Faculty, staff teaching, research service honored

By Communications staff, Washington State University

The year’s outstanding faculty, staff and students in the College of Engineering and Architecture were honored at the annual convocation ceremony recently.


Ken Carper, professor in the School of Architecture and Construction Management, received the 2009 Reid Miller Excellence in Teaching Award. His evaluations from students typically are at or near the highest in the school, receiving an average score of 4.62 out of 5.0.  

At WSU since 1974, Carper integrates forensic engineering – case histories of failed construction works – into his courses to illustrate technical topics while also presenting the professional and ethical issues critical to successful project performance. While structures courses are considered the most technically challenging in architecture programs, Carper’s enthusiasm and depth and breadth of professional knowledge make these courses exciting and relevant to students. 

The award was created by the advisory board to honor Reid Miller, professor emeritus and former dean, for his long and distinguished career and commitment to teaching.
 

David Bahr, professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, received the 2009 Anjan Bose Outstanding Researcher Award. 

A WSU faculty member since 1997, Bahr has helped shape materials research across the university and has effectively led collaborative efforts between mechanical engineering and materials science engineering for the last 12 years. He has three patents and two more on the way.

He has secured $15 million in grants and is invited to locations the world over to present his research on a regular basis. His approximately 80 peer-reviewed journal papers have been cited about 750 times, with more than 100 citations each year for the past four years. 

In addition, he is a champion of undergraduate research. Since his first National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program at WSU ten years ago, more than 100 students have participated, funded by $600,000. He also supports five Ph.D. and three master’s students in research.

The award was created by the college advisory board, along with friends and alumni, to honor Anjan Bose, Regents professor, for his service as former dean. 

Patricia Smith, fiscal specialist for the wood materials and engineering lab, and Mary Anne Brown, academic coordinator in the School of Architecture and Construction Management, won the Staff Excellence Awards.
 

Bob Ames, fiscal specialist in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, was named Employee of the Year for his excellent work ethic, approachability and efforts above the call of duty. He looks for ways to make every detail of every process more efficient and is willing to pitch in to make that happen. 

Graduate student Melissa King received recognition as Outstanding Teaching Assistant. With an undergraduate degree in architecture, she is working towards her Ph.D. in civil engineering with an emphasis in sustainable design. 

She expects to complete her degree in May 2011 and hopes to apply the teaching methodologies she’s learned at WSU as a faculty member in architecture, civil engineering or architectural engineering. 

Other awards included: Melissa Street, Outstanding Sophomore; Stephanie Pitts, Outstanding Junior; and Brian Carlton, Outstanding Senior.

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