EXCELLENCE Award winners announced at BCET Faculty & Staff Meeting

A college tradition marking the closure of the academic year, faculty and staff of the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology gathered in Kaufman Hall on Wednesday, April 25, for the Spring Faculty & Staff meeting.  Oktay Baysal, Dean of the Batten College of Engineering and Technology, welcomed new faculty and staff, highlighted the College's accomplishments during the 2007-2008 academic year, engaged faculty and staff in lively discussion and heard reports from the College's various committees. 

At the lunchtime meeting, Baysal announced the annual College EXCELLENCE Award winners.  Awards are presented to members of the College who have excelled in the respective award categories.  Honorees were presented with a medal and awarded a reserved parking space.  The winners include:

Andreas Tolk, associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering, was named the 2008 Excellence in Research award recipient.  The award honors a faculty member who displays an outstanding contribution in research, as well as leadership in his or her specific field. 

Rafael Landaeta, assistant professor of engineering management and systems engineering, won the Excellence in Teaching award for his outstanding contributions in the classroom.  

Carrie Duran, statistical analyst in the Dean's Office, won the Excellence in Support Operations award, which recognizes the support person who has demonstrated exceptional creativity, initiative and improvement in their role of providing support for the operations of his/her department or center and its customers, while simultaneously contributing positively to the overall climate, customer orientation, effectiveness, and/or efficiency of operations of the college as a whole.

Amin Dharamsi, professor of electrical and computer engineering, won the Excellence in Faculty Advising award for outstanding advising to students on how to achieve success in their undergraduate career and thereafter, in interactions with individuals or groups of students outside of the normal classroom environment. 

Hani Elsayed-Ali, professor of electrical and computer engineering and Director of the Applied Research Center, won the Excellence in Industrial Partnering award, which recognizes an individual who excels in initiating or leading the creation of partnerships of distinction with industrial, governmental and/or public organizations.