2023 Distinguished Faculty Award recipients

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Ohio State University College of Engineering 2023 Distinguished Faculty Award recipients
Honorees and presenters at the 2023 College of Engineering Distinguished Faculty Awards 

Each year, The Ohio State University College of Engineering honors excellence in teaching, innovation and service. Faculty, researchers and partners were recognized on April 28, 2023, at the 26th annual Distinguished Faculty Awards.

“We’re proud to celebrate these extraordinary Buckeyes, whose dedication to education, innovation and collaboration enables the College of Engineering to excel in its mission to prepare the next generation of problem-solvers and create impactful solutions that improve our world,” said Dean Ayanna Howard, the Monte Ahuja Endowed Dean’s Chair.

View more photos on flickr.

2023 awardees:

Harrison Faculty Award for Excellence in Engineering Education

Daniel Gallego-Perez, associate professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering - For his pioneering contributions to lab-on-a-chip and single-cell analyses in cancer research, and his nanotransfection approach to drive tissue repair and regeneration via cell reprogramming.

Lisa Hall, professor, William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering - For advancing polymer electrolyte modeling to improve materials design through exceptional publications, and outstanding student mentoring, teaching and outreach.

Established in 1983 with a gift from Doris and Stanley Harrison (’58, electrical engineering), this award honors an early to mid-career faculty member’s excellence in teaching and qualitative aspects of teaching, exceptional research, or contributions to engineering or architecture concepts.

The Clara M. and Peter L. Scott Faculty Award for Excellence in Engineering Education

Shang-Tian Yang, professor, William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering - For extraordinary pioneering contributions that transformed biomanufacturing, his ongoing innovative research in synthetic biology and bioprocessing, and his demonstrated outstanding scholarship, teaching and mentoring.

Named in honor of Peter Scott, a 1949 Ohio State graduate in electrical engineering who received an honorary doctoral degree in 1995, this award recognizes a senior faculty member who has achieved both national and international status as a leading educator and researcher. 

Dean’s Meritorious Service to Students Award

Dan Coombs ’78, CHE, LyondellBasell (retired) – For enduring, impactful support and encouragement of College of Engineering students’ education, work-learning experiences and career advancement.

John Corkill ’67, ARCH – In recognition of his deep and sustained commitment to supporting Knowlton School students through scholarships, mentoring and advocacy.

This award recognizes an individual or group from outside the Ohio State community for exemplary service to students of the College of Engineering or Knowlton School.  

Dean's Award for Outstanding Teaching by a Lecturer

Isabel Fernandez Puentes, lecturer, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering  - For her dedication to excellence in teaching, her tireless efforts to continue improving the quality and effectiveness of her teaching, and her dedication to foster a welcoming and safe classroom environment.

William Keoni Fleming, lecturer, Knowlton School - In recognition of his deep commitment and sustained contributions to the architecture curriculum and design culture of the Knowlton School.

Established in 2015, this award honors an individual lecturer, senior lecturer or other auxiliary faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in their teaching within the college.

David C. McCarthy Engineering Teaching Award

Rachel Childers, associate professor – clinical, Department of Biomedical Engineering – In recognition of success in modernizing the BME laboratory curriculum and creating an innovative, game-based escape room activity that promotes effective student learning and engagement.

This award recognizes the contributions of College of Engineering junior faculty and staff to create more innovative and effective teaching and learning. 

Elvin Beach and Andre Palmer Ohio State University College of Engineering Ralph L. Boyer Award
Associate Dean Andre Palmer (right) presents the Boyer Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Engineering Innovation to Associate Professor – Clinical Elvin Beach

Ralph L. Boyer Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Engineering Innovation

Elvin Beach, associate professor – clinical, Department of Materials Science and Engineering - For his innovative and comprehensive teaching accomplishments in materials science and engineering undergraduate laboratory courses.

Named for the late Ralph L. Boyer (’24, mechanical engineering), the award is presented to a faculty team or to an individual faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to the improvement of undergraduate engineering education. 

“Building Bridges” Excellence Award

Jonathan Godbout, professor and faculty director, Chronic Brain Injury Program, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center - For demonstrated excellence and accomplishment in the development and implementation of collaborative activities and programs between his academic unit and the College of Engineering.

This award is presented each year to a non-College of Engineering faculty member at Ohio State who demonstrates excellence and accomplishment in the development and implementation of collaborative activities and programs between his or her academic unit and the College of Engineering. 

Mentor of the Next Generation Award

Cynthia Roberts, professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering - For exceptional mentoring of numerous graduate and professional students, postdoctoral scholars and other junior researchers over an illustrious career in biomedical engineering.

Established in 2022, this award is presented each year to a College of Engineering faculty member who has engaged in exceptional mentoring of undergraduates, graduate students and/or postdoctoral scholars.

