Two senior researchers from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) have been designated Regents Fellows by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents for 2021–2022. Established in 1988, the award recognizes and honors service, extension and research professionals who have provided exemplary professional service to society that has created large and lasting benefits to Texas and beyond.
Senior Research Scientist Rafael Aldrete and Senior Research Engineer Karen Dixon were among the 11 staff members chosen from the A&M System’s agencies to be designated Regents Fellows.
“It’s difficult for me to express how humbled and grateful I am for this award,” says Aldrete. “I consider myself very lucky to work with my colleagues and serve our sponsors at the A&M System and elsewhere.”
Aldrete, who specializes in transportation management, cross-border transportation and technology applications, and infrastructure finance and economics, helped launch TTI’s office in El Paso in 2006 to expand TTI’s footprint and capabilities. Since then, Aldrete has served as a member of the Texas Border Trade Advisory Committee and as the director of the Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research at TTI.
“It’s this environment that enables us researchers to strive for excellence in service. The A&M System Regents Fellow Service Award gives me purpose and energy to continue doing so,” notes Aldrete.
Dixon serves as associate agency director for TTI’s Transportation Operations Group and has worked on numerous research initiatives for university, federal, national, state and local agencies. Having worked in the transportation field for 38 years and at TTI for 10 years, Dixon has been a key contributor to many high-profile projects including the development of the United States Highway Safety Manual, the National Academies’ of Sciences Transportation Research Board’s (TRB’s) Access Management Manual, TRB’s Access Management Application Guidelines and more.
“I’m sincerely honored to be selected as a Texas A&M University System Regents Fellow,” says Dixon. “As an employee of TTI, it’s important to note that the work we do has regional and national impacts and cannot be accomplished by a single person. For this reason, I am accepting this honor on behalf of my many hardworking colleagues at TTI.”