Olivia J. McMahonTwo members of the Penn Engineering faculty, Susan Davidson and LeAnn Dourte, are recipients of 2023 Provost’s Teaching Awards. These awards are the highest teaching honors awarded by the University to members of the faculty.
Susan Davidson: Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching
Susan Davidson, Weiss Professor in Computer and Information Science, is a recipient of a 2023 Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching.
The Lindback Awards, announced annually by the Office of the Provost, are the most prestigious teaching awards that full-time faculty members at the University can receive.
“This is a wonderful recognition of Susan’s tireless efforts in teaching our Databases and Big Data Analytics courses,” says Zachary Ives, Adani President’s Distinguished Professor and Chair of Computer and Information Science. “She is constantly tailoring courses towards student interests, new technologies, and relevant foundations and skills, along with developing highly sought-after courses for Penn Engineering Online’s programs.”
Davidson, who also serves as the Faculty Director of the Penn Engineering Data Science master’s program, focuses her research in data management for data science, database and web-based systems, provenance, crowdsourcing, and data citation. Davidson is also the founder of Penn Engineering’s Advancing Women in Engineering program.
The Lindback Awards were established in 1961 with the help of the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation.
LeAnn Dourte: Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence by Non-Standing Faculty
LeAnn Dourte, Practice Associate Professor in Bioengineering, has been awarded a 2023 Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence by Non-Standing Faculty.
“This award reflects LeAnn’s innovation and dedication in teaching our students in Bioengineering’s biomechanics, biomaterials and biomechatronics classes and labs,” says Ravi Radhakrishnan, Professor and Chair of Bioengineering. “She is a core member of our teaching faculty, spearheading the Department’s initiatives to improve experiential learning and classroom experiences through the SAIL model of education.”
The Structured, Active, In-Class Learning (or SAIL) model of education emphasizes teamwork and dynamic problem-solving. According to Penn’s Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), SAIL “provides students with the opportunity to struggle through the application of course ideas and material, often the most difficult part of learning for students, with guidance from instructors as well as help from their peers.”
In addition to her pedagogical interests, Dourte serves on the Bioengineering Climate Committee and is also highly involved in student wellness programming, serving as the Department’s Wellness Ambassador for the School.
The Provost’s Awards for Teaching Excellence by Non-Standing Faculty were established in 1988.