Two faculty members in the College of Engineering have received the Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.
The Joyce Award honors Notre Dame faculty members who have had a profound influence on undergraduate students through sustained exemplary teaching at Notre Dame. Each year, the award recognizes three faculty members across the University who create environments that stimulate significant student learning, elevate students to a new level of intellectual engagement, and foster students’ ability to express themselves effectively within the discipline.
The awards are presented by the Office of the Provost, and recipients are selected through a process that includes peer and student nominations.
This year’s recipients from the College of Engineering are:
Taeho Jung, associate professor of computer science and engineering (pictured left). Jung is an expert in cryptography and blockchain technologies, leveraging both to enhance data security and privacy in cyberspace.
The award citation noted Jung’s remarkable ability to “make some of the most rigorous theoretical courses in his department accessible and engaging.” He was also praised for his commitment to fostering a welcoming learning environment—including learning every student’s name, no matter the class—his exceptional lecture notes that deepen students’ understanding of class discussions, and his openness to questions.
Paul Rumbach, associate teaching professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering (pictured right). Rumbach teaches lab courses in solid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and mechatronics. He also teaches an aerospace course on aircraft flight mechanics, stability, and control, as well as several other independent design project courses.
The award citation credits him with “transforming two required courses by incorporating rigorous yet engaging experiential learning, often featuring devices he had built to demonstrate engineering principles.” He was also praised for deepening students’ understanding and ability to apply engineering principles, notably through his role as faculty advisor for Domer Rover, a student club that designs, fabricates, and tests a “Mars” rover for international competition.
—Karla Cruise, Notre Dame Engineering; Photos by Wes Evard, Notre Dame Engineering