Two faculty members from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) have been recognized with the 2025 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award, a distinction given by The University of Texas System Board of Regents. Carolina Valencia, Ph.D., clinical associate professor and program director of the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences, and Lela Vukovic, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, are among only 12 recipients across all UT System academic and health institutions this year.
“It’s great to see our faculty recognized in this way,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “Dr. Valencia and Dr. Vukovic are wonderful teachers. Congratulations to them both.”
The Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards were established in 2008 to honor exceptional classroom presence, innovation, and creativity in teaching. Since then, 80 UTEP faculty members have received this recognition. Recipients receive a certificate, medallion, and cash award for their commitment to student success.
Valencia completed her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Florida in 2011. Her research focuses on pain modulatory systems and musculoskeletal chronic pain development. At UTEP, she has worked to develop the Rehabilitation Sciences program through practices that support academic excellence and student engagement. She has previously received several awards for her contributions as an educator and mentor.
“My role as an educator, instructor, mentor, director, advisor, and Hispanic woman in today’s complex world is to enhance students’ capacity to learn, facilitate dialogue and provide access to resources,” Valencia said. “I am extremely honored and humbled to receive this award and thankful to the UT System for recognizing the work we do to empower our students.”
Vukovic earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois in 2012. She leads a research team that uses computational methods to study biological and material systems. Her collaborations include modeling nucleic acids for biology and nanotechnology applications as well as designing molecules with specific binding properties. Her laboratory has received funding from national agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation; she was also awarded a Humboldt Research Fellowship in 2025.
“As an educator and a first-generation graduate, my purpose is to help students grow, persist and thrive in STEM by pairing rigorous chemistry with support,” Vukovic said. “Helping them explore scientific challenges and discover their potential inspires me every day, and I am grateful to the Board of Regents for valuing the importance of teaching in higher education.”
John Wiebe, Ph.D., UTEP Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, commended both honorees: “Dr. Valencia and Dr. Vukovic exemplify UTEP’s commitment to excellence in teaching and research,” he said. “Their ability to connect with students while advancing knowledge in their fields is a testament to the extraordinary faculty we have at UTEP. We are proud to see their impact recognized at the System level.”
A full list of recipients can be found on The University of Texas System website.
