UTEP Service Awards Recognize Dedication of Faculty, Staff
Last Updated on March 03, 2020 at 12:00 AM
Originally published March 03, 2020
By UC Staff
UTEP Communications
The devotion of dozens of faculty and staff of The University of Texas at El Paso was recognized Tuesday, March 3, 2020, during the campus' annual Service Awards ceremony at Magoffin Auditorium.
The event, which celebrates the five-year service increments of UTEP employees who have worked five years or more, honored more than 400 faculty and staff.
“We talk a lot about the impact UTEP has on students in our region,” UTEP President Wilson told the audience gathered during the ceremony. “On occasion, we get to hear directly from students on just how much of an impact UTEP has had on them. Those students and their stories are at the heart of why you are so important to UTEP. You are making a difference.”
Civil Engineering Professor Recognized for 50 Years of Dedication
Among the honorees was Anthony Tarquin, Ph.D., professor of civil engineering, who was recognized for 50 years of service.
Throughout his half-century on campus, Tarquin has contributed to engineering education not only through his classroom instruction but also through a textbook, "Engineering Economy," which he co-wrote with Leland Blank, Ph.D., professor emeritus at Texas A&M University. The book, originally published in 1976, has been published in Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish and Thai.
Tarquin said the text maintains its relevancy through the inclusion of progressive examples and case studies, ethical considerations, and an ongoing commitment to providing insights that every engineer needs to consider for a project to be successful. In addition to the authors’ commitment to relevancy, their commitment to providing their content in digital platforms enables the title to meet students where they are today – online.
“I can’t imagine having had a better personal or professional life than that which I have enjoyed in my 50 years at this University,” Tarquin said. “Go Miners!”
Tarquin’s research interests during his time at UTEP were in two major areas — environmental engineering and teaching effectiveness. In environmental engineering, Tarquin’s work focuses on water and wastewater treatment, including projects related to industrial wastewater treatment, domestic wastewater treatment, water treatment plant optimization, and small waste flows.
His most recent projects pertain to water treatment operations and desalination projects. Other current projects involve water resources in arid environments, including recycling, reuse, conservation and their associated economic considerations.
With respect to teaching effectiveness, Tarquin has experimented with alternative teaching techniques for many years. Past projects have included self-paced instruction, videotaped courses, and time-compressed videotaped lectures. Current projects involve web-based, self-paced courses.
“UTEP is fortunate to have an exceptionally committed and talented faculty who choose to stay with us longer than faculty do at most U.S. universities,” said John S. Wiebe, Ph.D., interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Dr. Tarquin’s long record of service to UTEP, our students, and the community stands out among them.”
