TSUS Names Regents’ Professor, Regents’ Scholar At Texas State

The Regents’ Professor designation honors outstanding members of the System’s professoriate who have achieved excellence in teaching, research and publication, and community service, while…

SAN MARCOS – The Texas State University System Board of Regents has named Texas State University faculty member Lawrence Estaville Regents’ Professor, and student Kendria Shields-Rhodes Regents’ Scholar.

The board approved the honors during its quarterly meeting November 16 in Huntsville.

The Regents’ Professor designation honors outstanding members of the System’s professoriate who have achieved excellence in teaching, research and publication, and community service, while demonstrating an unwavering dedication to their students and university. Estaville is the 15th TSUS Regents’ Professor to be honored at Texas State.

It is a lifetime designation bestowed by the Board of Regents upon tenured full professors who have been acknowledged as exceptional by their peers and students, and recommended by the TSUS Foundation Board of Directors, the chancellor, and their university president.

“These honorees exemplify the high caliber of excellence among our faculty and students at Texas State, and the commitment the members of this university community have to outstanding teaching and research,” said Texas State President Denise M. Trauth.

Estaville, a professor in the Department of Geography, came to Texas State in 1994 having previously served as faculty member at universities in California, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.

During his time at Texas State, Estaville served as chair of the Department of Geography for 10 years, and pioneered the department’s first three doctoral programs. He helped establish the James and Marilyn Lovell Center for Environmental Geography and Hazards Research, and the Gilbert M. Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education.

Estaville has published 10 books, 36 peer-reviewed articles, 19 peer-reviewed book chapters and 92 conference papers. He has secured more than $6 million in grants.

He has received the Distinguished Ethnic Geographer Career Award, the Distinguished Scholar Award from the Ethnic Geography Specialty Group, the Outstanding Scholarship and Service Award from the Business Geography Specialty Group, and the Enhancing Diversity Award from the American Association of Geographers.

As an educator, Estaville has taught nearly 40 courses and advised three doctoral students who have won national dissertation awards. He has been honored with the National Council for Geographic Education’s Distinguished Mentor Award, and has been named a Favorite Professor by the Texas State Alpha Chi National College Honor Society twice.

Shields-Rhodes, the third Regents’ Scholar at Texas State, is a senior from Cedar Hill double-majoring in psychology and Spanish. Regents’ Scholars are selected by the chancellor based on outstanding academic achievement and scholarship, leadership abilities, and contributions to the institution and their community. In addition to a framed resolution and medallion, Regents’ Scholars receive $2,500 credited toward their educational expenses.

Shields-Rhodes has a cumulative grade point average of 4.0, has earned Dean’s List recognition for six consecutive semesters, and has received several prestigious awards and scholarships, including the Lyndon Baines Johnson Civic Leadership Award, the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion Top Scholar of the Year Award, and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Shields-Rhodes has served as a resident assistant for the Department of Housing and Residential Life, where she was recognized as “Rookie of the Year” and received the department’s citizenship award.

She has served as vice president of the San Jacinto Hall Council, and is a member of Top Scholars, and Student Support Services. Her volunteer activities include Bobcat Build, the Texas State Leadership Institute annual conference, Special Olympics, School Fuel San Marcos, and various international mission trips and study abroad programs.