May 26, 2003

Bourham, Spontak Win Blessis Award from the College of Engineering

At the May 14 spring faculty meeting, Dean Nino A. Masnari (center) presented George H. Blessis Outstanding Undergraduate Advisor Awards to Dr. Richard J. Spontak (left), professor of chemical engineering and materials science and engineering, and Dr. Mohamed A. Bourham (right), professor of nuclear engineering. (Photo: Kathi McBlief)

Two North Carolina State University professors, Dr. Mohamed A. Bourham, professor of nuclear engineering, and Dr. Richard J. Spontak, professor of chemical engineering and materials science and engineering, have received a 2003 George H. Blessis Outstanding Undergraduate Advisor Award, which recognizes faculty members who consistently and willingly give their time and efforts to advising, counseling and mentoring students and assisting student groups. This award is also a continuing memorial to George H. Blessis, whose interest in undergraduate education and advising serves as an example to many faculty members. Candidates are nominated by departments and selected by the College of Engineering Teaching and Advising Awards Committee. The awardee receives $1,000 and a certificate. In addition, the recipient’s name is engraved on a permanent plaque displayed in Page Hall, the administrative building for the College of Engineering.

Bourham, who has been at NC State since 1987, is a member of the American Nuclear Society, the American Physical Society, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Sigma Xi, the University Fusion Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His research interests focus on plasma-matter interactions, including solid-to-liquid, energetic combustible material, fabric and microorganismic. Bourham received his bachelor’s degree in electrophysics engineering from Alexandria University, Egypt, in 1965; his master’s degree in electrical engineering from Cairo University, Egypt, in 1969; and his doctorate in electrical engineering from Ain Shams University, Egypt, in 1976.

Spontak has been on the faculty at NC State since 1992. He is a member of the American Physical Society, the American Chemical Society, the Materials Research Society, the Microscopy Society of America and Sigma Xi. He has received the Alcoa Foundation Engineering Research Achievement Award, the Sigma Xi Research Award, an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship, the Outstanding Teaching Award and an Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professorship. His undergraduate design team won the 2003 Energy Challenge national competition sponsored by the Department of Energy. His research involves the design and analysis of nanostructured polymers and nanocomposites. Spontak earned his bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University in 1983 and his doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley in 1988, both in chemical engineering.

— rudd —

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