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Every year, �԰�����’s students, alumni, faculty, and staff show us what it means to be a Tiger. From playing in the Women’s World Cup to serving as the 74th flight director of NASA to supporting student success, Tigers have been doing great things in 2023. Here’s what a few have been up to.��

Jaskirat Singh Batra ’12, Ph.D.

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Jaskirat Singh Batra ’12, Ph.D., won this year’s��Outstanding Young Alumni Award. This award is given to young alumni whose achievements in their profession or chosen field and/or in service to the community set a standard of excellence worthy of recognition by the University and the Alumni Association. Batra has been recognized for his innovative virtual reality teaching and education research, and he is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M University, collaborating with UTHealth Houston to develop biosensors and biomedical devices.

Luisa Casso

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As the newly appointed��chief of staff for the Office of the President, Luisa Casso is a member of the Executive Leadership Team, promoting collaboration and internal alignment, building external relationships, and helping carry out the University’s strategic plan.��

Casso stepped into the position with an impressive two-decade work record that spans the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Most recently, she served as the manager of corporate communications for Toyota Motor North America.

“My work at �԰����� is not just about the university, ‘the institution.’ This is about the students,” Casso says. “This is about cultivating an environment for future change makers.”

Malea Cesar ’27

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played in the Women’s World Cup on the Philippines Team, where she scored her first international goal. A top soccer recruit for �԰�����, Cesar was team captain of her high school team her senior year and was awarded 1st Team Metro League and 2nd Team All-State honors. She also played for Blacktown FC, a semi-professional team located outside Sydney, Australia.��

Cesar intends to major in mathematics with a minor in Spanish. “I'm really excited about the challenging academics and academic curriculum available at �԰�����,” she says. “I am also excited at the opportunity to be in a competitive atmosphere and develop as a soccer player."��

Robert Furuya ’24

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, a music composition and engineering science double major, is supported by �԰�����’s full-tuition, STEM-focused Semmes Scholarship. Furuya plays piano, performs in solo recitals, writes music for various types of ensembles, and has traveled internationally to have his music performed. He says he’s appreciated getting the chance to work across multiple disciplines, all while conducting research and design work under “probably one of the most open and friendly engineering departments.”

“What �԰����� has allowed me to do with these two majors is a pretty unique thing,” Furuya says. “I haven’t seen a lot of other schools where you can do both.”

Benjamin Harris, MLIS

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Benjamin Harris, MLIS, was named the��inaugural dean for Coates Library. As dean of the library, Harris will be responsible for providing strategic management and executive administration of Coates Library’s staff, resources, budget, and building while fostering an inclusive community of support and service across campus.

“The library has long held the belief that the development of information literacy is key to fostering lifelong learners,” Harris says, “and as we work to enhance the curriculum in specific classes, majors, and departments, we are active advocates in ensuring that �԰����� meets its core values for excellence.”

Caterina Mora ’24

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is an international student from Portocolom, Spain, double majoring in business analytics and technology and international economics and minoring in data science. As part of her major, she got selected to present her research project at the Business Analytics Competition at Manhattan College, winning third place in the conference.

Mora is the vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA), where she helps manage a $1.4 million budget, is an admissions ambassador, and is involved in SPURS Sorority. Through the Tigers as Partners Program, she has helped enrich �԰�����'s teaching and learning experience and supported new international students.��

Royce Renfrew ’85, ’87

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Before becoming the 74th flight director of NASA in 2008,��Royce Renfrew ’85, ’87 worked as a high school teacher and in various roles at the International Space Station (ISS), including planning and executing the operations of the Space Station Remote Manipulator System and working the ISS’ computer system.

As flight director, he guides a dedicated and talented team as they navigate technology and oversee missions. Renfrew is currently on rotation from the Flight Operations Directorate and the Flight Director Office. He has also been loaned out to the Low Earth Orbit Development Program, where he is the operations manager.

Amy Stone, Ph.D.

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Sociology professor��Amy Stone, Ph.D., has spent the last few summers researching issues affecting LGBTQIA+ youths. In May 2023, they were awarded the��Danny J. Anderson Faculty Prize, which recognizes exceptional contributions in the mentorship of research students. Since 2012, Stone has supervised 38 undergraduate research assistants and four postbaccalaureate research students. Recently, they organized two team research projects: Strengthening Colors of Pride and Family Housing and Me. For their research, they also received funding from the National Science Foundation, elevating it to a million-dollar project.��

Her Excellency Dame Froyla Tzalam ’93, GCMG

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Her Excellency Dame Froyla Tzalam ’93, Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, is the winner of this year’s��Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest award presented by the �԰����� Alumni Association, which recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves through personal or professional achievement. Dame Froyla is a Mopan Maya leader dedicated to her work in culture, history, and indigenous rights. She has authored and co-authored articles, curated exhibits, and was the executive director for the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management before becoming the governor general of Belize.

Andrew Wells, Ph.D.

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Andrew Wells, Ph.D., was��appointed as the vice president for Student Affairs this year, where he leads all areas of��Student Affairs. He plans to continue �԰�����’s mission to facilitate opportunities for students to grow and learn and to help students become critical thinkers and lifelong learners. Previously, Wells served as the associate dean of students at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota.��

“As a career student affairs educator, I know the power of partnerships across campus with students, faculty, and staff, and I'm ready and eager to build those relationships and move forward together,” Wells says.