris has advanced IT, web design, and digital communications across NSM and UH. He is highly respected for his expertise in leveraging communication tools to promote student success and strengthen community within the college.
Accolades & Acknowledgements
Martín Núñez (Biology and Biochemistry) has authored A Pocket Guide to Scientific Writing and Publishing, a hands-on resource designed to help students and early-career scientists navigate the publishing process. Drawing from two decades of experience as both author and journal editor, Núñez offers practical strategies for drafting, collaborating, responding to peer review, and overcoming common challenges in academic writing. His goal is to make scientific communication more accessible and empower the next generation of researchers to share their discoveries with confidence.
Jakoah Brgoch (Chemistry) has been appointed associate editor for Chemistry of Materials, a leading journal of the American Chemical Society. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and principal investigator with the Texas Center for Superconductivity at UH, Brgoch is internationally recognized for his work in superhard materials, solid-state lighting, and data-driven materials design. In his new role, he will help guide the direction of the journal, overseeing peer review and highlighting emerging trends in materials science.
Charles Puelz (Mathematics) has received a 2025 Single Ventricle Research Fund Award from Additional Ventures, totaling $658,000. His research uses advanced computer modeling to help cardiologists optimize surgical reconstruction for children born with single ventricle disease. In collaboration with Texas Children’s Hospital and North Carolina State University, Puelz’s work provides critical insights into blood flow and surgical outcomes, with the potential to significantly improve patient care.
Treina Tai McAlister (Mathematics) recently earned her FAA Private Pilot Aircraft Certificate. The accomplishment reflects her dedication to mastering both technical precision and lifelong learning.
Departing NSM
Shishir Shah, former professor and chair of the University of Houston’s Department of Computer Science, has been appointed as the University of Oklahoma’s first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, pending regents’ approval. Shah will lead OU’s university-wide AI strategy, advancing research, education, and innovation to prepare students for the rapidly evolving technological landscape. A leading expert in computer vision and machine learning, he also will serve as director of OU’s School of Computer Science.
Ken Russell, longtime collaborator with UH’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, has been named the inaugural dean of the School of Business & Innovation at Barton College. Over more than a decade of partnership with UH, Russell mentored physics students, bridged research with industry, and championed experiential learning opportunities. He credits those experiences with shaping his leadership approach, which emphasizes innovation, measurable outcomes, and collaboration. At Barton, he will oversee business programs and launch new initiatives in analytics, artificial intelligence, and leadership development.