Jonsson School Celebrates Top Professors, TAs, Staff at Ceremony

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science recently hosted its annual appreciation awards celebration, which recognized faculty, students and staff nominated by their peers for their outstanding contributions and positive attitude.

“The Jonsson School hasn’t slowed at all,” said Dr. Poras T. Balsara, the school’s interim dean and professor of electrical and computer engineering. “Certainly not in terms of productivity and curiosity. Certainly not in terms of innovation. I believe the drive and intellectual rigor of our school is evidenced by the accomplishments of our award winners recognized here today.”

The awards are categorized by staff, students and faculty teaching and research. The research awards recognized faculty at the assistant, associate and full professor levels. Decisions were based on research productivity, including PhD supervision, publications and research impact.

Annual ECS Awards

Full Professor Research Award

Dr. Kyeongjae “KJ” Cho professor of materials science and engineering

Associate Professor Research Award

Dr. Chris Hinkle assistant professor of materials science & engineering

Assistant Professor Research Awards

Dr. Alvaro Cárdenas assistant professor of computer science

Outstanding Faculty Teaching Awards

	Dr. Victor Varner assistant professor of bioengineering		Dr. Balaji Raghavachari professor of computer science
	Dr. Ebru Cankaya senior lecturer of computer science		Dr. Linda Morales senior lecturer of computer science
	Dr. Matthew Heins senior lecturer of electrical engineering		Dr. Nicholas R. Gans clinical associate professor of electrical engineering
	Dr. Dani Fadda clinical associate professor of mechanical engineering		Dr. Amy Walker professor of materials science and engineering

Outstanding Teaching Assistant Teaching Awards

	Hunter Stevenson bioengineering		Harish Babu Arunachalam computer science
	Juan Manuel Florez Fandino computer science		Neha Dawar electrical and computer engineering
	Mahmoud Abdelgelil electrical and computer engineering		Johnathon LeClear mechanical engineering

Outstanding A&P Staff Awards

Rod Wetterskog assistant dean of corporate relations, UTDesign coordinator

Staff Awards

	Beth Mahan graduate admissions and recruitment, mechanical engineering		Michele Brown administrative assistant II, materials science and engineering
	Eric Moden degree plan evaluator,computer science		Rhonda Walls administrative project coordinator, computer science