Department Awards

Department Awards

Best Dissertation Award

  • 2023 Alex Carr Sonic Boom Propagation in the Turbulent Atmospheric Boundary Layer
  • 2023 Duy Nguyen Cancer Immunotherapy in 3D: In Vitro Models of Tumor-Immune Interactions
  • 2023 Max Greene Nonsmooth Data-Based Reinforcement Learning for Online Approximate Optimal Control
  • 2023 Caroline Hill Redox Materials and Cycling Methods for the Improvement of Solar Chemical-Looping Reforming of Methane
  • 2022 Brendon Allen (W. Dixon) – “CHARACTERIZATION AND COMPENSATION OF THE ELECTROMECHANICAL DELAY DURING FES-CYCLING”
  • 2022 Austin Coffman (P. Barooah) – “CAPACITY ESTIMATION AND COORDINATION OF FLEXIBLE LOADS FOR GRID SUPPORT”
  • 2022 Hui Zhou (C. Simmons) – “LABEL-FREE QUANTIFICATION OF ALIGNMENT IN NATIVE AND ENGINEERED SOFT TISSUE CONSTRUCTS BY POLARIZED RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY”
  • 2021 Kai Liu (S. Balachandar) Systematic Evaluation and Improvement of Euler-Lagrange Methodology: Application to Spray Control
  • 2021 Camilo Riano-Rios (R. Bevilacqua) Propellant-Less Roto-Translational Control of Multiple Spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit Using Uncertain Environmental Forces and Torques
  • 2021 Kshitiz Upadhyay (G. Subhash) On the Mechanics of Visco-Hyperelastic Soft Materials
  • 2020 Bhaswati Choudhury (S. Roy) Ozone Generation and Distribution using Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge (SDBD) Flow Actuation for Enhanced Decontamination in Air and Water
  • 2020 Courtney Rouse (W. Dixon) A Switched Systems Approach to Human-Machine Interaction
  • 2020 Brandon Witbeck (D. Spearot) Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Impact of Defects on Ni/Al Nanolaminate Combustion
  • 2019 Kangfu Chen Flow and Interaction Patterns between Tumor Cells and Microfabricated Structures
  • 2019 Christian A. Cousin Hybrid Exoskeletons for Rehabilitation: A Nonlinear Control Approach
  • 2019 Khanh Q. Dang Atomistic Simulations of Dislocation Properties and the Role of Stress State in Aluminum
  • 2019 Cody J. Kunka Quantum and Experimental Mechanics of Icosahedral Ceramics
  • 2019 Magdoom Kulam Najmudeen Developments in Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Applications to Transport in Brain
  • 2018 Arnob Das Gupta Study of Turbulent Flow Control Using Serpentine Plasma Actuator
  • 2018 Victor H. Duenas Functional Electrical Stimulation-Induced Cycling Using Repetitive Learning and Passivity-Based Control
  • 2018 Yifei Jin Study of Nanoclay-Assisted Extrusion Fabrication System for 3D Printing

Teacher of the Year

This award is to highlight faculty that has provided outstanding teaching within MAE.

  • 2023 Scott Banks
  • 2023 Carl Crane
  • 2023 Mike Griffis
  • 2022 Nam-Ho Kim
  • 2021 Sean Niemi
  • 2020 Doug Spearot
  • 2019 Matt Hale
  • 2019 Teresa Benitez
  • 2018 Jonathan Scheffe
  • 2017 Chelsey Simmons
  • 2016 Peter Ifju
  • 2015 John Conklin
  • 2014 Mike Braddock
  • 2013 Dan Dickrell
  • 2012 Scott Banks
  • 2011 Carl Crane
  • 2010 Greg Sawyer
  • 2009 Tony Schmitz

Researcher of the Year

This award is to highlight faculty that has provided outstanding research within MAE.

  • 2023 Matt Hale
  • 2022 Steven Miller
  • 2021 Chelsey Simmons

Instructional Faculty Award

To encourage, recognize, and reward faculty members who have demonstrated innovation and creativity through the introduction of new educational processes or pedagogical advances that have or will have a significant impact on student learning and engagement.

  • Excellence in Teaching Innovation Award
    • 2023 Matt Traum
    • 2022 Ting Dong
    • 2021 Andres Rubiano
    • 2020 Shannon Ridgeway
    • Excellence in Education Award 2020 Mike Braddock

Jan Rockey Outstanding Staff Award

Jan Rockey served as an Administrative Assistant in the department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering for 35 years, from 1984 to 2019. She spent many years ensuring that everyone—faculty, staff, and students—felt like they were an important part of the department’s success. Her dedication and leadership serving the department chair and all other MAE stakeholders over the years were invaluable. Jan’s customer service skills were beyond exceptional, and they were genuine even in what is a business setting. Her commitment to sustain a caring and supportive department will always be remembered. This award showcases Jan’s values of dedication and leadership within MAE.

  • 2023 Mike Fitzgerald
  • 2023 Daniel Preston
  • 2022 Sierra McVeigh
  • 2021 Shirley Robinson
  • 2020 Jeremy Hall
  • 2019 Melanie DeProspero
  • 2019 Carrie Finley
  • 2018 Jennifer Brown
  • 2017 Terri Dildine
  • 2016 Paul Rocha
  • 2015 Carrie Pridgeon
  • 2014 Racquel Muir
  • 2013 Jeff Studstill
  • 2012 Salena Robinson
  • 2011 Jennifer Brown
  • 2010 Mark Riedy
  • 2009 Jan Machnik
  • 2009 Jan Rockey

Innovation/Productivity Staff Award

This award is to highlight staff that has provided outstanding dedication in the areas of innovation or productivity to MAE.

  • 2023 Austin Leto
  • 2023 Bashon Robinson
  • 2022 Jessie Hsueh
  • 2022 Greg Norton
  • 2021 Mary Church

Staff Recognition – Years of Service at UF

5

2024 David Bourget- 5
2024 Andrew Evans- 5

2023 Jeremy Hall – 5

2023 Laura Feder- 5
2022 Mary Church – 5
2021 Julia Sander – 5
2021 Van Thai – 5

2021 Eunice Carter- 5

2021 Austin Leto- 5



10 – 15

2021 Megan Holland- 10

2020 Stephanie McGrail- 10
2023 Milan Savis- 15

2023 Linda Sorrels – 10
2021 Chris Sells – 10
2024 Sharla Alexander – 15
2023 Ericka Solano – 15
2021 Tina Bolton – 15
2021 Melanie DeProspero – 15
2020 Daniel Preston – 15

20 – 45

2021 Crystal Porchiazzo – 20

2022 Greg Norton- 20

2023 Pynie Gonzales- 25
2021 Sonya Clements – 30

2024 Valarie Jackson- 35

Retirements – Years of Service at UF

  • 2023 Gloria Wiens – 29
  • 2023 Shirley Robinson – 43
  • 2022 Roger Tran-Son-Tay – 29
  • 2022 William Clements – 23
  • 2021 Salena Robinson – 37
  • 2019 Jeff Studstill – 39
  • 2019 Jan Rockey – 43
  • 2019 Raphael Haftka – 24
  • 2018 Mark Riedy – 30
  • 2017 David Mikolaitis – 35
  • 2016 Vann Chesney – 35
  • 2016 William E. Lear, Jr – 32
  • 2016 David Rockey – 19
  • 2016 Judith Shivers – 27
  • 2015 Skip Ingley – 42
  • 2012 David Jenkins – 35