Ayoobi named to 2024 class of Wayne State University Academy of Teachers
Mohsen Ayoobi, an associate professor in the Engineering Technology Division at Wayne State University, was one of five faculty members chosen to join the Academy of Teachers, a select group of educators recognized by the university each year for instructional excellence, leadership and impact on the WSU undergraduate learning experience.
Established in 2018 by the Office for Teaching and Learning, the Academy of Teachers promotes the shared value and culture of teaching excellence at WSU by supporting the professional development of faculty, encouraging policies to support teachers, and serving as an advisory group to the provost on matters relating to teaching and learning.
As a member of the Academy of Teachers, Ayoobi will be able to share his knowledge and experience of developing innovative and project-based STEM courses with instructors across Wayne State University. He is the second College of Engineering faculty member to be selected, along with Nabil Sarhan in 2022.
“I am honored to join the Academy of Teachers and look forward to collaborating with my colleagues across the university to further elevate the student learning experience at Wayne State,” said Ayoobi, who teaches engineering courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. “Teaching has always been a passion of mine, and I take great pride in supporting the development of our students. This recognition reinforces my commitment to creating innovative and project-based courses that inspire our future engineers.”
Ayoobi is actively involved in new course, curriculum and laboratory development. 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.
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 funds 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.
“Dr. Ayoobi exemplifies the excellence we strive for in teaching. His dedication to students makes him an invaluable member of our faculty,” said Ece Yaprak, chair of the Engineering Technology Division. “His selection to the Academy of Teachers is a well-deserved honor, and I am confident that his impact will continue to grow both within the College of Engineering and across Wayne State University.”
Ayoobi joined Wayne State in 2016 after spending the previous 15 months at EcoMotors in Allen Park, Mich., as a simulation engineer. He received the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2023 and the College of Engineering Excellence in Teaching Award in 2024.