The NDSU College of Engineering has recognized two faculty members and a graduate student for their outstanding work in the classroom.
Ying Huang, professor and Welch Faculty Fellow of civil, construction and environmental engineering, was named the 2023 winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award.
Huang’s teaching focus covers surveying, materials and transportation infrastructure design. She has developed two new courses at NDSU, broadening the offerings in transportation engineering available to students. She also re-designed several other courses to integrate real-world projects and include guest lectures from professional engineers.
“She designed the course project as a real-world problem sponsored by the industry. These experiences helped the students understand how the knowledge learned in the classroom can be applied in the real world. The students enjoyed the classes,” said civil engineering student Melika Ansarinejad.
“I consider teaching and advising as one of the most effective tools to impact the future of the state, the nation, and the world,” Huang said. “My aim in teaching is to establish and maintain an inspiring transportation engineering program at NDSU which will guide the students to not only learn new knowledge but also the ways to identify problems, critically think and solve problems individually or through teamwork.”
The 2023 Early Career Excellence in Teaching Award was given to Ewumbua Monono, assistant professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering.
Monono’s teaching is focused on bioprocessing engineering. Colleagues say he is a caring, engaging instructor who has adopted innovative teaching technologies. And he’s been praised by students for his use of real-life examples through labs and field trips.
“The way he structured not only his lectures and labs, but his entire class, is so beneficial to helping students learn,” said student Shad Mack. “He is an exciting and motivating instructor and his positive and enthusiastic attitude made class engaging and fun, which is not an easy task.”
The College of Engineering also recognized the role graduate students play in advancing NDSU’s student-focused mission.
Ismat Ara, who is working toward her doctorate in mechanical engineering, was named the 2023 Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year.
Nominators say Ara is a dedicated and well-organized professional who commits herself to guiding students toward their personal best. They also noted that she was always willing to assist students and showed a genuine passion for the topics she taught.
Huang, Monono and Ara will be honored at the College of Engineering’s Scholarship and Awards Reception on Sept. 28.
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