Aziz, Gopalarathnam and Cooper receive Outstanding Teacher Award

Three professors in the College of Engineering at NC State University received Outstanding Teacher Awards for 2014-15 at the College’s spring faculty meeting May 1.

Dr. Tarek Aziz is a teaching assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Ashok Gopalarathnam is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). Dr. Matthew Cooper is a teaching assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

The award, presented to 19 NC State faculty members for 2014-15, recognizes excellence in teaching at all levels and is a prerequisite for being considered for the Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Alumni Distinguished Professor Award.

Recipients become members of the Academy of Outstanding Teachers for as long as they are NC State faculty members. Recognition is given at commencement, the Celebration of Academic Excellence, and the Teaching and Learning Symposium.

Aziz joined the NC State faculty in 2010. He is interested in the interface of environmental process engineering and energy. He was praised in his nomination for the award for his innovative teaching style and caring attitude. A student wrote, “I was somewhat apprehensive about taking a challenging course like Hydraulics in a short semester, but after the first day of class, my apprehension was replaced completely with excitement and anticipation for the coming weeks.”

Gopalarathnam has more than 17 years of experience in applied aerodynamics and aircraft design. He is interested in applied aerodynamics, flight mechanics, aircraft design, adaptive aircraft, and design methodologies. A student wrote in his nomination, “I would find it hard to believe that anyone could teach airfoil and wing theory better than Dr. Gopalarathnam. The class work was rigorous, yet it was through working the assigned problems that I was able to gain a true understanding of the subject matter.”

Cooper joined the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in 2011. He is interested in unit operations, pedagogy, effective technical communication, and professional ethics.A student wrote, “He has a way of showing that his number one priority is his students. I once asked him if he liked his job. He said, ‘I love it. I’ll never do anything other than teach for the rest of my life.”

Gopalarathnam could not attend the May 1 ceremony. His award was accepted by MAE department head Dr. Richard Gould.