Faculty highlights

Battestilli, Johnson and Liu receive Outstanding Teacher Awards

Three faculty members in the College of Engineering were named recipients of the Outstanding Teacher Award for 2022-23.

Lina Battestilli is an associate teaching professor in the Department of Computer Science; Jeremiah Johnson is an associate professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering; and Jun Liu is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE).

The award 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.

Gopalarathnam receives Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Award

Ashok Gopalarathnam, professor in MAE, received the NC State Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Award, a prestigious honor that recognizes excellence in undergraduate education.

As an instructor for undergraduate and graduate courses in aerospace engineering and a member of the aerospace engineering curriculum committee, Gopalarathnam is guided by several goals: to tap into students’ enthusiasm for engineering and science; to impart important engineering skills; to use technology to promote student involvement; and to develop approaches for systematic improvement to the aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering curricula.

“A majority of undergraduate students in engineering choose their programs because of their enthusiasm for the subject,” said Gopalarathnam. “They are driven by a vision of working on their favorite gadgets, devices or vehicles.”

Güvenç, Abolhasani receive 2023 Alcoa Foundation Awards

Ismail Güvenç, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), received the 2023 Alcoa Foundation Distinguished Engineering Research Award. The award recognizes a senior faculty member for research achievements made over a period of at least five years at NC State. Güvenç was honored for his research contributions in contemporary 5G and Next-G communication technologies using statistical signal processing, communication theory, optimization theory and wireless testbeds.

Milad Abolhasani, associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE), received the 2023 Alcoa Foundation Engineering Research Achievement Award. The award recognizes young faculty members for significant research contributions during the preceding three years. Abolhasani was recognized for his research contributions in the development of the self-driving fluidic laboratory for accelerated discovery and manufacturing of advanced functional materials and molecules.

Dickey receives NC State Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor Award

Michael Dickey, professor in CBE, received the Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor Award, a prestigious honor that recognizes excellence in graduate education.

Dickey also received the 2023 NC State Outstanding Engagement Award. The award is designed to encourage and recognize outstanding extension, engagement and economic development activities by NC State faculty members and is, “directly parallel in intent to the University’s Outstanding Teaching Awards.”

Dickey’s other awards include the Alumni Association Outstanding Research Award, the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Award and the Alcoa Foundation Distinguished Engineering Research Award.

Gupta, Ivy and Kelly receive 2023 Blessis Outstanding Undergraduate Advisor Awards

Rachana Gupta, teaching professor in ECE; Julie Ivy, now an emerita professor in the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering; and Robert Kelly, Alcoa Professor in CBE, were awarded the 2023 Blessis Outstanding Undergraduate Advisor Awards from the College of Engineering.

The award recognizes recipients’ outstanding commitment to ensuring students are academically and personally supported by routinely giving their time and effort to advising, counseling and mentoring individual students and student groups. It is also a tribute to George H. Blessis, a faculty member whose interest in undergraduate education and advising serves as an example today.

Grant elected Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education

Christine Grant, professor in CBE and the College’s inaugural associate dean of faculty advancement, was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE).

Grant has been a lifelong advocate for broadening participation, promotion and retention of people in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. She has served as a mentor and role model for women, particularly women from underrepresented groups in engineering, from students to faculty members, and has been recognized widely for her mentoring efforts. She also served as the 2022 president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers