David Spencer, an associate professor in AAE, has been selected as an Outstanding Faculty Mentor.

The award is presented annually by the College of Engineering to an individual faculty member in each School of Engineering to recognize outstanding work mentoring master’s and Ph.D. students. Aero Assist, the graduate student organization in AAE, nominated Spencer to the College.

AAE graduate students said David Spencer, an associate professor, "utilizes his wealth of engineering experience to effectively advise his students and guide their research work."

Spencer will receive an engraved plaque with a personal tribute composed by the students. It will read, in part: “Dr. Spencer utilizes his wealth of engineering experience to effectively advise his students and guide their research work. Dr. Spencer also nurtures the professional development of his students by encouraging them to pursue extra-curricular experience. By sharing his energy and time, Dr. Spencer has continually improved the quality of his students’ experience.”

Spencer teaches AAE251 (Space Flight Operations), AAE450 (Space Senior Design), AAE490 (Space Flight Projects) and AAE 590 (Space Flight Operations). Since he joined Purdue faculty in 2016, Spencer has served on nearly 50 PhD and MS thesis committees for graduate students in AAE.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for effective mentoring of students,” Spencer said. “Purdue engineers have a reputation for sound engineering judgment, the ability to solve problems, and strong communications and leadership skills. It’s these characteristics that I work to develop with students through mentoring.”

Spencer leads the Space Flight Projects Laboratory. The group’s goal is to create a world-class research and educational organization dedicated to the design, development and operation of advanced space systems.