Dr. Sarah Rajala honored for dedication to engineering education
July 27, 2007
The electrical and computer engineering department head from the Bagley College of Engineering has received one-of-two prestigious awards from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).
The IEEE Education Society Achievement Award will be presented to Dr. Sarah Rajala, at the annual Frontiers in Education Conference. Recipients of the award are judged based on their contributions, dedication and years of service to the fields of engineering education and research.
This award marks just one of Rajala’s many recent accomplishments. Since, accepting her position at Mississippi State in 2006, she has become the President-elect for the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), ASEE Electrical and Computer Engineering Division Educator of the Year and a Fellow of the ASEE.
“I am humbled by the recognition and attention I have received this year for simply doing the things I love to do,” Rajala said. “I am deeply honored to join the distinguished group of educators who have received the IEEE Education Society Achievement Award in previous years.”
During her career, Rajala has remained passionate about engineering education and research while being dedicated to recruiting women into the field. This dedication has lead her into outreach efforts, such as helping to establish Women in Science and Engineering (WISE). Rajala’s commitment and expertise in the field has made it easier for women to advance their knowledge of science and mathematics and consequently break-into an engineering career that previously was dominated by men.
“In addition to her many accomplishments during her career, Sarah had been particularly concerned with helping attract and retain women in engineering fields,” Dr. Donna Reese, an associate dean within the Bagley College of Engineering, said. “She has served as a positive role model for these young women and contributed to many programs aimed at helping young women to attain engineering degrees and succeed in the workforce.”
Rajala received her doctoral degree from Rice University in 1979. Prior to accepting her position at MSU, she spent nine years at North Carolina State University in varying capacities including associate dean for research and graduate programs. Currently, she is in the final stages of publishing “Designing Better Engineering Education through Assessment,” which marks the 186 book she has authored.