2008 Academy of Distinguished Teachers
April 8, 2008
The Bagley College of Engineering is pleased to induct the 2008 class of outstanding engineering educators into the Bagley College of Engineering Academy of Distinguished Teachers.
• T.J. Jankun-Kelly – Assistant Professor, Computer Science & Engineering
• Thomas Lacy – Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering
• William McAnally – Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Noel Schulz – Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering
• Bruce Cain – Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
These individuals were nominated by faculty, staff, and students in the college and were chosen based on the following selection criteria: Outstanding teaching is evidenced by many factors. Outstanding teachers engage students in the learning process and motivate students to succeed inside as well as outside of the classroom. Outstanding teachers seek to use a variety of teaching methods to reach students regardless of their individual learning styles. Outstanding teachers are demanding but fair, clearly communicating their expectations for students and holding students to these expectations. Outstanding teachers challenge students at all levels in their classrooms and encourage collaborative learning among their students. Outstanding teachers engage in active assessment of the learning of their students and seek to improve their teaching to ensure even greater student learning in the future.
Dr. T.J. Jankun-Kelly is an assistant professor in the Computer Science & Engineering Department. He joined the faculty at MSU in 2003. T.J. received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from the University of California, Davis and his B.S. degree in physics and computer science from Harvey Mudd College. T.J. was recognized for the Best Teaching Portfolio at the 2002 NSF Engineering Education Scholars Program and has published two conference papers related to teaching in his area of research, graphics and visualization. In addition, T.J. was Co-PI on a grant from NSF that led to the acquisition of a display wall within the CSE department, which has greatly enhanced the learning experiences of students in the graphics and visualization area.
Dr. Tom Lacy is an associate professor in the Aerospace Engineering Department. He joined the faculty at MSU in 2004 after five years as an assistant professor at Wichita State University. Tom received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico. Tom was elected Professor of the Year by the Aerospace Engineering Department in 2007 and is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Prior to coming to MSU, Tom’s excellence in teaching was recognized at Wichita State where he received the 2001 Duane and Velma Wallace Outstanding Educator Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Dr. William McAnally is an associate professor in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department. He joined the faculty at MSU in 2001 as a visiting professor then served as a research professor before becoming an associate professor in 2005. Bill received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in coastal and oceanographic engineering from the University of Florida and his B.S. degree in civil engineering from Arizona State University. Bill has been instrumental in the redesign of one course and the development of two new courses in the area of water resources. His student letters attest to his ability to motivate students to engage in what one student terms “self-induced research.”
Dr. Noel Schulz is an associate professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. She joined the faculty at MSU in 2001 after serving for five years on the faculty at Michigan Technological University. Noel holds the TVA Endowed Professorship in Power Systems Engineering. She has received numerous awards including the IEEE Power Engineering Society Walter Fee Outstanding Young Power Engineer Award, the Eta Kappa Nu C. Holmes MacDonald Outstanding Young Electrical Engineering Professor Award, and the Dow Outstanding New Engineering Faculty Award from the North Midwest region of ASEE. Noel has also been active in helping develop other faculty members in the college through her leadership in the college’s faculty development program from 2003-2004.
Dr. Bruce Cain was an associate professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department. Bruce joined the faculty at MSU in 1989 in the Nuclear Engineering Department. He served as a member of the Mechanical Engineering faculty from 1993 until he passed away in August 2007. Bruce served as the faculty advisor for the MSU student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The student officers of this organization attest to his ability to guide this organization from the sidelines allowing the students to gain valuable leadership experience. The students and faculty of the Mechanical Engineering Department unanimously supported the posthumous nomination of Bruce for induction into the Teaching Academy for his outstanding teaching during his years at MSU.