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Students, faculty, and staff kicked off Texas A&M University College of Dentistry’s 120^th anniversary celebration with a Sip and Celebrate party on Jan. 22. They sipped coffee and hot chocolate and ate churros.

The college opened Oct. 3, 1905, as State Dental College with 40 dental students. Total enrollment for 2024-25 is 580 dental students, graduate students, and dental hygiene students.

Sheraton Dallas presents a Valentine’s Day evening to remember on Friday, February 14, with an expertly crafted, four-course dinner at Open Palette. Enjoy a romantic evening with live music by talented violinists, creating the perfect ambiance for your celebration. To make the night even more special, Open Palette is delighted to offer a complimentary bottle of Brut per couple as a toast to your love.

The dinner is $194 per couple. Reservations for February 14, 2025, are available now on OpenTable.

VALENTINE’S DAY MENU

Amuse-Bouche (choose one)

• Crab Cake Bite. Delicately seared with chipotle tartar sauce.

• Spanish Iberico Ham Bruschetta. Toasted artisan bread topped with tomato relish.

• Roasted Vegetable Puff Pastry. Flaky pastry filled with smoked ricotta and roasted peppers. 

Appetizer (choose one) 

• Mexico City Shrimp Cocktail. Succulent shrimp in a tangy cocktail sauce with avocado, corn chips, and micro cilantro.

• Burrata Salad. Creamy burrata paired with cantaloupe chutney, caramelized pear, pecan nuts, arugula, and crisp crostini.

Entree (choose one)

• Braised Wayuu Short Rib. Tender boneless short rib served with potato pavé, smoked carrots, roasted broccolini, and a rich beef jus.

• Lobster Pappardelle. House-made pappardelle pasta with sautéed local mushrooms, fresh spinach, succulent lobster, and a luxurious cream sauce.

Dessert

• Opera Cake with Raspberry Gel. Coffee-soaked sponge cake with mocha French buttercream and chocolate ganache.

Beverage

• Complimentary bottle of Brut per couple

Sheraton Dallas Hotel is located in Downtown Dallas at 400 North Olive Street, Dallas, Texas 75201.

The 2024 Texas A&M University College of Dentistry's recent staff awards ceremony honored employees who not only work hard, but who are also dedicated to the school’s mission. Those winning awards included Jo Spears and Mary Jo Rodriguez in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, Staff Team Award; Carmina Castro and Claudia Monsivais, Staff Excellence Award; and Michael Derdeyn, New Employee Award. Continue reading to learn more about each award winner and the characteristics that make them stand out in the workplace.

Staff Team Award – Jo Spears and Mary Jo Rodriguez, Department of Comprehensive Dentistry

Jo Spears and Mary Jo Rodriguez work in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, the largest department at Texas A&M College of Dentistry. They recently worked together to assist more than 70 faculty members during the annual evaluation process, inputting data, scheduling one-on-one meetings with the department head and providing completed evaluations to individual faculty and to faculty affairs. They also worked together to assist in the hiring or increase in full-time employment for more than 20 faculty members and assisted in hiring multiple staff members. They provided extensive assistance for the Linda Niessen Lectureship and worked to ensure the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry is true to its mission of providing world-class education to first- through fourth-year students, as well as graduate students in both AEGD and prosthodontics.

Staff Excellence Award – Carmina Castro, Director of Instructional Design and Support Services, Office of Academic Affairs

Carmina Castro is a team player and provides exceptional service to all faculty/students. She received unanimous praise from the faculty for her efforts to work through issues with Canvas and ExamSoft, as well as helping build quizzes and exams, not only during business hours, but also after-hours and on weekends. Carmina understands that departments are understaffed in regard to administrative support and faculty, and she is always there to help. Carmina’s efficiency, attitude and follow-through are exemplary, creating a positive student experience.

Staff Excellence Award – Claudia Monsivais, Dental Assistant, Endodontics

Claudia Monsivais is a highly dedicated and exceptionally skilled dental assistant in our graduate endodontics clinic. Claudia is bilingual, fluent in both English and Spanish, greatly enhancing our ability to provide comprehensive care to a diverse patient population. She is known for her remarkable adaptability, proactive approach to problem-solving and commitment to excellence in patient care and clinic operations. One of her most remarkable contributions has been her exceptional management of the clinic scheduling, which she took on following recent changes with front desk operations. She ensures all residents are consistently busy in the clinic, optimizing their productivity and the number of cases they complete. Her ability to balance and prioritize the needs of both the clinic and the residents has resulted in a more streamlined and productive environment. Her positive attitude, reliability and ability to handle any situations with grace make her an invaluable asset to the graduate endodontic clinic.

New Employee Award – Michael Derdeyn, Lead Patient Services Associate, Clinical Affairs

Michael Derdeyn, upon hire, immediately demonstrated exceptional dedication to learning and quickly gained competence in both electronic health records, patient financial matters and scheduling patients in three very different clinical programs. He exemplifies professionalism and leadership skills beyond his current position and the ability to work successfully with patients, teammates and clinic leadership. As a result, Michael was promoted to lead PSA within months of his hire date and continues to excel and effectively embrace the mission of improving patient and customer service. Program leadership, staff and patients have all relayed their appreciation for Michael’s efforts, his critical thinking and collaborative efforts toward patient and program needs. Michael has proved he represents all six Aggie Core Values: respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service.

