Faculty & Staff News
Updates from our campus community
Texas A&M Names Dr. Charles Culp a 2026 University Distinguished Professor
With innovations that generated over $1 billion in revenue and research that saved hundreds of millions in energy costs, Culp’s influence reaches far beyond campus.
Dr. Charles Culp is joined by College of Architecture leadership for a surprise announcement recognizing Culp as a 2026 University Distinguished Professor during his ARCH 421 Energy and Sustainable Architecture class at Texas A&M University.
Texas A&M University has named Dr. Charles Culp a University Distinguished Professor, the institution’s highest faculty honor, recognizing scholars whose work has transformed their fields.
Culp, a professor in the Department of Architecture and associate director of the Energy Systems Laboratory, is one of eight faculty members selected for the 2026 class. He is only the second faculty member in the College of Architecture’s history to receive the distinction.
“We are incredibly proud to see Dr. Culp receive this recognition,” said Dr. Lingqian “Ivy” Hu, dean of the College of Architecture. “His innovations have transformed building systems, and his leadership continues to strengthen both our college and the profession.”
Hu surprised Culp with the news during his ARCH 421 Energy and Sustainable Architecture course. “When the dean walked in, grinning past her ears, the elevator went to the top,” he recalled. Students followed him into the hallway to celebrate alongside college leadership and take photos.
Staff Recieve President's Meritorious Service Award
Two staff members from the College of Architecture have received individual President’s Meritorious Service Award:
- Jeewasmi Thapa ’16, Senior Program Coordinator for Texas Target Communities, Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning
- Larry Scott, Program Coordinator II, College of Architecture
Sponsored by the Office of the President and the Association of Former Students, the President’s Meritorious Service Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate commitment to the Aggie Core Values of Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect and Selfless Service.
Portrait of Jeewasmi Thapa '16
Portrait of Larry Scott.
Larry Fickel ’81 Becomes First in College to Earn Provost Teaching Award
The senior lecturer combines decades of real-world construction experience with a focus on preparing students for their careers — and for life.
Larry Fickel ’81, a senior lecturer in the Texas A&M University Department of Construction Science, is a 2025–2026 recipient of the Provost Academic Professional Track (APT) Faculty Teaching Excellence Award.
Ask Larry Fickel ’81 to describe his teaching philosophy, and he’ll tell you there is no fancy secret.
“I’m teaching students about construction,” Fickel explained, “but my goal is to teach them about life.”
Fickel, a senior lecturer in the Texas A&M University Department of Construction Science, is one of the 2025–2026 recipients of the Provost Academic Professional Track (APT) Faculty Teaching Excellence Award. The Center for Teaching Excellence presented the award on Wednesday, March 4.
The university-level honor recognizes 10 faculty members each year for outstanding, student-centered teaching. Recipients hold the title for life and receive a $5,000 grant to support teaching initiatives.
In the award’s seven-year history, Fickel is the first recipient from the College of Architecture.
“Larry has risen to the top of the construction world in industry, and now in academia,” said Dr. Phil Lewis, head of the Department of Construction Science. “He always puts the best interests of the students and the department ahead of his own.”
Fickel’s path to this recognition has never followed a traditional academic blueprint. Of the award’s 67 recipients, Fickel is the only honoree whose highest earned degree is a bachelor’s degree. His students credit his expert industry knowledge and a genuine commitment to helping them succeed.
CTE Selects Dr. Roxana Jafari as a Montague Scholar
Dr. Roxana Jafari, endowed assistant professor in architecture, has been selected as a 2026–2027 Montague-CTE Scholar. Presented by the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), the Montague-CTE Scholars Award recognizes tenure-track assistant professors who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to undergraduate education early in their careers. Established in 1991 through a gift from Ken and Judy Montague, the award honors the legacy of Kenneth Montague ’37 and supports faculty members dedicated to teaching excellence at Texas A&M. Recipients receive a $6,500 grant to further strengthen their teaching and support innovative approaches to undergraduate instruction. Now in its 36th year, the award has recognized more than 300 faculty members across the university.
Portrait of Dr. Roxana Jafari.