Assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering Jerrod Henderson has received the 2026 AIChE Award for Excellence in Engineering Education Research from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. This award, administrated through AIChE’s Education Division, recognizes an individual for “sustained impact through outstanding research in education with a focus on chemical engineering pedagogy, encompassing methods, applications and assessment.”
“This recognition is meaningful to me because I stand on the shoulders of giants in chemical engineering education, many of whom have received this award before me and helped transform the field,” said Henderson.
“To have my work recognized alongside theirs is a tremendous honor. It also means a lot because my research is not just scholarship for scholarship’s sake; I truly care about it. At its core, my research is about student success, understanding students’ experiences, and using what we learn to improve engineering education. To have that work recognized by my peers, including many people I consider trailblazers in chemical engineering education, makes this award even more special.”
Henderson added that he was “overwhelmed with gratitude,” and “grateful to every research participant who has trusted my team with their experiences and stories.”
“I’m grateful to the undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who help advance my research. I’m also grateful to the mentors and colleagues who have invested in me throughout my career. Although the award may bear my name, so many people have contributed to the work it represents.
“I would also be remiss if I didn’t thank my nominator and department chair, Dr. Lakis Mountziaris, for always believing in me and supporting my work. I’m also grateful to my nomination letter writers, Drs. Allison Godwin, Julie Martin, and Erik Hines, for taking the time to support my nomination. Recognition like this doesn't happen without people willing to advocate for you and your work, and I don’t take that support for granted. I’m thankful to each of them for being part of this moment.”
Last year, Henderson was recognized with AIChE’s 2025 William W. Grimes Award through the Minority Affairs Community (MAC) – a “longstanding AIChE community committed to broadening participation,” to promoting activities that encourage the education and training of underrepresented communities in engineering and the related disciplines, to encouraging minority entrepreneurship and to directing the expertise of engineers to the solution of special social and economic problems. Since then, he has been elected Vice Chair/Chair-Elect of the MAC.
“This new leadership role is particularly meaningful to me because AIChE has been an important part of my professional journey, and it gives me an opportunity to contribute more intentionally to the organization and to the next generation of chemical engineers. I’m excited to help build on MAC’s legacy while expanding its reach and impact across the Institute,” Henderson said.
In terms of the future, Henderson says “we’re just getting started.”
“I’m looking forward to continuing to learn and grow over time, while also expanding my involvement in AIChE, particularly through the Education Division,” he said. “This recognition motivates me to continue contributing through research, service, and mentorship, while finding new ways to support the chemical engineering education community.
“So many people within AIChE and the field have invested in me throughout my career, and I see this next chapter and several years as an opportunity to pay that forward. I want to continue doing work that improves our students’ experiences and success while also supporting the scholars and educators who will advance the field.”