Engineering professors honored for teaching

Three School of Engineering faculty members have been awarded for their excellence in teaching. The following individuals were recognized at the final combined School of Engineering and School of Arts and Sciences faculty meeting of the semester on May 13, hosted over Zoom.

Professor of the Practice Ronald Lasser (Electrical and Computer Engineering) and Associate Professor Kristen Bethke Wendell, Stacey and Robert Morse Fellow (Mechanical Engineering), each received the Henry and Madeline Fischer Award. This award is given annually to a faculty member in the School of Engineering judged by graduating engineering seniors to be “Teacher of the Year.” Recipients demonstrate teaching excellence, inspire and motivate students to rise to their best, and leave a lasting and gratifying memory of a special teacher and a profound intellectual experience. This is the fourth consecutive year that Lasser has received the award. Last year, Wendell received the Recognition of Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award.

Associate Professor Jason Rife (Mechanical Engineering) received the Lillian and Joseph Leibner Award for Excellence in Teaching and Advising of Students. Nominees are recommended by students and faculty colleagues, in recognition of their outstanding guidance and instruction of Tufts students, and the winner is selected by a review committee comprised of five past recipients.