MTU Faculty Awards Presented

As Michigan Tech continues to educate the next generation of engineers, researchers, and innovative thinkers, faculty members are also being honored for their role and advancements.

“Tonight we had a celebration to honor our premiere faculty and staff for research and teaching and outreach and diversity awards,” said Michigan Tech President Richard Koubeck, who personally handed awards to five faculty members at last night’s ceremony, three of which were nominated by their colleagues.

“There’s two that were focused on research, both with regard to supporting undergraduates and graduate research. We had one that was for diversity which had simplified our core values. The research and diversity and service awards were nominated by the faculty, and then two that were related to teaching and the teaching awards were voted on by undergraduate students themselves. They were selected by the students.”

The ceremony was followed by a reception in the Memorial Union Ballroom, giving recipients and attendees a chance to mingle and socialize concluding the event.

Diversity Award: Valoree Gagnon, Director of University-Indigenous Community Partnerships, Research Assistant Professor Social Sciences, Instructor, School of Forest Resources

Distinguished Teacher Award (Professor/Associate Professor): Richelle Winkler, Associate Professor, Social Sciences

Distinguished Teacher Award (Assistant Professor/Professor of Practice/Lecturer): Brigitte Morin, Senior Lecturer, Biological Sciences

Research Award: Yoke Khin Yap, Professor, Physics

Faculty Distinguished Service Award: Mary Raber, Professor of Practice, Pavlis Honors College

Bhakta Rath Award: Feng Zhao, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Zichen Qian ’17 (graduate student during the award eligibility period)