Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas hosted a staff awards ceremony Sept. 25 to honor several employees who not only work hard, but who also are dedicated to the school’s mission of providing academic excellence, trailblazing research and community-centered care and service.
“Sometimes it is easy to forget how well offices and programs run until you lose someone…,” said Dr. Lily T. García, dean. “We want to spend time to celebrate, thank you and show our appreciation.”
Staff Excellence Awards
Charles Fulton, Meghann Holt and Deborah Stewart received Staff Excellence Awards. Fulton is biomedical sciences’ lab manager and the director of the Anatomical Gift Program, while Holt serves as biomedical sciences’ administrative coordinator. Stewart is laboratory manager in comprehensive dentistry, A&M Dental’s largest department.
Fulton was nominated by Dr. John Neubert, professor and head of biomedical sciences, and Dr. Qian Wang, professor in biomedical sciences. They said Fulton’s organizational excellence is at the core of his role, and he’s committed to service-hearted professionalism.
“He works round the clock when needed, without expectation of praise or recognition, driven by a genuine desire to help others in their most vulnerable moments,” the nomination stated.
Also nominated by Neubert, Holt was recognized for her recommendations to improve and streamline office operations and for other contributions.
“She has a pleasant demeanor, always greeting visitors, answering inquiries and serving as a reliable liaison across departments,” Neubert stated. “Whether helping faculty with scheduling, assisting with student-centered events or supervising student workers, she handles every task with a detailed approach to ensure efficiency.”
Stewart, dental laboratory coordinator, quality assurance coordinator and digital dentistry coordinator in comprehensive dentistry, was nominated by Drs. Christine Chu, clinical assistant professor in comprehensive dentistry; John Stooksberry, clinical associate professor in comprehensive dentistry; and Brent Hutson, director of clinical compliance in the Office of Clinical Affairs. They said she manages the multiple roles with exceptional skill and grace.
“Ms. Stewart is known for her unwavering work ethic; a hard worker (who) takes her job seriously,” the nomination stated. “Her punctuality and reliability are matched only by her deep knowledge of clinical procedures and her willingness to step in whenever needed.”
New Employee Awards
Mark Jones, senior communications specialist in marketing and communications, and Terrie Wendel, business administrator in the finance department, received New Employee Awards. Jones joined A&M Dental in November 2024, and Wendel started in September 2023.
Jones, a former member of Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets, was nominated by Steven Crow, creative services manager in marketing and communications, and Stephanie Patrick, communications coordinator in marketing and communications. He was called supportive, approachable and a team player.
“He is patient, willing to take on tasks that no one wants, and is always looking for new ways to improve our message,” the nomination stated.
Wendel, business administrator in the Office of Finance and Administration, was nominated by Kenneth Thomas, director of clinical finance. He wrote that Wendel took the lead role in a business initiative, exploring and piloting third-party billing for the dental college. As a result, A&M Dental collects from vendors more consistently and on time.
She’s also largely responsible for the success of the dental college’s refund policy.
“She has worked very hard to revamp this process to get refunds to patients within 30 days,” Thomas wrote.
Staff Team Excellence Award
A&M Dental’s finance team won the Staff Team Award, nominated by Amy Caldwell, the department’s director of business services. Members include Richard Farmer, business coordinator; Maribel Mendiola, business coordinator; Natalie Perdue, business administrator; Sandra Stansbury, business administrator; and Jeremy Taylor, business administrator.
Caldwell noted the accounts payable team improved payment processes that led to more on-time payments and overall efficiency. The on-time payment rate is 99.9% thanks to their efforts.