Last month, two of Lehigh's newest Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department (ChBE) faculty members were graciously honored at the University recognition dinner for their commitment to excellence in education.
Assistant Professor Thomas Gartner received the Stabler Award for Excellence in Teaching. This honor is of particluar importance as it comes just after Gartner's first semester teaching! Awarded to a member of the faculty who comes closest to the following standards: a) Mastery of his or her field and superior ability in communicating it to others; b) An exceptional talent for encouraging students to want to understand alternatives and to make choices; c) Knows how to extract from students the full measure of their potential to learn; d) Guides their thoughts in a spirit of free inquiry and learns from them as he or she teaches; e) Never rests from being a teacher and is so infectious in his or her manner that the students scarcely know how deeply he or she is teaching; f) Impresses on his or her students that they have only begun to learn while at Lehigh and that their real quest for knowledge and application of what they are taught will come after graduation; g) Ultimate goal is not only to lead his or her students to excellence in their chosen field, but also to excellence as human beings and as leaders of society. Prior department winners include Vince Grassi (2019) and Harvey Stenger (2002).
Whitney Blocher McTigue joined ChBE in Fall 2022 as Assistant Professor, and is this year's recipient of the Lehigh Early Career Award for Distinguished Teaching. Lehigh University sponsors this award to be given to a member or members of the teaching staff for distinguished teaching performed during the academic year. This award was previously supported by the Lindback Foundation and was known as the Junior Lindback Award. Previous department winners include Mark Snyder (2014) and Bill Schiesser (1963).
As in the words of their Department Chair, "It's clear you both are having a very positive impact on student learning and the department culture of being truly supportive of our students in our tough curriculum - we don't lower rigor, we provide more support" says Steven McIntosh.
Congratulations again to these faculty and all 2024 faculty award winners.
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