Kathleen Howell added another Elmer F. Bruhn Award to her résumé.

The Hsu Lo Distinguished Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics was selected by undergraduate students in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics to receive the award for undergraduate teaching for the ninth time.

The award, named after the first head of the School, is presented annually for excellence in teaching and made possible by the interest and generosity of friends and alumni of the School.

Howell, who has been recognized at the highest levels internationally and nationally in aerospace engineering, always has been a passionate teacher who expects excellence from students. Students who take Howell’s courses oftentimes lament — in the moment — how much work is given and how hard the work is, but alumni praise the long-time professor for the rigor — and declare they’re better for it.

Howell is teaching undergraduates in AAE440 (Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics) and AAE490 (Orbital Analysis) this spring.  

“It is genuinely special to receive this award among such a strong group of faculty colleagues in AAE who are so focused on our teaching role. I first came to Purdue simply because I could teach classes,” said Howell, who joined AAE faculty in 1982. “We have such talented undergraduates here, and I am always inspired by their interest and enthusiasm. This is the next generation of leaders in the space sector, and they will have great impact on that future. I am eager to play a small part.”

Professors Timothée Pourpoint, Joseph Jewell and Carolin Frueh were among top vote-getters for the Bruhn Award. Jonathan Poggie and Weinong Chen weren’t eligible for consideration after receiving the award the past two years.

The winner of the Bruhn Award becomes the School’s nominee for the College of Engineering’s annual A.A. Potter Best Teacher Award. Howell has won the Potter Award twice, most recently in 2011. She also has received the Charles B. Murphy Award, Purdue University's highest undergraduate teaching honor.