Rensselaer faculty members were honored with annual Institute awards recognizing their service and accomplishments at the 55th annual Faculty Recognition Dinner, which was held at the Heffner Alumni House May 1.
“We thank all of those we honor tonight for helping to make Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute into a transformative force in the global impact of our research, in pedagogical innovation, and in the lives of our students,” said President Shirley Ann Jackson at the ceremony. “Because you so brilliantly, consistently, and productively balance the competing demands of teaching and conducting research—achieving excellence within each realm—Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute continues to rise in stature. We are enormously proud of your outstanding research—and of the recognition you bring to Rensselaer.
“We are proud, as well, of the talents and gifts that you bring to your teaching,” she continued. “You pursue pedagogical advances, engaging with students with new technologies and ideas that promote enriched cognition and learning. Moreover, you inspire those whom you teach. One need only read the letters written by students nominating you for awards to fully appreciate the impact that your dedication, devotion, and commitment has on them.”
Honoring 25 Years of Service
Kristin Bennett
Thierry Blanchet
Steven Breyman
Honoring 30 Years of Service
John Mitchell
John Wen
Mark Rea
Charles Stewart
Michael Kalsher
- Wayne Bequette
Joel Plawsky
Honoring 35 Years of Service
Mark Embrechts
Kenneth Vastola
Honoring 40 Years of Service
Georges Belfort
Michael Hanna
Caren Canier
Mark Holmes
Randolph Franklin
45 Years of Service
Thomas Zimmie
Honoring 50 Years of Service
Joseph Ecker
Retiring Faculty
Susan Sanderson
Michael Fortun
Richard Bopp
Arturo Estrella
Sastry Sreepada
Mukkai Krishnamoorthy
Faye Duchin
Wei Zhou
Wayne Roberge
Russell Leslie
2018 FACULTY AWARDS
William H. Wiley 1866 Distinguished Faculty Award: Joe Chow, Institute Professor of Engineering
James M. Tien ’66 Early Career Award for Faculty: Lirong Xia, assistant professor of computer science
Jerome Fischbach ’38 Faculty Travel Award: Ishwara Bhat, professor of electrical, computer, and systems engineering
Class of 1951 Outstanding Teaching Development Grant: Rob Hamilton, assistant professor of the arts
Trustees’ Outstanding Teacher Award: Rich Radke, professor of electrical, computer, and systems engineering