The Cullen College of Engineering's Technology Division presented awards to recognize six faculty, staff and students for their commitment to excellence during the Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards ceremony at their end of semester meeting on May 12.
The Faculty Research Excellence Award, recognizing outstanding leading-edge research and scholarly contributions to both the Technology Division and the academic community at large, was presented to Weihang Zhu, professor in the Department of Engineering Technology and Department of Mechanical Engineering.
The Technology Division also recognized faculty members who have shown dedication to exceptional classroom instruction and superb student guidance with the Teaching Excellence award. Two Teaching Excellence awards are presented: one to a tenured or tenure-track faculty member, and one to non-tenured or non-tenure-track faculty member.
This year's Tenure or Tenure-Track Award was presented to Lila Carden, assistant professor of Technology Project Management. This year's Non-Tenure or Non-Tenure-Track Award was presented to Medhat El Nahas, instructional professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology.
El Nahas was further honored with the award for Faculty Service Excellence, which recognizes contributions of a faculty member to their department, college, university and profession.
The Staff Excellence Award, which recognizes support for and contributions to the operations of the division and its students, faculty, fellow staff and administrators by a staff member, was presented to Jamie Thomas, the executive director of Student Affairs.
The award for Graduate Student Excellence recognizes outstanding performance and noteworthy contributions to research or teaching by a Technology Division graduate student. Bethel Mbakaogu and Alexis Ginwright were both honored with this award.