Schaefer School of Engineering and Science Honors Outstanding Contributions to Education and Research at Second Annual Faculty Awards
The event also launched the inaugural Schaefer School Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to Emeritus Professor Keith Sheppard
On Thursday, December 15, 2022, the Stevens Institute of Technology Schaefer School of Engineering and Science (SES) celebrated nine of its faculty for their hard work and dedication to education and research at the second annual SES Faculty Awards, held in the University Center Complex.
Established in 2021, the awards highlight faculty excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, doctoral student training and research funding over a one-year period.
“The annual SES Faculty Awards were created to recognize the significant achievements of well-deserving SES faculty in the areas of teaching, doctoral advising and research,” said SES Dean Jean Zu. “These awards represent the first formal way within SES to properly honor those faculty who make impactful contributions to the school.”
This year’s presentation also launched the first Schaefer School Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Emeritus Professor Keith Sheppard for his more than 40 years of service to SES.
Schaefer School Education Innovation and Impact Awards
For their demonstrated innovation and impact in educating undergraduate and graduate students, Professor of Mathematical Sciences and Founder and Chair of the Stevens Mathematics Olympiad Pavel Dubovski and Department of Biomedical Engineering Teaching Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies Sally Shady were each awarded the Schaefer School Education Innovation and Impact Award.
This award recognizes faculty for achievements in innovative teaching and instructional delivery methods, new course and program development, and student engagement and learning retention.
Schaefer School Doctoral Advisor Awards
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Simon Podkolzin, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Healthcare Innovation Director Hongjun Wang and Associate Professor of Computer Science Hui (Wendy) Wang were each awarded the Schaefer School Doctoral Advisor Award for graduating the highest number of Ph.D. students between June 1, 2021, and May 31, 2022.
Schaefer School Research Funding Awards
Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering Professor and Center for Environmental Systems Director Christos Christodoulatos, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering Shang Wang and Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Abhishek Sharma were each recognized with the Schaefer School Research Funding Award.
This honor acknowledges the principal or co-principal investigators who received the highest three new research funding awards between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022.
Schaefer School Lifetime Achievement Award
Finally, chemical engineering and materials science Emeritus Professor Keith Sheppard was awarded the inaugural Schaefer School Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Zu, for his exceptional record in teaching, advising, research and service.
Launched to honor significant career-long contributions by a faculty member to SES, the award recognized Sheppard’s more than four decades of service to the school, its students and its mission, beginning as a postdoctoral research associate in 1979.
While serving in “a countless number of capacities and roles” over the years, Zu noted during the ceremony, “Dr. Sheppard consistently exceeded expectations in all areas of his work.”
During his long tenure on faculty, Sheppard served on numerous committees, many as chair, including the promotion and tenure committees at both the university and college levels. He served for a short period on the Stevens Board of Trustees and served terms as the faculty representative on two Board of Trustees committees. He was also a co-principal investigator in the National Science Foundation-funded ADVANCE Stevens program, established to increase the representation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers.
From 1997 through 2015, Sheppard served as the associate dean of engineering, and then of engineering and science, during which he developed the core curricula of the engineering and sciences undergraduate programs. In 2015 he became the interim dean of the School of Engineering and Science during the 18 months prior to Zu’s appointment in May 2017, and continued to contribute to the success of the role as senior advisor to the dean for several years after.
“I was surprised and am deeply honored to have been chosen for this award,” Sheppard said. “Having spent 43 years at Stevens, I have naturally seen a lot of changes. A constant has been the commitment to innovation and excellence in our educational programs, and I am proud to have done my part to support this and prepare our graduates for the future challenges they will face, both in their careers and as educated citizens.”
“Stevens has retained the close-knit, small school vibe that I found when I arrived,” he added, “and I thank all those faculty and staff with whom I have worked at Stevens, and the many students, for such a rewarding career.”
Sheppard retired from his position as professor in May 2022.
