Congratulations to this year's recipients of the Amit & Meena Chakma Awards for Exceptional Teaching by a Student!
- Mostafa Farrokhabadi, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Tommy Mayberry, English Language and Literature
- Nathaniel Stevens, Statistics and Actuarial Science
Mostafa Farrokhabadi
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Recipient of the 2015 Amit & Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student
Mostafa Farrokhabadi is a PhD student in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Students acknowledge his guidance, adaptability, and teaching methods as a TA for ECE 390 and ECE 467. Through the use of thought provoking questions, he encourages students to think critically and form a solid foundation about topics. He is known to take “great pains to explain lecture material” by turning complicated problems and examples into simple ones to which students can relate.
The course instructor complimented him by writing, “Having Mostafa as a TA in a course is a big boon to the course instructor and a great help” as he develops strategies for the students and thoughtfully plans out his work. A student explains, “Mostafa’s enthusiasm and passion for teaching created an engaging environment whereby we were inspired to learn beyond core concepts, to expand and reflect on our knowledge of the impact that engineering design and economics could have in society”. It is evident that Mostafa went above and beyond the expectations of a teaching assistant.
Tommy Mayberry
English Language and Literature
Recipient of the 2015 Amit & Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student
Tommy Mayberry, a PhD student in English Language and Literature, is recognized by his students as being a positive, supportive, and “desirable marker, teacher and mentor”. Tommy’s passion for teaching and learning has a great influence on many who cross his path. As one of his students states, “Tommy has a certain spark or passion about him – an energy in his aura that inspires students”. Students also remarked on his ability to foster a “fun, friendly, encouraging, and safe environment”. The overflow of students in his classrooms is a testament to his effective and well-designed lectures. His gift for connecting classic literature to popular culture supports his reputation as a great lecturer. According to a faculty member, Tommy’s “ability to impress students, and lead them, willingly and enjoyably, into learning they recognize as valuable”, is a mark of excellence in teaching. Students and faculty describe him as thoughtful, passionate, and fair in his teaching in addition to being sensitive to students’ needs.
Nathaniel Stevens
Statistics and Actuarial Science
Recipient of the 2015 Amit & Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student
Nathaniel Stevens, a PhD student in Statistics and Actuarial Science, is recognized for being “consistently enthusiastic in teaching the material” and “attentive to explaining difficult concepts”. Nathaniel, as a teaching assistant and an instructor for STAT 101 and STAT 202, consistently taught his courses with in an effective and engaging manner. A student writes, “his excitement about the subject radiated every class and truly inspired me to do well in the course”. His students note that his care for teaching combined with his proficiency in the subject allows him to present and teach the material well. His exceptional ability to make the classes relatable and interesting comes from being able to “relate course material to relevant topics to students’ lives and their program”. Many of his students note that his influence extends beyond the classroom as he displays exceptional teaching during his office hours as well. Nathaniel’s deep understanding of the material and dedication to teaching is highly regarded by his students and makes him a deserving recipient.