I have always enjoyed interacting with others and sharing my knowledge. As an engineering educator, I have been able to bridge the gap between fundamental topics traditionally taught in the classroom and emerging technologies whose development is possible through an understanding of those concepts. My decision to pursue a career as an engineering educator was in part due to my belief that I can make the biggest impact by training and inspiring the next generation to think creatively and have the appropriate skill set to develop new technologies that will benefit society. Students appreciate the hands-on demonstrations that I incorporate into the curriculum and my availability to answer questions outside the classroom.
Guiding students
I find that our most talented students are already self-motivated but I further encourage them to think about what type of career path they want to pursue and how their educational path can lead them to their desired successful career. Supplementing their coursework with either a research experience or industrial internship also often solidifies their desire to complete their engineering education.
Engineers must be good problem solvers. I reinforce the importance of knowing how to approach a problem. Understanding the task at hand and having a plan for tackling the challenge are often among the most difficult parts of successfully completing a task. I also mentor my students on their communication skills as having the ability to clearly share ones findings with others is an essential part of being an effective engineer.
Balancing teaching and research
I believe that there is a synergy between being a good teacher and a good researcher. I often bring my research into the classroom by explaining to my students how the fundamental topics we cover in the course are necessary to enable technological breakthroughs. Similarly, the nature of teaching forces one to understand fundamentals at a very deep level and, moreover, inquisitive students often ask provocative questions that can lead to new research questions.
ASEE benefits
ASEE provides a very important role in promoting engineering education to youth who are our potential future engineers, congress, and the public at large. I like to support an organization that is the central voice in promoting engineering education.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, gardening, and hiking.
I have always enjoyed interacting with others and sharing my knowledge. As an engineering educator, I have been able to bridge the gap between fundamental topics traditionally taught in the classroom and emerging technologies whose development is possible through an understanding of those concepts. My decision to pursue a career as an engineering educator was in part due to my belief that I can make the biggest impact by training and inspiring the next generation to think creatively and have the appropriate skill set to develop new technologies that will benefit society. Students appreciate the hands-on demonstrations that I incorporate into the curriculum and my availability to answer questions outside the classroom.
Guiding students
I find that our most talented students are already self-motivated but I further encourage them to think about what type of career path they want to pursue and how their educational path can lead them to their desired successful career. Supplementing their coursework with either a research experience or industrial internship also often solidifies their desire to complete their engineering education.
Engineers must be good problem solvers. I reinforce the importance of knowing how to approach a problem. Understanding the task at hand and having a plan for tackling the challenge are often among the most difficult parts of successfully completing a task. I also mentor my students on their communication skills as having the ability to clearly share ones findings with others is an essential part of being an effective engineer.
Balancing teaching and research
I believe that there is a synergy between being a good teacher and a good researcher. I often bring my research into the classroom by explaining to my students how the fundamental topics we cover in the course are necessary to enable technological breakthroughs. Similarly, the nature of teaching forces one to understand fundamentals at a very deep level and, moreover, inquisitive students often ask provocative questions that can lead to new research questions.
ASEE benefits
ASEE provides a very important role in promoting engineering education to youth who are our potential future engineers, congress, and the public at large. I like to support an organization that is the central voice in promoting engineering education.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, gardening, and hiking.
