McCoy College of Business announces 2026 faculty and staff awards

SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State University’s McCoy College of Business honored the recipients of its 2026 college-level awards during the annual fall faculty and staff meeting on Aug. 13.

Woods Research Award
and Olney Early Career Research Award

The Gary V. Woods Research Award and the Robert J. Olney Early Career Research Award are the two highest research honors awarded by the McCoy College. Dr. Jake Waddingham, assistant professor of management, received the Woods Research Award, which recognizes outstanding scholarly performance among the college’s tenured and tenure-track faculty over a three-year period. The Olney Early Career Research Award recognizes the scholarly success of faculty members early in their careers. This year’s recipients were Dr. Kyle Mao, assistant professor of accounting, and Dr. Augustine Tarkom, assistant professor of finance.

Distinguished Teaching Award

The McCoy College Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes faculty members who exemplify outstanding commitment to student learning, innovative teaching methods, and pedagogical excellence. As the college’s top teaching honor, this award is given to an educator who consistently demonstrates excellence in instruction, creative curriculum design, and dedication to advancing student success and academic standards within the McCoy College community. This year's recipients were Dr. Alex Burnette-Hayes, assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Information Systems and Analytics, and Dr. Massoud Moradi, associate professor of marketing.

Faculty Leadership and Service Award

The McCoy College Faculty Leadership and Service Award honors faculty members who have made exceptional and sustained contributions through leadership and service to McCoy College, the university, their profession, or the community. Recipients demonstrate dedication by leading initiatives, serving on committees, mentoring colleagues, or engaging in outreach that results in meaningful, lasting impact. Their work exemplifies the college’s commitment to collaboration, service, and positive change. Three faculty members received the award this year: Mark Evans, assistant professor of instruction in management; Dr. Linda Alkire, associate professor of marketing; and Dr. Jeff Todd, professor of business law.

Outstanding Staff Achievement Award

This award honors two staff members, nominated by their supervisors, whose professionalism, initiative, and commitment have significantly advanced the mission and community of McCoy College. Recipients of this award go above and beyond their regular duties, making impactful contributions that strengthen college operations, enhance effectiveness, and promote a positive, collaborative environment for students, faculty, and peers. Pam Brooks, administrative assistant III in the Department of Management, and Wendi Rios, corporate, alumni and partnerships manager for McCoy College, were named this year’s recipients of the award.

Dean's Leadership Council Changemaker Awards

The award recognizes full-time McCoy College employees who go above and beyond to create positive change and strengthen the college’s culture or programming. It is sponsored by the Dean’s Leadership Council, a group of alumni and friends whose support of college programs and initiatives advances student success, faculty development and outcomes across McCoy College. This year, the Dean's Leadership Council Changemaker Award was presented to four recipients: Kathy Moffit, professor of instruction in accounting; Jackie Rositas, admin III for the Department of Information Systems and Analytics; Dr. Matthew Hood, associate professor of finance; and Emily Rayburn, admin III for the Department of Marketing.

Dean's Compass Award

The Dean’s Compass Award honors a faculty or staff member whose steady guidance, positive influence, and commitment to the College help others move forward with confidence. Like a compass, they may not steer from the front, but they provide the direction and reassurance that helps the entire community stay on course. The inaugural Dean's Compass Award was presented to academic advising director Bethany Mellum.

Outstanding Graduate Faculty

The awards recognized outstanding faculty in each of McCoy College's graduate programs. The winners were Dr. Amy Watson, for the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program; Dr. Nate Cannon, for the Master of Accountancy (MAcy) program; Dr. Dean Showalter, for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program; Dr. Peg Richmond, for the Online Master of Business Administration program; Dr. Alex Burnett-Hayes, for the M.S. in Data Analytics and Information Systems (MSDAIS) program; Dr. Vishag Badrinarayanan, for the M.S. in Marketing Research and Analysis (MSMRA) program; and Dr. Yao-Yu Chih, for the M.S. in Quantitative Finance and Economics (MSQFE) program. The overall winner of most outstanding graduate faculty at McCoy College was awarded to Dr. Yao-Yu Chih, associate professor of finance and economics.

Years of Service

The following faculty and staff members were recognized for years of service at Texas State:

25 Years of Service

Dr. Janet Payne, Finance and Economics
Dr. Holland Toles, Finance and Economics
Dr. Gail Zank, Marketing

20 Years of Service

Ken Murdock, Marketing
Ray Wilson, Dean's Office

15 Years of Service

Francisca Arana, Small Business Development Center
Joe Harper, Small Business Development Center
Dr. Matthew Hood, Finance and Economics
Dr. Peg Richmond, Management
Dr. Anna Turri, Marketing

10 Years of Service

Dr. Linda Alkire, Marketing
Dr. Sidney Anderson, Marketing
David Angelow, Information Systems and Analytics
Denise Cortez, Management
Dr. Phil Davis, Dean's Office
Dr. Corey Fox, Management
Dr. Seth Frei, Dean's Office
Alexandra Hampshire, Accounting
Dr. Laura Jacks, Finance and Economics
Dr. Maggie Wan, Management

For more information about this story or other news, email Valerie Figueroa, communications specialist for the McCoy College of Business, at vlf23@txstate.edu.

About the McCoy College of Business 
Established in 1970, Texas State’s business school officially became the McCoy College of Business in 2004 following a transformational gift of $20 million by Emmett and Miriam McCoy. The college, which offers classes in San Marcos, Round Rock, and online, is accredited by AACSB in both business and accounting, and has graduated more than 46,000 alumni.