Lamar University has honored three junior faculty members with University Merit Awards in recognition of outstanding performance in the classroom. The award recipients are assistant professors Jennifer Daniel, mathematics; Ruhai Wang, electrical engineering; and Jiang “Jenny” Zhou, mechanical engineering.
A university-wide committee selected them from candidates nominated by committees from each college. Lamar officials presented the awards during a reception and program Wednesday (March 21, 2007) in the University Reception Center of the Mary and John Gray Library. Pamela Saur, professor of English and modern languages, was honored as the 2007 University Professor.
While scholarship and service to the university and community are an important consideration in granting the Merit Awards, the most important criteria for selection are classroom performance and interaction with students, said Stephen Doblin, provost and vice president for academic affairs.
Jennifer Daniel, who is completing her fourth year at Lamar, earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of New Orleans and master of science and doctor of philosophy from North Carolina State University. She has taught nine undergraduate and three graduate courses, including a popular online algebra course.
“For these efforts, she has received wide praise and excellent reviews from students and colleagues,” Doblin said. “ She has turned lectures and slides into Quicktime videos, complete with animation and sound. She developed and maintained a website to assist Lamar’s algebra students, 24/7. Of course, she did not stop with algebra: She has developed similar projects in her other classes.
“Her courses are anything but traditional,” Doblin said. “She requires projects written and spoken in the language of mathematics. She employs collaborative learning exercises in her sophomore-level classes and inquiry-based approaches in her advanced, theoretical courses. She has supervised master’s and honors students and has participated in seven undergraduate research projects, including two that have resulted in student paper presentations.”
These activities have led Daniel and colleagues to submit a National Science Foundation grant proposal to support undergraduate research. When she was a graduate student, her talents in the classroom led to several teaching recognitions, including fellowships from ExxonMobil, the American Association of University Women and North Carolina State.
At Lamar, she has served as faculty sponsor for the Mathematics Club, Pi Mu Epsilon national honor society and the Martial Arts Club.
Says Brenda Nichols, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences: “Jennifer is an excellent teacher and takes pride in the teaching profession.” To this, Charles Coppin, chair of the Department of Mathematics, adds, “Jennifer’s teaching evaluations put her at or near the top of the department.”
Daniel is active in professional organizations, including the American Mathematical Association and the Mathematical Association of America. The Texas Academy for Leadership in the Humanities and MathNerds have benefitted from her volunteer service.
“In addition to being an outstanding classroom teacher, Jennifer is a superb researcher and scholar. [She] is an example of the ideal faculty member,” Nichols said.
Ruhai Wang, now in his fifth year at Lamar, earned a master’s degree from Roosevelt University before receiving a doctor of philosophy from New Mexico State University. His areas of expertise include computer networks, wireless communication and satellite/space communications. Wang has taught 12 undergraduate and seven graduate courses.
“Dr. Wang has brought a wealth of knowledge, dedication and commitment to engineering education,” said Jack Hopper, dean of the College of Engineering. “His resume provides excellent evidence of his tireless efforts to bring recognition to Lamar and his career.”
When he is not in class or the laboratory, he supervises thesis students – 15 in the past four years. “Ever willing to support his department, Ruhai has created six courses as well as a computer network research lab,” Doblin said. “Despite the instructional load, he receives high marks from his students.”
Outside the classroom, Wang has taken a lead in Lamar’s undergraduate research programs. Most significantly, said Doblin, he mentors Lamar’s robotics team, which placed third of 40 universities in last year’s regional competition and has ranked in the upper quartile every year.
“His concern and attention to students is reflected in the excellent course reviews they consistently give him,” said Harley Myler, chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering.
Wang is co-principal investigator of a $60,000 grant from the Texas Air Research Center and has received four Lamar research enhancement grants.
At Lamar, he has published 11 refereed articles and presented 26 peer-reviewed papers – considered a remarkable level of productivity for such a short period of time, Doblin said. Wang has served on several college and departmental committees and has been recognized for his contributions to student research.
Myler writes: “His devotion to our students and our program and to the mission of the university is unquestioned.”
Jiang “Jenny” Zhou, now in her third year at Lamar, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Chong Quing University and a doctor of philosophy from the University of Maryland. She has taught 18 courses – nine at the graduate level – and developed or enhanced six of these. She uses graphic-user interface tools, simulation and modeling software and mathcad to enhance her classes. She places her course materials online and keeps her office open to students.
Zhou has served on 20 master’s committees and five doctoral committees and is advisor for Pi Tau Sigma honor society. She has supervised 10 design teams that have competed in programs sponsored by NASA, Baker Oil Tools, the National Science Foundation and the American Helicopter Society. She supervised four graduate students who presented research at meetings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering. Two students received “Best-Paper” recognition for their work.
For her efforts, Zhou has received excellent student evaluations and comments. One student wrote, “She is the best teacher I have ever had.” Another said, “Great teacher and communicator. Genuine interest in the success of the student…”
“Dr. Zhou is a dedicated educator with a high level of commitment to excellence,” Hopper said.
Zhou is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Experimental Mechanics, International Microelectronics and Packaging Society and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. She has been principal or co-principal investigator on eight sponsored projects and is author or co-author of more than 20 refereed publications – seven at Lamar. Zhou has published more than 30 refereed proceedings and delivered 10 presentations, including two keynote addresses.
In her free time, she volunteers at Sallie Curtis Elementary School’s computer lab.
Hopper writes, “Her resume provides strong evidence of the quality and quantity of her professional productivity.” Adds Hsing-wei Chu, chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering: “She is an outstanding young faculty member.”
