Sul Ross State University’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness has awarded the 2023-2024 Best Academic Program Assessment Awards to Dr. Melissa Wesney and Dr. Jessica Velasco in recognition of their outstanding contributions to academic program assessment. Dr. Wesney, an assistant professor of Education, was honored for her work on the Bachelor of Science in Education program, while Dr. Velasco, an associate professor of Political Science and Public Administration, was recognized for the Master of Public Administration program. Both recipients achieved a high peer rating of 84 percent, demonstrating excellence in program evaluation and improvement.
The awards were announced during the university’s Annual Academic Program Peer Review, highlighting Sul Ross State’s dedication to fostering quality academic assessments across all programs. Each honoree will receive up to $750 in stipends and an additional $250 for professional development, reinforcing the university’s commitment to supporting continuous program enhancement.
In response to the recognition, Dr. Velasco shared her perspective on the significance of assessment: “Being recognized by my peers for writing a top assessment report for the Master of Public Administration program is a huge honor. Not only does it shine a light on my program, but also on the crucial task of assessing our student learning outcomes and reporting the results of those assessments.”
Dr. Wesney emphasized the collaborative nature of the work, stating, “Assessment is critical for continuous growth and development. It allows us to celebrate our strengths and focus on ways to make our program even better. It is really a team effort, and I couldn’t ask for a better team.”
In addition to their awards, Dr. Wesney and Dr. Velasco will lead a community of practice focused on program assessment, offering training sessions throughout the upcoming year to support ongoing improvements in academic evaluation practices at Sul Ross State University.
