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UTEP Welcomes 30 New Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty Members

Last Updated on August 31, 2021 at 12:00 AM

Originally published August 31, 2021

By UC Staff

UTEP Communications

The University of Texas at El Paso welcomes 30 new tenured and tenure-track faculty members to begin the 2021-22 academic year.

The University of Texas at El Paso welcomes 30 new tenured and tenure-track faculty members to begin the 2021-22 academic year.
The University of Texas at El Paso welcomes 30 new tenured and tenure-track faculty members to begin the 2021-22 academic year.

The new faculty members come to UTEP from a diverse array of disciplines, including philosophy, nursing, educational psychology, social work, chemistry, biochemistry, music and mechanical engineering. Three faculty members are UTEP alumni who are returning to their alma mater after having served as professors, clinical instructors and researchers at institutions throughout the region. Two assistant professors have joined the faculty after serving as research assistants and mentors to UTEP students.

The cohort also includes two new department chairs: Carlos Cabrera, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Noell Birondo, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy. Cabrera is well acquainted with UTEP, having served as a member of the advisory board for UTEP’s National Institutes of Health Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) initiative since 2015. Birondo joins UTEP from Wichita State University where he was an associate professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy.

“We are delighted to welcome a new cohort of talented faculty who are ready to press forward with UTEP’s mission of access, excellence and impact,” said John Wiebe, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs. “New faculty have the potential to chart the future of the institution. They drive the advancement of discovery and provide students with enriching educational experiences to prepare them to be successful leaders in their fields.”

In addition to their roles in teaching and discovery, UTEP faculty offer their expertise, time and energy to a variety of community organizations and initiatives that strengthen the economy and address challenges in the community and the region. UTEP is one of only 73 top tier research universities in the U.S. that also are recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as Community Engaged Institutions.

Most of the new faculty cohort moved to El Paso from places throughout the globe including South Korea and Hungary – while others have been at UTEP and are settling into new roles.

“We are grateful for their presence and look forward to the many contributions they will make as teachers, scholars and leaders on campus and in the community,” Wiebe said.

Read more about the faculty members’ expertise here. The new faculty members include:

  • Palvi Aggarwal, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Computer Science
  • Jordan M. Barker, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Marketing and Management
  • John J. Bird, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Noell Birondo, Ph.D., chair and professor, Department of Philosophy
  • Carlos R. Cabrera, Ph.D., chair and professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Hyunjung Cheon, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Criminal Justice
  • Elizabeth Day, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Asim Kumer Dey, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences
  • Cristina Dominguez De Quezada, Ph.D., assistant professor, School of Nursing
  • Zifeng Feng, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Economics and Finance
  • Bo Gao, assistant professor, Ph.D., Department of Accounting and Information Systems
  • Jose Hernandez, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Jordan Howell, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Criminal Justice
  • Sarah Yvonne Jimenez, Ph.D., assistant professor, School of Nursing
  • Ruimin Ke, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Civil Engineering
  • Eunja Kim, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Physics
  • Destan Kirimhan, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Economics and Finance
  • Elizabeth LaRue, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Biological Sciences
  • Soyeon Lee, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of English
  • Sumin Lim, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Educational Psychology and Special Services
  • Jason Mallonee, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Social Work
  • Nandini Nim, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Marketing and Management
  • Isela Peña, Ed.D., assistant professor, Department of Education Leadership and Foundations
  • Balàzs Pintèr, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Joel Quintana, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Andy P. Smith, D.M., assistant professor, Department of Music
  • Valbona Sulcaj, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Accounting and Information Systems
  • Alireza Vaziri Rahimi, assistant professor, Department of Art
  • Cynthia Arraya Wiltshire, Ed.D., assistant professor, Department of Teacher Education
  • Hyo Jin Yoon, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Economics and Finance