Shyam Sablani, professor of food engineering, recently received the Yang “Wendy” Liu award for his focus on making international students feel at home at Washington State University.
Sablani received the award in May for excellence in teaching international students. Sablani was nominated by his student Smit Patel, student in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at WSU.
“Dr. Sablani helps students find their own passion and direction in life rather than giving them definitive direction,” Patel wrote in his nomination. “During my first year, when I was struggling to get accustomed with the culture of the university as an international student, he kept providing me additional encouragement. He gave me sufficient time, support, and encouragement to help me pass my struggling phase.”
The award’s namesake, Liu, was an Office of International Programs’ Intensive American Language Center faculty member who taught English at WSU for nearly a decade. She died of complications from cancer in 2019. Liu spoke Chinese and English and pioneered many of the current practices of working with East Asian students. The award was created in recognition for her work with IALC and her dedication to helping students and faculty in and out of the classroom.
Sablani began working at WSU in 2007 and earned his Ph.D. in food engineering from McGill University, Montreal, Canada. He previously taught at Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat, Oman and was a research associate at Agri-Food Canada in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec. Sablani said he was honored to receive the award.
“This award validates my teaching philosophy, boosts my confidence, and reinforces my dedication to continue striving toward excellence,” Sablani said. “I aim to create an environment where international students feel understood and empowered to succeed academically and achieve their career and life goals.”
Bala Krishnamoorthy, professor of mathematics and statistics at WSU Vancouver, received the first award last year.
Faculty and staff are eligible for nomination for the annual award.
