A master teacher dedicated to helping students and making a difference in their lives has earned one of the university's top honors, the A. Rufus Tonelson Faculty Award.
Sushil Chaturvedi, professor and chair of mechanical engineering, was named recipient of the award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in teaching, research or service to the community, at the Faculty Awards and Retirement Dinner April 29. Sponsored by the Alumni Association, the honor includes $2,000 and a reserved parking space for a year.
Former and current students note that it's Chaturvedi's ability to communicate and teach difficult and abstract ideas in simple terms that sets him apart. Chaturvedi was nominated by a former student, now colleague, Taj Mohieldin, who progressed from graduate student to tenured associate professor of engineering. He described Chaturvedi as "the best teacher I have come across during my studies at three different institutions."
Tommy Hiatt, project engineer at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility and a 1998 Old Dominion graduate, had this to say about his former professor: "The relationship Dr. Chaturvedi builds with his students transcends the classroom. His selfless actions and attention to detail unmistakably demonstrate his commitment to excellence."
Chaturvedi has been at Old Dominion since 1978, teaching undergraduate and graduate-level courses in thermodynamics. He has taught courses via TELETECHNET and recently developed a new course taught entirely on computer. In his courses, Chaturvedi has created video-assisted learning and understanding enhancement (VALUE) tapes for his undergraduate thermodynamics courses. Students used the tapes as an additional learning tool for understanding thermodynamic principles and for improving their problem-solving skills. The tapes were developed using two faculty development grants.
"This innovation is indicative of Dr. Chaturvedi's single-minded pursuit of the goal of providing the best possible education to his students," wrote Mohieldin in a letter nominating Chaturvedi.
Current students also supported his nomination.
"Dr. Chaturvedi is a true mind sculptor in the classroom. His artistry in devising the means for total student comprehension is weighed equally with his mission to create challenges for the students. His demeanor and professionalism when dealing with the most intelligent or most challenged student never falters. He is a true master of soliciting excitement in his courses and provides the catalyst for introspection and development," said Gary A. Weaver Sr., chief engineer, CDI Marine Co. and a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering. "The study of engineering requires not only an analytical mind but an illustrative, creative and practical approach. Dr. Chaturvedi has these qualities and continually strives to develop these characteristics in all of his students."
The author or co-author of 80 technical papers, including a substantial number of refereed articles in national and international journals and conference proceedings, Chaturvedi has also received more than $850,000 in research funding.
His research in the field of solar energy has been internationally recognized and his work on solar heat pumps has been adopted by the Japanese. He is the recipient of five awards for technical innovations from NASA and two U.S. patents with two more patents pending.
He was nominated for the SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award the past three years.
"His highly enthusiastic, energetic and often inspiring classroom demeanor ignites in students an immense passion for learning," said William Swart, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology. "His commitment and dedication to engineering education has been a source of inspiration to a generation of young faculty members in the mechanical engineering department."
Tiffany Capuano
