PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State University Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture announced outstanding students, faculty and staff at its annual convocation ceremony last week:
Outstanding sophomore: Jonathan Moore, Milton, Wash., conducts research on carbon nanotubes, gives tours as an Honors Hall ambassador, is Honors Hall president and is on the Associated Students of WSU senate.
Outstanding junior: Devin Marcy, Spokane, Wash., helps to mentor 50-100 students in the Office of Undergraduate Research, works in the Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, is captain of the Concrete Canoe Club and is a Boeing Scholar who will internship with the company on the 777X Wing project.
Outstanding senior: Bryce A. Johnson, Corvallis, Ore., is project leader in the Robotics Club, has worked on a prosthetic hand controlled by brain signals and an assistive living device for the blind and took third place in the 2015 WSU Hardware Hackathon for creating an emergency medical services diagnostics robot.
Outstanding teaching assistant: S.M. Golam Mortuza excels at explaining difficult concepts to students, answers emails at all times of the day, and was commended for “caring about teaching as much as I cared about learning,’’ according to one student.
The Anjan Bose Outstanding Researcher Award: Chen-Ching Liu, Boeing Distinguished Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, is recognized for his pioneering contributions to the development of decision support systems for power systems and as a leader in power system restoration.
He has managed a well-funded and highly recognized research program, published extensively in top-tier journals, graduated students who have been successful in academia and industry, and made contributions that have significantly impacted developments in his field.
Reid Miller Excellence in Teaching Award for Non-Tenured Faculty: Xiaopeng Bi, clinical associate professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at WSU North Puget Sound at Everett, was one of two founding faculty members of the WSU mechanical engineering program in Everett in 2012.
Students speak highly of him as a passionate instructor, mentor and program coordinator who works closely with them on their senior design projects funded by local industries and helps them with internship and job opportunities. He was instrumental in helping to launch a chapter of the Society of Women Engineers in Everett.
Reid Miller Excellence in Teaching Award for Tenured or Tenured-Track Faculty: Ali Mehrizi-Sani, assistant professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, is known for effective and organized teaching. His classes are rich in real-world examples: he has cracked open an Apple charger to show students the layout, brought an electric motor to class and walked students through the design process of a circuit so they could comprehend what was in the mind of its inventor.
In 2013, he was one of 70 faculty around the nation chosen to attend the National Academy of Engineering’s Frontiers of Engineering Education. He has received National Science Foundation funding to support innovative work to develop a software learning tool for his power electronics course.
Employee of the year: Joann McCabe, administrative manager in the Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, is an efficient, meticulous and well organized team player who calmly helps staff, faculty and graduate students function more efficiently.
Employee excellence:
Sandi Brabb, director of the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture’s professional practice and experiential learning (PPEL), ensures students have exposure to and take advantage of pre-graduation, work-related learning opportunities – from résumé-writing workshops, to etiquette dinners, to research opportunities, to company tours and internships. Her work is meticulous, thorough, thoughtful and energetic.
Ning Hsu, fiscal technician II in the School of Electrical Engineering and Architecture, exhibits energy and an inspiring attitude as she serves a key role in the school office.