News Story

Abshire, Lopresti Honored at Commencement

Associate Professor Pamela Abshire (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Institute for Systems Research) and Kathy Lopresti, assistant director for undergraduate and graduate studies in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, were honored with awards at the Clark School's Winter 2011 Commencement Ceremony in December.

Abshire received the Clark School's 2011 E. Robert Kent Outstanding Teaching Award for Junior Faculty. Abshire was recognized for teaching senior courses in microelectronics, including one circuits course that she created, Analog and Digital Electronics II, so that students could focus on project design in their capstone coursework. Students who have taken her microelectronics courses stated that her teaching prepared them for success in industry or graduate school with her emphasis on practical applications. In addition to her teaching duties, Abshire is noted for advising a record number of student independent research projects–55 undergraduate and 97 graduate. Colleagues commended her leadership on grants, accreditation activities and overseeing the capstone design course system in her department. Her student evaluations are well above average. One student noted that "Dr. Abshire is so passionate about everything she does that it is infectious."

Lopresti received the Clark School's 2011 Dr. Marilyn Berman Pollans Outstanding Service Award for Staff. As assistant director of undergraduate and graduate studies, Lopresti manages all student records, supports recruiting activities and serves as the initial advisor for all freshmen and transfer students. She is noted for exceptional service to students, serving as the "face" of the department, and is described by one student as the "heart of the University." The new Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Association credited her with their success as she helped them get the organization off the ground. Faculty members admired her work to build the department's undergraduate services and for her assistance with the department's ABET accreditation process.

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