Class of 2023 GCoE Pursuit of Excellence Award Recipients Honored at Fall Board Meeting

-


Inspired by the April 2015 challenge by Jim Gallogly, the college's namesake, to pursue excellence, the Pursuit of Excellence Award honors those who regularly and selflessly serve the college with excellence in all they do. Presented at the fall Board of Advisors meeting, the awards are among the highest recognition given by the college. In addition to a cash award, recipients receive a certificate of distinction.

Introducing the class of 2023 Pursuit of Excellence Award recipients:

Graduate Student Award - Buket Cilali
Buket Cilali is pursuing a doctoral degree in industrial and systems engineering. She has served as a teaching assistant and has contributed to the research enterprise through contributions that include publishing a book chapter, a conference paper and a journal paper. Students appreciate her willingness to help. She serves the OU student chapter of INFORMS and the organizing committee of the international organization Forecasting for Social Good.

Staff Award – Aaron Henley
Aaron Henley is the administrative assistant to the director and office manager for the School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. He obtained a bachelor's degree in religious studies in 2007 from OU. He is responsible for coordinating appointments of teaching and research assistants, managing purchases, maintaining the school’s social media sites and hosting many events. 

Undergraduate Student Award – Haley Taffe
Haley Taffe is majoring in biomedical engineering and minoring in both chemistry and microbiology. She has participated in the OU Pediatric Emergency Medicine Research Associates Program, where she performed pediatric clinical research at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital. She has also worked on a design project team and in several research labs. These research endeavors have afforded her experience in developing targeted therapies and nanomedicines for cancer. She has served as a teaching assistant and mentor for multiple sections of Engineering Pathways and Professional Development. She has served hundreds of students while demonstrating the highest levels of excellence, empathy and leadership.

Faculty Award – Ziho Kang
Ziho Kang, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. He mentors students as they advance through their engineering curriculum, whether they are enrolled in his course or not. He has a natural talent for gently nudging students to reach their highest potential, helping them to excel as they earn their engineering degree(s).

By Karen Kelly, Gallogly College of Engineering 

Popular posts from this blog

OU Engineering Students Shine in Community Projects

-
Image
At the University of Oklahoma, a transformative course called Pathways to Engineering Thinking is leaving a mark on OU students and the community. In the first-year engineering course, over 800 students across 16 sections collaborated to tackle real-world challenges presented by community partners. Their projects ranged from developing prosthetic limbs for injured animals to creating innovative solutions for community gardens and zoos. The course aims to guide students through the engineering design process, emphasizing collaborative teamwork and problem-solving skills.  This semester’s projects reached many areas of the community. Partnerships with the OU Food Pantry, OU Community Garden, Oklahoma City Zoo, OU Engineering K-12 Outreach, a local dog rescue and the City of Norman provided students with real-world challenges to address. Each team delved into issues presented by the partners, working toward delivering functional design solutions by the semester’s end. The heart of the cou
Read more

OU Students Take on Habitat Challenge: Sooners Without Borders Constructs Ramp, More in Iowa

-
Image
In early January, six students from Sooners Without Borders at the University of Oklahoma headed to Des Moines, Iowa, teaming up with Habitat for Humanity. Their goal: construct an accessibility ramp for a local family. Their mission was part of Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge program, providing year-round volunteer opportunities for college students. The students, all from the Gallogly College of Engineering at OU, embraced the challenge. Formerly Engineers Without Borders, Sooners Without Borders had changed its name to be more inclusive of all majors at OU, says Lisa Morales, the group's staff adviser. “A lot of projects used to focus on clean water and students had the opportunity to travel abroad. Once Covid happened, we had to shift the focus of Sooner Without Borders,” Morales said.  In Des Moines, the project expanded beyond the ramp, involving tasks like installing kitchen cabinets and flooring for a new home. Morales says she was impressed with the student’s adeptness with
Read more

OU Engineering Welcomes 14 New Faculty Members for 2023-24

-
Image
OU Engineering has welcomed 14 new faculty members for the 2023-24 academic year. This marks a milestone in the college's growth journey, with faculty numbers increasing from just over 100 in 2017 to 175 in 2023. OU Engineering is committed to expanding its faculty ranks, aiming for over 200 faculty members by the 2025-26 academic year, says OU Engineering Dean John Klier. To achieve this goal, the college has initiated more than 20 faculty searches. The State of Oklahoma continues to acknowledge the need for more engineers. They recently responded to OU Engineering’s request for additional recurring funding. The funding will play a crucial role in offering undergraduate student tuition waivers, supporting graduate students and helping recruit new faculty and staff. These positions will be phased in over the next three years. "OU Engineering extends its gratitude for the ongoing support from the State of Oklahoma as it continues to address the growing demand for engineers,&quo
Read more