2019 Engineering Education Faculty Awards
| Event Date: | March 1, 2019 |
|---|
Alice L. Pawley
School of Engineering Education Award for Leadership
For advocating for equity in education, and for promoting a culture of caring in the School by initiating social events and by organizing support for community members in times of need
The nomination package was assembled by a group of graduate students, none of whom is Alice's advisee! To nurture a caring community in ENE, Alice initiated the August welcome-back picnic, the Stone Soup holiday event, the weekly Tea Time, and meal trains for community members recovering from surgery and welcoming new babies. One supporter wrote, "During the travel ban, when all Iranians were so disappointed and felt excluded from the US community, she showed up in our protest and read a statement in support of Iranians and six other countries who were affected."
The nomination of Alice ends, "She doesn’t simply talk about being inclusive and collegial but actively seeks to enact these philosophies to support all members of the ENE community so that we can all achieve professional and personal satisfaction. She creates a warm and welcoming environment for all ENE community and professionals beyond our community. Through her example, she challenges us to consider how we can be socially conscious and support individuals in our community and have open, respectful discussions."
Matthew W. Ohland
School of Engineering Education Award for Excellence in Mentoring
For sustained commitment to the professional development of students, postdocs, and faculty, across time and distance, to help them succeed
Since arriving at Purdue in 2007, Matt has mentored 7 postdocs or visiting scholars, and 13 PhD students. He has served on committees for 20 other PhD students. He has made accommodations for doctoral students with a variety of personal and family circumstances: he has been determined to find a way to help them succeed. One of his innovations is encouraging senior doctoral students to write and submit proposals to NSF; when an award is made, he serves as the PI until those students have faculty positions at other institutions, and then the award is transferred to them.
One former student wrote, "He was very patient in answering my questions and never made me regret asking one…. He always made time to meet, regardless of where he was in the world … from many different countries, during conferences, and in different time zones. I don't know how he is able to do all that he does, but he gets it done with a smile on his face!" Another student wrote, "Honestly, if it wasn't for him I probably would have left the program."
Mary K. Pilotte
School of Engineering Education Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
For superb instruction in many courses, for developing innovative courses and curricula, and for strengthening the community of students in multidisciplinary engineering and interdisciplinary engineering studies
Since joining the ENE faculty in 2011, Mary has taught seven different undergraduate courses, at all levels, with consistently high student evaluation ratings. She has created and revised courses. She led the development of MDE concentrations in theatre engineering, humanitarian engineering, and educational engineering.
One student wrote, "The Multidisciplinary Engineering route … changed my career path in an amazing way. I was not only happier in my major, but the close knit group that she cultivated was what kept me around. "
Another student wrote, "Mary Pilotte's greatest impact isn't felt in her innovations to Purdue's course catalog. It's felt in the hearts and minds of the hundreds of students and alumni she has personally mentored through their journeys at Purdue. My favorite author once said wisely, 'I've found that the people in my life who have actually been the most influential have also been the ones who were most available.' By never sacrificing her availability in the name of busyness, Dr. Pilotte has been quietly teaching us all the value of always having ten minutes."