Rundell, Rickus receive 2015 College of Engineering Faculty Awards of Excellence
The purpose of the Engagement and Service Award is to recognize excellence in engagement and/or service by faculty in the College of Engineering. Service, teaching, and research are integral to and expected of all faculty. The award recognizes contributions in all three areas, but especially excellence in innovation and impact in external or internal service and engagement programs.
Rundell was recognized as a leader and role model in engagement and service both at Purdue and within her profession via professional organizations. As chair of the Weldon School undergraduate committee, she helped the school formalize critical components of the novel undergraduate biomedical engineering curricula and gained approval by the State Board of Higher Education. She is founder and co-director of Purdue’s first Howard Hughes Medical Institute funded undergraduate research program. And she was recognized for her service as a core member of the Honor College Grievance Committee and the College of Engineering Undergraduate Program Chairs Committee.
The purpose of the Advising Award is to recognize excellence by faculty in the College of Engineering in the advising and mentoring of students. The award recognizes the scope and impact of nurturing students to successful professional careers via personal or academic advising and leadership in engineering student organizations. The award recognizes the recipients’ contributions toward creating a climate that empowers students to effectively work together and develop leadership and communication skills for their professional careers.
Rickus was recognized for timely progression of her students through their academic careers; her students’ realization of their potential through her guidance in shaping their academic programs; her ability to handle exceptional situations requiring thoughtful, and often creative solutions to assist students in working around problems; and progress in her students' program of study.
Pictured left: Jenna Rickus; right: Ann Rundell