Ayoobi named recipient of 2023 President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
Mohsen Ayoobi, associate professor of engineering technology, was selected to receive one of the 2023 President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching in recognition to his contributions to the academic excellence of Wayne State University students.
He joined Wayne State’s Division of Engineering Technology in 2016 as an assistant professor after spending the previous 15 months at EcoMotors in Allen Park, Mich., as a simulation engineer. Ayoobi, who received an Excellence in Teaching accolade from the College of Engineering in 2019 and was promoted to associate professor with tenure last year, teaches courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
“Teaching has always been my greatest passion and the main reason to select a profession in academia over industry,” said Ayoobi. “This award means everything to me. I would like to thank all my students and colleagues and express my gratitude to Dr. Ece Yaprak for nominating me and being the most supportive chair one could ask for.”
Not only does Ayoobi teach five courses per academic year, but he is actively involved in new course, curriculum and laboratory development. For instance, his upgrades to the thermal science lab, which serves as a teaching lab for core courses in the mechanical engineering technology program, were crucial to provide students more spaces to explore theoretical concepts taught in classes. He has developed new modules to grow Wayne State’s robotics program, and structured more project-oriented courses such as MCT 5210 that have drawn the attention of students from across the College of Engineering.
“Dr. Ayoobi is an inspiring teacher and enjoys working with students,” said Yaprak. “He involves them in his research, challenges them with difficult but solvable problems, and motivates them to achieve their very best.”
He has been exceptionally active in securing educational grants as well. In 2022, Ayoobi led a team that secured a six-year, $1.5 million National Science Foundation grant titled “Assuring Students Success in Engineering Technology Programs (ASSET).” This project will fund 48 students — four cohorts of 12 students each — to ensure the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income undergraduate students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in ET programs.
Ayoobi will receive the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching at the 2023 Academic Recognition Ceremony on Thursday, April 27.