This award is presented by the Graduate Student Organization to a graduate school faculty member who has repeatedly demonstrated concern for student rights and issues, and who has acted on the half of the student body.  

David W. Niesel received his B.A. in Biology in 1975 from Quinnipiac College in Hamden, Connecticut and his Ph.D. in biochemistry from North Carolina State University in Raleigh in 1980.  He continued his training as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas in Austin until 1983 when he joined the UTMB faculty as assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. 

Dr. Niesel has worked tirelessly to enrich the experience of our graduate students.  He currently services on the Dean’s Advisory Committee, Professionalism Board, Infectious Disease Task Force and is President elect of the UTMB Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi.  He also serves as a faculty representative on the GSBS Committee for Career Development where he is recognized for his generous leadership and support of innovative programs.  He received the Sealy Society’s Mustard Seed Award in 1995 for Innovation in Education and the President’s Cabinet Award 1998 to improve communication among biomedical researchers at UTMB. 

Dr. Niesel’s extraordinary passion, creativity and vision have been an inspiration to UTMB students, faculty, staff and alumni for nearly 20 years.  He helped establish the GSBS alumni organization in 1996 and spearheaded fund raising efforts to support scholarships and travel awards for students.  He currently serves on the UTMB Development Board, where he continues to represent the issues and interests of UTMB’s most precious assets…it’s students -- past, present and future.

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