College of Engineering announces recipients of Excellence in Teaching accolades
Three Wayne State University educators were recently acknowledged with the College of Engineering Awards for Excellence in Teaching, which recognizes outstanding faculty who demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of their subject, superior classroom performance and high educational standards. The 2023 honorees include:
- Marco Brocanelli, assistant professor of computer science
- Joseph Vaglica, assistant professor of teaching in engineering technology
- Murat Yildirim, assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering
Brocanelli has been praised for his continuous efforts to improve CSC 4420: Computer Operating Systems, a high-enrollment course that is work-intensive and challenging. Implementing feedback from SET surveys and course assessments, he frequently adapts his teaching material to incorporate new concepts and ensures that students are well prepared for more advanced courses, particularly at the graduate level. Brocanelli takes a hands-on approach with Ph.D. and undergraduate students alike, leading seminars and individually advising students on their research projects, several of which have reached publication. He is an active member of the Department of Computer Science’s graduate committee, and serves as a faculty advisor for the Wayne Robotics Club.
Vaglica directs the Engineering Technology Division’s construction management program, which he built from the ground up to become among the College of Engineering’s fastest growing and most popular academic programs. He formed the WSU student chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), which took first place in the 2021 ELECTRI International/NECA Electrical Contracting Innovation Challenge, a yearlong competition in which students were tasked with designing a new electrical system for a proposed residence hall. He is very active in course and curriculum development, and creates various activities to connect students with industry leaders.
Despite a demanding level of research activity over the last three years, Yildirim teaches courses at the undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D. levels in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. His teaching evaluation scores are among the highest ever seen in the department. He is acclaimed for his ability to integrate industry perspectives of energy systems, including data analytics and visualization, into his classes. Yildirim also co-led a recent summer camp course for middle and high school students on machine learning, introducing younger learners to valuable engineering concepts.