Dr. Andrew Alegría is the Sul Ross State University Outstanding Teacher of the Year for 2023-2024.

Executive Vice President and Provost Bernie Cantens made the announcement April 30. The award winner is chosen annually by faculty peers.

Alegría is an assistant professor of music and the director of Choral Activities and Vocal Study. He joined the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at SRSU in 2018. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts-Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge, a Master of Music-Choral Conducting with Distinction from the University of New Mexico, and a Bachelor of Music-Church Music/Choral Conducting from Baylor University.

Dr. Alegría serves as the head of the music program, a graduate program advisor, and he is the Musical Theatre Conductor. He is the Region 6 chair of the Texas Music Educators Association College Division and serves on the Alpine Music Advisory Board.

Dr. Alegría established the Rex Wilson Choral Endowment, which awards scholarships to vocal majors in performance or education and fundraises for the Music Excellence Scholarship and the Band Excellence Scholarship. Together, these efforts award up to 22 scholarships each year. He has served as a guest clinician and conductor from Pasadena to Presidio, as well as the artistic director of the Big Bend Children’s Chorus and the director of Music Ministry for the First United Methodist Church of Alpine.

Dr. Alegría will take a group students on an international choir trip to Glasgow, Scotland, with Tartan Twang Productions later this month.

According to one student survey, “Dr. Alegría brought the ensemble up to a whole new level this semester. This was one of the best choir experiences I’ve ever had.”

Dr. Alegría will be awarded a $2,000 prize and plaque at the Faculty Awards Ceremony in the fall of 2024. As the Outstanding Teacher Award winner, he will also be forwarded as a nominee for the 2025 Texas State University System Board of Regents’ Teaching Award and the Minnie Piper Stevens Teaching Award.

For more information, email provost@sulross.edu.