6.12.19
Your investment supports educators like Bayram Yildirim and other 2019 faculty award recipients
Like many university professors, Bayram Yildirim pursued a career in academia because he didn’t see how an industry job could match the thrill he would get from helping students develop their minds and build their futures.
“I am an educator and a researcher because I think I can make a significant impact on the lives of others – my students, industry and in the community,” says Yildirim, a professor in the WSU College of Engineering.
Yildirim is the 2019 recipient of Wichita State’s faculty award for community research. He has made a name for himself on campus – by being involved in faculty governance, by engaging deeply with his students and by regarding his colleagues and students as family.
“I look at WSU as being very family oriented,” he says. “I know lots of people on campus. Most are contributing their best to help this university better serve our students and all of our stakeholders.”
He feels particularly empathetic toward his students and the diverse challenges they face every day. “Mentoring is important to me,” Yildirim says. “With such a diverse student body, you must have a teaching style that engages students in multiple ways to help everyone be as successful as possible.”
The faculty award bestowed on Yildirim recognizes him for community research projects that seek to help companies and other organizations use energy more efficiently, saving money and reducing their carbon footprint. All of his research and site visits include students, he says.
“You can see the impact applied learning has on them, from start to finish,” Yildirim says. “They have learned new skills that give them an edge when they look for a job.”
Educators Who Bring Excellence to WSU
2019 Faculty Award Winners
EXCELLENCE IN ACCESSIBILITY
JAMES BECK
Assistant professor of Biological Sciences
Beck was recognized for the extensive work he did to make his classroom and curriculum accessible to visually impaired students. The experience, he says, helped him develop a deeper sense of empathy for the barriers a person with disabilities may face.
EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH
SHUANG GU
Assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering
With a major grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, Gu is the lead researcher in a collaborative effort to develop new technology to more efficiently produce ammonia as an alternative fuel. He has earned research funding of $4.1 million.
FACULTY RISK TAKER
RICHARD BOMGARDNER
Assistant professor and chair of Human Performance Studies
Bomgardner demonstrated innovative thinking with an idea to allow students in Wichita State’s Athletic Training program gain early admittance to the university’s Physical Therapy program. This is expected to enhance student recruitment and make graduates more marketable.
YOUNG FACULTY SCHOLAR
EHSAN SALARI
Assistant professor in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Salari is part of a federally funded project to help physicians and other health care practitioners deliver radiation therapy to patients more effectively and safely. He earns high praise for mentoring students and creating new coursework to enhance their education.
LEADERSHIP IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF TEACHING
GINA BROWN
Associate professor in Physician Assistant Department
Students and faculty alike praise Brown for her exemplary ability to develop detailed case studies, an important tool to help students apply the material they have learned. She has won several teaching and leadership awards for her dedication to her profession.
ACADEMY FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING
KATHERINE MASON CRAMER
Associate professor of Curriculum & Instruction
Cramer has gone above and beyond her teaching duties by coordinating the School of Education’s field placement program for teaching candidates and interns. She works with about 20 middle and high schools to give students the best experience possible.
EXCELLENCE IN CREATIVE ACTIVITY
WILLIAM FLYNN
Assistant professor of Guitar
Flynn brings a national presence as a performer and educator to WSU. He has five CDs of original compositions, earns favorable reviews in jazz publications, developed a series of education materials for guitar players and has an Instagram jazz education account with more than 17,000 followers.
EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
RICHARD PAPPAS
Physical Education Educator
Over his long career, Pappas developed a reputation as a passionate advocate for physical exercise in schools. He has identified innovative ways to integrate academic exercises with physical activity. He was a teacher for 34 years with Wichita public schools before joining the WSU faculty in 2010.
FACULTY RISK TAKER
ACHITA MUTHITACHAROEN
Associate professor in Management Information Systems
At WSU since 2002, Muthitacharoen has developed an applied learning experience for her students to enhance their marketable skills. It features an annual competition to create a web-based procurement system for a hypothetical company.Share