Herman And Mahajan Named Presidential Professors

James Herman of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and Arvind Mahajan of Mays Business School have been named Presidential Professors for Teaching Excellence at Texas A&M University, announced University President Michael K. Young.

The award, established in 2003 by former Texas A&M President Robert M. Gates to underscore the importance of teaching at a major research university, provides for presentation each spring of two Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence Awards, each with a $25,000 stipend and includes the title of “Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence” – with the recipient retaining that title for the remainder of his or her career.

“Dr. Herman and Dr. Mahajan epitomize the essence of teaching excellence here at Texas A&M and are, thus, richly deserving of this high honor and all the benefits that accompany it,” President Young said. “I wish them continued success in their stellar careers.”

Herman is a clinical professor in the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology. He holds four degrees from Texas A&M—B.S., D.V.M., M.S. and Ph.D.—and joined the veterinary faculty in 1996 after operating a practice in San Antonio. His commitment to excellence in teaching has been recognized through The Association of Former Students’ college-level and university-level awards for teaching and he is a recipient of the Montague-Center for Teaching Excellence Scholar Award. He received a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to research how bioengineers use the Internet to enhance collaborative teaching experiences.

Mahajan is a Regents Professor and the Lamar Savings Professor of Finance in the Mays Business School. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Delhi in India, MBA at the University of Scranton and Ph.D. at Georgia State University, joined the Texas A&M faculty in 1980. He is widely recognized as an outstanding educator who has inspired thousands of students and business executives around the world. He is widely published and is a recognized scholar in the area of international business and corporate finance. His contributions to the university’s teaching mission have been recognized with numerous awards over several decades. In addition to receiving multiple college-level teaching awards, he is a three-time recipient of The Association of Former Students’ university-level Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching.

Nominations for the Presidential Professor awards are made by students, faculty members and deans in each of the university’s colleges. Faculty Senate representatives review each nomination and narrow the list that is sent to the president for the final selections.