Chemical engineering and materials science associate professor receives President's Award for Excellence in Teaching

DETROIT (June 19, 2014) - Jeffrey Potoff, associate professor of chemical engineering and materials science and director of early engineering programs, received a Wayne State University 2014 President's Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award recognizes superior teaching and valuable contributions to the academic excellence of Wayne State University.

The $2,500 award and a plaque were presented at Wayne State's Academic Recognition Ceremony on April 24 at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center.

(From left) Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret E. Winters, Associate Professor Potoff, and President M. Roy Wilson.

"The College of Engineering is proud to see this well-deserved award given to Jeffrey Potoff," said College of Engineering Dean Farshad Fotouhi. "He is one of our many exceptional faculty members who are dedicated to helping our students gain greater knowledge and experience through innovative and passionate teaching."

Potoff is committed to using his roles as professor, mentor and director of the early engineering program to help future generations of students succeed.

"If you really want to teach people something, you have to figure out how your words translate to their world, not yours," said Potoff. "Words aren't universal and students have different knowledge gaps. It's important to help address those various elements of need for our students and help them get from point A to point B in a way that works for them."

His shrewd attention to individual student's needs has paid off. Since taking on the role of early engineering director, Potoff has revised the program completely, resulting in a nearly 90 percent success rate for students advancing from the program this semester.

"I had students in my class who were talking about how they were disappointed because they got a 96 percent instead of a 99 percent on their math exams," said Potoff. "They were a great group of very capable students."

But he doesn't plan on stopping there. "I think about Wayne State students and my research constantly - perhaps more than my wife would like. I want to make a difference in the lives of my students and in scientific literature."

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Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students. For more information about engineering at Wayne State University, visit engineering.wayne.edu.