Distinguished Alumni Awards

Distinguished Alumni Awards, established in honor of the College’s 40th anniversary, are bestowed upon alumni of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics for exceptional achievement in their professional field, involvement in the community, and demonstrated innovative change to improve the lives of others through their work.

The recipient is announced at the da Vinci Society & Distinguished Alumni Recognition Dinner.

• Nomination Criteria & Process ›

NSM Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

2024
 

Jerome Silvestre, Ph.D. (Theoretical Chemistry ’83)
Global Pharmaceutical Executive and Theoretical Chemist

Jerome Silvestre has combined a distinguished background in theoretical chemistry with global leadership in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. After earning his Ph.D. in theoretical chemistry from the University of Houston in 1983, Silvestre completed a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate Roald Hoffmann at Cornell University. His early academic work focused on quantum mechanical modeling and band structure calculations to better understand material properties and catalytic behavior. This research has led to more than 70 publications and over 3,700 citations.

Silvestre began his professional career back in France in French CNRS, the government-funded National Research institution, then moved to Industry agrochemical research with the Rhône-Poulenc Group before transitioning to the pharmaceutical sector. He held numerous senior leadership positions with Sanofi and its predecessors’ companies, in Vaccines and Pharma, including Senior Vice President Asia based in Singapore, President and CEO of Sanofi-aventis Canada, then Spain. He was then appointed President of Zentiva, and Senior Vice President of Sanofi’s Global Generics Division based in Czech Republic. Before retirement, Silvestre responsibilities encompassed inter-continental pharma operations, from Indian subcontinent and South Asia to Africa, Middle East, Russia & Eurasia, as a leading part of Sanofi’s Global Emerging Markets Operations.

A strategic and visionary leader, Silvestre has served on the boards of several international companies and influenced the direction of healthcare innovation and access around the world. His career exemplifies the fusion of scientific excellence and executive leadership, making him a proud and impactful alumnus of the University of Houston College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. 

Watch the video featuring Dr. Silvestre.

2023

John D. Weete, Ph.D. (Biology Ph.D. ’70)

Educator and Scientist, Retired

John D. Weete has held positions as Staff Scientist at the Lunar Science Institute, Professor, Associate Dean, and Director at Auburn University, Vice President of Research and Economic Development at West Virginia University, President of the WVU Research Corporation, and Executive Director of the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation. He was also an Invited or Visiting Professor at the University of Paul Sabatier in France, University of Zurich, and University of Ottawa.

He has numerous research publications, including two editions of the book on Fungal Lipid Biochemistry, and patents. Under his leadership at WVU, funding for research more than doubled, and he was instrumental in establishing the infrastructure for linking the research enterprise to economic development. Dr. Weete is credited as ‘architect of the WVU Research Enterprise’ in a book on the history of WVU. He has served on several boards including the National Academy of Inventors. He was an Alumni Professor at Auburn University, inducted as a Fellow in the National Academy of Inventors, and received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Stephen F. Austin State University.

2020

Malcolm L. Mazow, M.D. (Biology ’56)

Founding Member, Houston Eye Associates

Malcolm L. Mazow practiced pediatric ophthalmology and treated adult strabismus in Houston for over 50 years. He has been actively involved in academic medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, where he held the first Walter & Ruth Sterling Professorship in Ophthalmology. He was a founding member of Houston Eye Associates, the largest multi-specialty ophthalmology practice in the U.S., where he served as the senior pediatric ophthalmologist.

His extensive knowledge and decades of experience have provided thousands of children and adults who have visual and ocular motility impairments with treatment to cure or improve their quality of life. His passion for his profession, compassionate manner and devotion to his patients is clearly evident.

Dr. Mazow has influenced the career paths of countless residents in ophthalmology. Additionally, he has trained numerous individuals who selected to specialize in pediatric ophthalmology.

Family, however, is paramount in his life. He and his wife, Jackie, have a blended family that includes nine children and an equal number of grandchildren, and he is an active participant in their lives.

2019

2018

2017 – Inaugural Class

^† Deceased