Congratulations to the faculty and staff members who were recognized for their achievements at the Appreciation Ceremony during the 2021 Kick-off Celebration held on Sept. 1.

The award winners included:

• Rexnord Educator of the Year Award: Dr. Jera Sullivan, assistant professor and graduate program director in the Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management Department
• Johnson Controls Part-Time Faculty Award: Dr. Tatiana Soleski, adjunct associate professor in the Mathematics Department
• Karl O. Werwath Applied Research Awards: Dr. Nazieh Masoud, associate professor in the Physics and Chemistry Department and Dr. Serdar Ozturk, associate professor in the Physics and Chemistry Department
• Johanna Seelhorst Werwath Distinguished Staff Award: Peter Pfister, Help Desk coordinator in the Information Technology Department
• Oscar Werwath Distinguished Teacher Award: Dr. Robert Olsson, professor in the Physics and Chemistry Department 

Dr. Jera Sullivan, assistant professor and graduate program director in the Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management Department, received the Rexnord Educator of the Year award. The award is given annually to full-time faculty members with less than seven years of experience. It is a testament to exemplary dedication and performance. Sullivan earned her B.S. in Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, both her B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her Ph.D. in Construction Engineering from Arizona State University.

Dr. Tatiana Soleski, adjunct associate professor in the Mathematics Department, was awarded the Johnson Controls Part-time Faculty Award. The award was inspired by Robert C. Moore, a long-time faculty member in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department. The award recognizes the contributions of part-time faculty to the education, motivation and support of the students at MSOE; encourages and recognizes excellence in teaching, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels; recognizes commitment and assistance to students outside of the classroom; and recognizes contributions to the improvement of educational programs and the effectiveness of the learning process at MSOE. Soleski earned both a M.S. and Ph.D. in Mathematics from Moscow State University as well as a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

This year there were two recipients of the Karl O. Werwath Applied Research Award: Dr. Nazieh Masoud and Dr. Serdar Ozturk, who are both associate professors in the Physics and Chemistry Department. Masoud earned his B.S. and M.S. in Physics from the University of Jordan-Amman and his Ph.D. in Physics from Stevens Institute of Technology. He began teaching at MSOE in 2010. Ozturk obtained his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Ege University, his M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Izmir Institute of Technology, and his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University. He joined MSOE in 2013.

Karl O. Werwath was an innovator in engineering education and the application of technology, and believed that teaching effectiveness was enhanced through applied research and consulting. He felt that MSOE should make an effort to contribute to the advancement of technical knowledge for the benefit of business and industry for the good of the community and the nation. This award was initiated to recognize the vision of Karl O. Werwath and the contribution of MSOE faculty and staff who have fostered the advancement of applied scientific knowledge. The award recipient is chosen based on criteria including his or her contribution to engineering, scientific research, consulting, the engineering profession and scholarship, promoting research at MSOE, patentable concepts and publications.

Peter Pfister, Help Desk coordinator in the Information Technology Department, received the Johanna Seelhorst Werwath Distinguished Staff Award. This award is given annually to the employee who is considered to possess those attributes of excellence of character, outstanding ability, a high order of integrity, loyalty and dedication to duty and a sincere willingness to cooperate with others in maintaining the highest standards of staff performance and service to students, Regents, faculty, other staff members, and the public. All nominees must have seven or more years of full-time service as a staff member. Officers of the university are not eligible for this award nor are previous award winners. The award recipient is voted on by MSOE faculty and staff. Pfister was commended for his friendly customer service and assistance over the past year as MSOE transitioned to a virtual environment during the pandemic. Pfister earned his B.S. in Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Dr. Robert Olsson, professor in the Physics and Chemistry Department, was presented the Oscar Werwath Distinguished Teacher Award. The award was established by the university in 1967 to recognize excellence in teaching. All nominees for this award must have a minimum of seven years of full-time service to MSOE. Students choose the award winner through two rounds of voting. Olsson earned his B.S. in Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his Ph.D. in Physics from Michigan State University.