Professor Ana I. Alexandrescu has won the 2024 Lehigh University Hillman Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising.
Professor Gregory L. Tonkay has won the 2024 Lehigh University Hillman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising.
Lehigh reserves these two awards for faculty who have demonstrated long-term excellence in undergraduate and graduate advising. Nominations are submitted exclusively by students, adding to the awards' significance.
Professor Alexandrescu has transformed the Health Systems Engineering (HSE) Program at Lehigh University through her dedication to experiential learning and personalized education. From 2015 to 2024 she has advised more than 100 real-world capstone projects addressing critical healthcare challenges, including hospital efficiency and patient care optimization. Ana’s strong industry connections brought real-world mentorship to students and established seminars, workshops, and site visits to enhance learning. Her ability to support students from diverse backgrounds ensured they graduated equipped to apply engineering solutions in healthcare. Ana’s leadership has elevated the HSE Program’s impact and visibility in the healthcare field. HSE master’s students said Ana is “100% supportive and student oriented”, “the ideal graduate adviser you would want in any university”, and a “fantastic professional”.
Professor Tonkay served as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies for a decade, providing consistent leadership through changing administrations. He successfully managed operations and accreditation for undergraduate programs, including two ABET visits for both engineering and computer science. Greg championed international experiences, expanding student participation in global programs like the “Engineers Made in Germany” initiative. He mentored diverse student groups, including Lehigh’s Posse Three cohort and the Greer Scholars program, significantly improving outcomes for underrepresented students. Greg also developed foundational programs, including the Engineering Minor and first-year engineering curricula, while mentoring countless students and continuing to teach with dedication and excellence. ISE undergrads said Greg “has gone above and beyond in providing all the support, love, care and inspiration”, “shows brilliant energy to everyone”, and “helps students reaching their potential".