Awards and Accolades

2025 Acknowledgments

  • Cindy Crews, director, Parking and Transportation, received the Parking Employee Award of Excellence at the 2024 Texas Parking and Transportation Association (TPTA) Annual Conference.
  • Parking and Transportation earned the Parking Program Award of Excellence at the 2024 Texas Parking and Transportation Association (TPTA) Annual Conference for its Lot Spotters program, launched in March 2024. 
  • Esmeralda Valdez, Ph.D., CASP, executive director of University Services, received the NACAS South Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 National Association of College Auxiliary Services South CX annual convention.
  • Deborah Huebler, MPA, CASP, executive director of Auxiliary Services, was elected to the NACAS South board of directors as the membership and awards coordinator during the 2025 NACAS South CX annual convention.
  • DaNesha Allen, MBA, SHRM-CP, CASP, senior director of Auxiliary Services, received the Regional Rising Star Award at the 2025 NACAS South CX annual convention.
  • DaNesha Allen, MBA, SHRM-CP, CASP, received an A&F Star Performer Award at the Administration & Finance Staff Appreciation & Awards annual event in 2025.
  • Copy and Print Services earned a platinum production and impression award from the Association of College and University Printers (ACUP+) in 2025.
  • Parking and Transportation was accredited as an Accredited Parking Organization with Distinction through Dec. 31, 2027, by the International Parking & Mobility Institute (IPMI). 

2024 Acknowledgments

  • Emily Messa, Ph.D., CASP, senior associate vice chancellor & senior associate vice president, Administration, received a Fulbright Specialist Program Award in 2024.
  • Emily Messa, Ph.D., CASP, was appointed president of the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS) Foundation Board in 2024.
  • Cougar Card Services received the Outstanding Partner/Collaboration Award at the NACAS South conference in 2024. 
    Cougar Card Services collaborated with MD Anderson Library to introduce a digital version of the Cougar Card for entry, resulting in over a million views in 2024.
  • Cougar Card Services expanded its partnership with Grubhub by allowing ShastaBUCKS to be used for on-campus orders in 2024.
  • Cougar Card Services added Eric’s, the restaurant in the lobby of Hilton Hotel at the University of Houston, as a new partner for ShastaBUCKS.
  • Cullen Performance Hall introduced the CPH Student Volunteering Program and the Student Ticketing Program in 2024. 
    Cullen Performance Hall completed stage lift enhancements for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance in 2024. 
    Copy and Print Services received three awards (one platinum and two gold) from the Association of College and University Printers (ACUP+) in 2024.  
  • Copy, Print and Delivery Services installed an Amazon HUB locker at their location at the General Services Building, processing 6% of all Amazon packages and delivering 1,789 packages in 2024.
  • Chad McDonald, senior executive chef, UH Dining Services, won gold and placed first overall at the Southern National Association of College & University Food Services conference, and represented the South Region in the NACUFS Culinary Challenge, winning an ACF gold medal in 2024.
  • UH Dining Services received a NACUFS Loyal E. Horton Dining Award, winning silver in the Residential Special Event of the Year category in 2024. 

2023 Acknowledgments

  • Emily Messa, Ph.D., CASP, received the 2023 Library Excellence Award and the Robert F. Newton Award for Distinguished Service at the NACAS C3X Conference.
  • Cougar Card Services partnered with Grubhub to accept ShastaBUCKS for off-campus orders, resulting in 2,289 transactions.
  • Cougar Card Services was featured in NACAS Positive Identity Blog in 2023.
  • Samantha Eades received the Follett Higher Education CEO Excellence Award for her dedication to providing affordable course materials.
  • UH Dining Services won the NASPA Excellence Silver Award.
  • Cougar Card Service Director Rosie Ashley and Coordinator Daisy Del Fierro were recognized at the National Association of Campus Card Users conference.
  • Cougar Woods Dining Commons earned a four-star Green Restaurant Association certification.
  • The Parking and Transportation Services team won the A&F Impact Award.
  • Eric Rojas was awarded the A&F Silent Service Award. 

2022 Acknowledgments

  • Emily Messa Ph.D., CASP, senior associate vice chancellor & senior associate vice president, Administration, joined the Fulbright Specialist Roster in 2022.
  • Emily Messa Ph.D., CASP, was appointed to the NACAS Foundation Board in 2022.
  • Esmeralda Valdez, Ph.D., CASP, executive director of University Services, was named NACAS Volunteer of the Year and joined its board of directors in 2022.
  • Alexcis Mendoza, district manager of UH Dining Services, won the Chartwells President’s Circle Award in 2022.
  • Allen DeForde won the TPTA Parking Employee Award in 2022.