Faculty Mentoring Award

Gil Bohrer, professor, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering - For outstanding, unselfish and unvarnished guidance and mentoring of many faculty to success in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering and beyond.

This award recognizes an individual faculty member in the College of Engineering for demonstrated excellence in the mentoring of one or more early-career faculty members within the college.

Innovators Award

Katrina Cornish, professor, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences – For outstanding innovation in natural rubber science and engineering, and development of sustainable crops, processes and products for U.S. supply chain security.

This award celebrates the achievements of an individual or team whose innovation has successfully translated the research emanating from our laboratories into new products and/or technologies that can be used by the public at large.

Tameka Baba Ohio State University Assistant Professor
Assistant Dean Marcela Hernandez (right) presents the Dean's Award for Distinguished Outreach Achievements to Assistant Professor – Clinical Tameka Baba

Dean's Award for Distinguished Outreach Achievements

Tameka Baba, assistant professor – clinical, Knowlton School - For being a tireless advocate for expanding design education, an exceptional role model, and an essential link between university, profession and community.

Established in 2015, this award recognizes an individual faculty member who has demonstrated significant and long-standing achievement of positive community impact through outreach activities or programs within the college.

Faculty Diversity Excellence Award

Gunjan Agarwal, professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering - For making exceptional contributions towards recruitment and mentoring of underrepresented students in engineering.

This award recognizes an individual or team demonstrating excellence and success in the development and implementation of models, strategies, practices and programs that foster and enhance diversity in the college. 

The BEWEL Leadership in Innovation Award

Katelyn Swindle-Reilly, assistant professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering - For pursuing innovation and entrepreneurial activity in research, teaching and outreach, and for emerging as a leader in developing ocular biomaterials and drug delivery systems.

The Buckeye Engineering Women in Executive Leadership (BEWEL) award was created in 2019 and is presented to a junior or mid-career female faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in research, innovation and/or scholarship.

Honda – Ohio State Partnership Award

Austin Kimbrell, Honda - For exceptional contributions to the strategic partnership between Honda and Ohio State in aerodynamic and aeroacoustic research and leadership in HALO aero research.

The Honda - Ohio State Partnership Award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to promoting and strengthening this historic partnership.

Charles Ellison MacQuigg Award for Outstanding Teaching

Ben Grier, lecturer, Department of Engineering Education – For the incorporation of learning technologies in the classroom to enhance the learning experience and create a safe and welcoming environment.

Zelig Fok, visiting assistant professor, Knowlton School – For a commitment to the preparation and success of architecture students that goes beyond the classroom environment.

Named for the late dean of the College of Engineering, this award is presented annually to faculty members who have demonstrated, in a superior manner, their interest in and willingness to help students and outstanding teaching ability. 

Distinction in Safety Award

Associate Professor Rachel Childers and Marcela Hernandez Ohio State College of Engineering
Assistant Dean Marcela Hernandez (right) presents the Distinction in Safety Award to Associate Professor – Clinical Rachel Childers

Rachel Childers, associate professor – clinical, Department of Biomedical Engineering - In recognition of general EHS teaching lab excellence in safety and creating a culture of safety in standards.

Established in 2019, this award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated a long-standing commitment and contribution to safety. 

Lumley Interdisciplinary Research Award

Heather Chandler, associate professor, College of Optometry; and
Katelyn Swindle-Reilly, assistant professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Jose Otero, associate professor, Department of Pathology, College of Medicine; and
Jessica Winter, professor, William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Named for John H. Lumley (’27, ceramic engineering), this team award recognizes interdisciplinary research accomplishments of the college’s faculty and research staff. It is presented to a team that has established a record of excellence in interdisciplinary research as demonstrated by co-authored publications, joint-sponsored research programs and co-advised students. 

Lumley Research Award

  • Wei-Lun (Harry) Chao, assistant professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering
  • Zhenhua Chen, associate professor, Knowlton School
  • Emily Dringenberg, assistant professor, Department of Engineering Education
  • Carolin Fink, assistant professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
  • Michael Groeber, associate professor, Department of Integrated Systems Engineering
  • Natalia Higuita-Castro, assistant professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
  • Natalie Hull, assistant professor, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering
  • Sami Khanal, assistant professor, Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
  • Ethan Kubatko, associate professor, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering
  • Jeremy Seidt, research associate professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Kubilay Sertel, associate professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Yu Su, assistant professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering
  • Alok Sutradhar, assistant professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The Lumley Engineering Research Awards are presented to a select group of outstanding researchers in the College of Engineering who have shown exceptional activity and success in pursuing new knowledge of a fundamental or applied nature.