The 2024 Texas A&M University College of Dentistry's recent staff awards ceremony honored employees who not only work hard, but who are also dedicated to the school’s mission. Those winning awards included Jo Spears and Mary Jo Rodriguez in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, Staff Team Award; Carmina Castro and Claudia Monsivais, Staff Excellence Award; and Michael Derdeyn, New Employee Award. Continue reading to learn more about each award winner and the characteristics that make them stand out in the workplace.

Staff Team Award – Jo Spears and Mary Jo Rodriguez, Department of Comprehensive Dentistry

Jo Spears and Mary Jo Rodriguez work in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, the largest department at Texas A&M College of Dentistry. They recently worked together to assist more than 70 faculty members during the annual evaluation process, inputting data, scheduling one-on-one meetings with the department head and providing completed evaluations to individual faculty and to faculty affairs. They also worked together to assist in the hiring or increase in full-time employment for more than 20 faculty members and assisted in hiring multiple staff members. They provided extensive assistance for the Linda Niessen Lectureship and worked to ensure the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry is true to its mission of providing world-class education to first- through fourth-year students, as well as graduate students in both AEGD and prosthodontics.

Staff Excellence Award – Carmina Castro, Director of Instructional Design and Support Services, Office of Academic Affairs

Carmina Castro is a team player and provides exceptional service to all faculty/students. She received unanimous praise from the faculty for her efforts to work through issues with Canvas and ExamSoft, as well as helping build quizzes and exams, not only during business hours, but also after-hours and on weekends. Carmina understands that departments are understaffed in regard to administrative support and faculty, and she is always there to help. Carmina’s efficiency, attitude and follow-through are exemplary, creating a positive student experience.

Staff Excellence Award – Claudia Monsivais, Dental Assistant, Endodontics

Claudia Monsivais is a highly dedicated and exceptionally skilled dental assistant in our graduate endodontics clinic. Claudia is bilingual, fluent in both English and Spanish, greatly enhancing our ability to provide comprehensive care to a diverse patient population. She is known for her remarkable adaptability, proactive approach to problem-solving and commitment to excellence in patient care and clinic operations. One of her most remarkable contributions has been her exceptional management of the clinic scheduling, which she took on following recent changes with front desk operations. She ensures all residents are consistently busy in the clinic, optimizing their productivity and the number of cases they complete. Her ability to balance and prioritize the needs of both the clinic and the residents has resulted in a more streamlined and productive environment. Her positive attitude, reliability and ability to handle any situations with grace make her an invaluable asset to the graduate endodontic clinic.

New Employee Award – Michael Derdeyn, Lead Patient Services Associate, Clinical Affairs

Michael Derdeyn, upon hire, immediately demonstrated exceptional dedication to learning and quickly gained competence in both electronic health records, patient financial matters and scheduling patients in three very different clinical programs. He exemplifies professionalism and leadership skills beyond his current position and the ability to work successfully with patients, teammates and clinic leadership. As a result, Michael was promoted to lead PSA within months of his hire date and continues to excel and effectively embrace the mission of improving patient and customer service. Program leadership, staff and patients have all relayed their appreciation for Michael’s efforts, his critical thinking and collaborative efforts toward patient and program needs. Michael has proved he represents all six Aggie Core Values: respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service.

The Meadows Museum, SMU, is accepting applications now through March 1, 2025, from area artists for the Moss/Chumley North Texas Artist Award. The award is given annually to an outstanding North Texas artist who has exhibited professionally for at least 10 years and who has a proven track record as an active community advocate for the visual arts. The cash prize for the award is $3,000. The competition is accepting entries in the genres of drawing, painting, sculpture, assemblage, construction, video, photography, performance and installation. To be eligible, an artist must reside in one of the following North Texas counties: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant or Wise. To enter, visit www.meadowsmuseumdallas.org/about-us/mosschumley-award to download an application. For questions, contact Olivia Turner (214-768-4246; ojturner@smu.edu).

The following individuals have been named to the jury for the 2025 award:

Martha Peters, Artist and Former Director, Fort Worth Public Art

Anna Smith, Curator of Education, Nasher Sculpture Center

Olivia Turner, Curatorial Assistant, Meadows Museum

Patricia Manzano Rodríguez, Curator, Meadows Museum

Du Chau, Gallery Committee, Visual Artist, Cofounder, Goldmark Cultural Center

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, Visual Artist, Associate Professor of Art, Director of Graduate Studies, Meadows School of the Arts, SMU

The Moss/Chumley Memorial Fund was established in 1989 by Frank Moss and the Meadows Museum as a tribute to Jim Chumley; Moss's name was added to the fund upon his death in 1991. Moss and Chumley were two Dallas art dealers who made outstanding contributions to the visual arts in North Texas during the 1980s. The pair operated the Nimbus Gallery on Routh Street from 1980 to 1987 and the Moss/Chumley Gallery at the Crescent Court from 1986 to 1989, where they showcased numerous new artists. Established in 1995, the Moss/Chumley North Texas Artist Award is given in their memory. The winner will be announced in April 2025.

About the Meadows Museum
The Meadows Museum is the leading U.S. institution focused on the study and presentation of the art of Spain. In 1962, Dallas businessman and philanthropist Algur H. Meadows donated his private collection of Spanish paintings, as well as funds to start a museum, to Southern Methodist University. The museum opened to the public in 1965, marking the first step in fulfilling Meadows’s vision to create “a small Prado for Texas.” Today, the Meadows is home to one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of Spanish art outside of Spain. The collection spans from the 10th to the 21st centuries and includes medieval objects, Renaissance and Baroque sculptures, and major paintings by Golden Age and modern masters. meadowsmuseumdallas.org.