The Career & Professional Development Center at the University of Utah honored five faculty members from the College of Engineering Friday, April 13, with this year’s Career Services Faculty Recognition Award. In all, 20 faculty members were recognized across the U campus.
The award is given to faculty who contribute to students’ career development and exploration. Nominations were made by students, and winners were selected for their dedication to help students find resources, guide their career paths and realize their potential.
ME associate professor Brittany Coats is one of five honored from the College and 20 from the U. Her nominee wrote; “At the beginning of my undergraduate degree, I was having a hard time and academically doing very poorly. After asking Dr. Coats if I could shadow some of her graduate students just to help with my understanding of the material in her class, she instead hired me to work in her lab. Now for the last three and a half years she has been my mentor, and I don’t think that I would have finished with a degree in mechanical engineering without her guidance. I’ve presented my research at three conferences, completed a UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program), and am about to start as a graduate student in her lab. There’s not a doubt in my mind that without her as a mentor I would have most likely dropped out of school and most definitely would not be getting a graduate degree.”
This year’s College of Engineering recipients are:
Brittany Coats, associate professor in mechanical engineering.
David Schurig, associate professor in electrical and computer engineering.
Jennifer Weidhaas, associate professor in civil and environmental engineering.
Jerod Johnson, adjunct assistant professor in civil and environmental engineering.
John McLennan, associate professor in chemical engineering.
The recipients were honored during a presentation April 13 in the Student Services Building. Past winners of the award from the College of Engineering include mechanical engineering assistant professor Ashley Spear, chemical engineering associate professor (lecturer) Tony Butterfield and materials science and engineering assistant professor Taylor Sparks.