Meet Recent Moruzzi Award Winners
Rose Bohrer, Computer Science
In an amazing redesign of an undergraduate programming language course, Professor Bohrer has integrated theory-driven content with human-oriented concerns, social and ethical considerations, and belonging in computing. A suitable text did not exist, so Rose created an open-access textbook, a work rich in research and her conceptualization of the field. Her teaching approach has already been shared in several conference publications, and in two short years, she has already changed Computer Science at WPI for the better.
Joseph Aguilar and Kate McIntyre, Humanities and Arts
Professors Aguilar and McIntyre launched an international literary magazine, Hex Literary, which has made creative writing at WPI a thriving enterprise. The day-to-day business of running the journal is done largely by students, who learn about the history of literary journals, how to promote content through social media and other campaigns, evaluate literary submissions, plan events, and conduct interviews with writers. The work Joe and Kate have done to build the journal, their pedagogy, and outcomes for students are examples of the best things project-based learning can achieve.
Lindsay Davis - Humanities & Arts
With the goal of shifting STEM cultures away from exclusion and toward diversity and inclusion, Professor Lindsay Davis and Professor Rebecca Moody of the Humanities and Arts Department co-founded and co-direct a program in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies (GSWS) at WPI. Using existing but previously disconnected classes in Humanities and Arts and Social Sciences as well as new courses, they created a GSWS minor and a community in which WPI students can explore the socio-political issues of gender, sexuality, and identity.
Rebecca Moody - Humanities & Arts
With the goal of shifting STEM cultures away from exclusion and toward diversity and inclusion, Professor Lindsay Davis and Professor Rebecca Moody of the Humanities and Arts Department co-founded and co-direct a program in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies (GSWS) at WPI. Using existing but previously disconnected classes in Humanities and Arts and Social Sciences as well as new courses, they created a GSWS minor and a community in which WPI students can explore the socio-political issues of gender, sexuality, and identity.
Angela Rodriguez - Social Science & Policy Studies
As a stress researcher, Professor Angela Rodriguez knows that student stress undermines both well-being and learning. In fact, the stress of traditional exams interferes with the very purpose of an exam – to give students an opportunity to demonstrate their learning. With that in mind, Professor Rodriguez has implemented a transformative approach to giving exams using an open-ended, semi-graded, group format that focuses on high-level application and synthesis.
Catherine Whittington, Biomedical Engineering
Professor Whittington’s work to integrate inclusive teaching practices in the biomedical engineering curriculum uses intentional and creative ways to engage students in considering
critical social justice issues relevant to medicine and biomedical engineering. While co-teaching BME 1001, she integrated bioethics and bias in healthcare throughout the
course rather than in a single unit. She enhanced course content with more focused materials, discussions, examples, and assessments. By bringing healthcare and social
justice to the forefront in introductory biomedical engineering, she broadens students’ learning and prepares them to be innovators and changemakers.
Ahmet Can Sabuncu, Mechanical Engineering
Professor Ahmet Can Sabuncu's role in the collaborative design of a project-based engineering experimentation course and his study of its educational efficacy, emphasizes accessibility
and skills for the future of work by turning away from high-end equipment in favor of low-cost experimental materials that are widely available to any student in any location. Through skillfully sequenced modules with a gradual increase in cognitive complexity, students learn the necessities of careful measurements and analyses as they utilize sensors for temperature, strain, pressure, vibrations, and motor-control.