Ajay Anand, Christopher Muir, and Pablo Sierra Silva all have reshaped departmental programs focused on experiential learning.
Although the recipients of this year鈥檚 Goergen Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching work in different fields, they share two common traits: in addition to being聽masters of innovative teaching at the , they each have deep commitments to experiential learning.
This year鈥檚 winners are:
- Ajay Anand, an associate professor with the
- Christopher Muir, a professor in the
- Pablo Sierra Silva, an associate professor in the
The recipients will be honored on October 27 with a ceremony in the Feldman Ballroom in Frederick Douglass Commons.
Established in 1997 by University Trustee and Board Chair Emeritus Robert Goergen 鈥�60 and his wife, Pamela, the award recognizes distinction in undergraduate teaching among faculty in Arts, Sciences & Engineering at the University.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 awardees are all innovators who have shaped and reshaped their programs, creating a better, more immersive experience for students,鈥� says Jeffrey Runner, dean of the College. 鈥淚n Chris Muir鈥檚 hugely popular senior design class, students select their own project; Ajay Anand has grown his capstone projects from 20 to 110 in six years, connecting students with 70 corporate sponsors; and Pablo Sierra Silva puts students back in time in his classes, as they take on sometimes uncomfortable but important roles.鈥�
Nominations come from students, faculty, staff members, and administrators. The winners are chosen by Runner; Gloria Culver, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences; and Wendi Heinzelman, dean of the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences.
Anand joined the University in 2017 and also serves as deputy director of the Goergen Institute for Data Science. He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from the University of Bombay, India; master鈥檚 degrees from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the University of Washington; and a doctorate from the University of Washington.
Muir came to the University in 2014. He earned a bachelor鈥檚, a master鈥檚, and a doctoral degree from Lehigh University.
Sierra Silva joined the University in 2013. He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master鈥檚 and doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles.
