Myers-Alford Memorial Teaching Award
The Myers-Alford Memorial Teaching Award recognizes outstanding teaching efforts, and awardees receive a $3,500 cash prize. According to the donors of this memorial fund, Jean Alford Myers and Philip S. Myers, the recipient must (1) provide outstanding undergraduate and graduate instruction and mentoring; and (2) provide valuable information to colleagues, peers, and practitioners in the field. For this award, the Honors and Awards Committee selects the recipient based on the following criteria:
- Evaluation of teaching effectiveness;
- Student evaluations; and
- Success in sharing information to colleagues, peers and practitioners.
The nomination process is coordinated by the department head or department awards committee. The nomination packet includes the following items of support for the nominee:
- Letter of nomination by a college employee.
- Current curriculum vitae.
- A two-page (maximum) description of the nominee's qualifications which address the following attributes:
- Outstanding instruction at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
- Source of valuable information to colleagues, peers, and practitioners.
- Outstanding mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students.
- A summary of support from a combination of faculty, student and external sources.
Current recipients
Don Gruenbacher
Don Gruenbacher, associate professor in the Mike Wiegers Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is one of two recipients this year.
Current and former students describe him as an approachable professor who makes complex concepts understandable, devotes significant time to individual students and helps them identify career paths.
Gruenbacher has mentored 38 master’s and doctoral students whose careers have taken them to national laboratories, academic institutions and industry research groups. Additionally, he currently serves as a faculty advisor for Wildcat Wind Power.
Bill X. Zhang
Bill Zhang, professor in the GE Johnson Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science, is one of two recipients this year.
Drawing on extensive industry experience, he incorporates real-world design applications, current software, professional standards and industry practices to prepare students for engineering careers.
Zhang advises 30-50 undergraduate students each semester and has served as major or co-major professor for 19 graduated master’s students, providing structured guidance in academics, research and career development.