Dr. Jamie Gurganus & Dr. Jonathan Zwi
In its inaugural year 2020-2021, the awardees are Dr. Jamie Gurganus, faculty member in the Mechanical Engineering Department and the Associate Director of Engineering Education Initiatives and Dr. Jonathan Zwi, Affiliate Artist in the Department of Music. There is much that could be said about both of these recipients in terms of their accomplishments, but the focus here is on their contribution to students in transition.
Dr. Gurganus has explored teaching and learning through the lens of the many stages of learning that occur as a student develops as a learner. In her classes she creates multiple ways for her students to learn. Her creativity and innovation supports them in understanding who they are as a learner and what they can accomplish. It also makes room for every student to create a space for learning that is uniquely their own.
Perhaps she says it best. “To this end, I have embraced using active and problem-based learning along with peer teaching to help develop a student’s ‘engineering sense making.’ As experience and research dictate, application of concepts and authentic experiences is one of the most effective ways for a student engineer to learn. For example, I use service-learning projects with real customers in the first- and second-year classes that help develop their essential and technical skills. There has undoubtedly been considerable change in the development and need for students to think computationally. This is especially important in the first-year programs, as students work to develop this mind-set prior to entering their major technical classes. From nurturing this ability, a foundation of systematic thinking is established. I want students to feel empowered.”
What students say “Dr. Gurganus, or more affectionately named Prof G by many students, is the type of instructor that teaches with care and mattering. She truly listens to students and explains concepts in a way that are straightforward and gives them the resources and support they need in order to be successful. Prof G makes engineering topics that at times can be very dry, difficult, and boring into something relatable, fun, and easy to comprehend while being able to apply it to real world situations and problems that engineers encounter. But I think what I enjoyed most about having Prof G as one of my first mechanical engineering professors was her confidence in me.”
Dr. Zwi has explored a variety of disciplines in the arts. His goal of supporting students in learning to think more deeply and to question are important skills that have a long term impact on the quality of a student’s education and their ability to be successful. Students learn how to translate these skills for themselves but also across all of their learning experiences, which is a powerful experience for any student.
Dr. Zwi notes that, “Despite beginning the semester with seemingly innocuous questions like “what is art” or “what is music,” there is no way we can attempt an honest answer without discussing things like what is perception, what is space, what is meaning, what is truth, what is being, how does the mind/brain/body/consciousness process these things, etc. In the end, we might still call it a Philosophy of Art class, but it is really a thinking class….It is amazing to see how much students can achieve when one is able to convince them that they can.”
What students say “Dr. Zwi formatted the class as an open forum instead of as a traditional lecture. Students were able to speak out with any questions or personal opinions on the various topics, with Professor Zwi taking the time to provide his thoughtful feedback. By paying attention to student voices, Professor Zwi not only helped us achieve a solid understanding of the material, but also created a space where none of our viewpoints seemed unworthy. As a result, students like me felt equal to our peers and confident in our academic abilities. Essentially, the classroom became a place of mutual respect in which Professor Zwi’s approachable and reassuring nature made all of us feel capable of tackling the most difficult concepts.”
3/31/2023