Dan-The-TalentCongratulations to our own Dan Hixson, the University of Utah College of Engineering’s photographer and graphic designer, who was honored with this year’s Academic and Student Affairs District Staff Excellence Award. The award is given by the university’s office of Academic Affairs.

Hixson, who works in the Dean’s Office, was recognized for his outstanding contributions, providing graphics and layout support for the College’s printed publications and web sites. He also doubles as the College’s professional photographer, shooting photos for all of its six engineering departments as well as its centers.

His creative and polished work can be seen in the College of Engineering’s annual research report, the College and department printed newsletters such as the Electrical and Computer Engineering’s Communicator, and nearly all of the photos that grace the College’s main website and its individual engineering department sites. Hixson arrived at the University of Utah in 2011. He also was a graphic designer and photographer at Utah Valley University and owns his own photography business.

He along with winners of the Excellence Awards from other university districts will be honored during a presentation at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, in the James L. Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building.

Hixson is one of five recipients of the award for the district of Academic & Student Affairs. The other winners include Kaye Clark, executive assistant in the office of Enrollment Management; Marilyn Howard, academic coordinator in the College of Education; Janaki Krishna, museum registrar in the Natural History Museum of Utah; and Frank Sitton, associate director of facilities for Housing and Residential Education.

Multiple recipients also were selected in three other districts spanning the University of Utah, including academic health sciences, administration and hospital and clinics.

The awards are given for superior service and ongoing contributions by the university’s full time staff, including their quality of work, initiative, skills in dealing with people, and commitment to the university and its mission.