Stevens' CIESE Center Awarded Prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring

I first became involved with CIESE when I was a high school science teacher at Hoboken High School in the late 1980's and early 1990's. At that time, the center was under the direction of Dr. Ed Friedman. I had many wonderful interactions with professors and undergraduate students at Stevens including Professor Roger Pinkham and then undergraduate student Alice Yuen. Now, under the direction of my colleague Beth McGrath, CIESE continues to be a leader nationally in in-sevice teacher education in STEM related fields. This recognition is well deserved and recognizes over 2 decades of professional service at both the local and national levels for Stevens Institute of Technology. -Dr. Petrosino

The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) at Stevens was named a 2011 recipient of the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring given annually by the White House. The 11 individuals and 4 organizations to receive the awards this year were announced today by President Barack Obama.

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) program seeks to identify outstanding mentoring efforts that enhance the participation of groups that are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The awardees serve as leaders in the national effort to develop fully the Nation's human resources in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM), awarded by the White House each year to individuals or organizations, recognize the crucial role that mentoring plays in the academic and personal development of students studying science or engineering—particularly those who belong to groups that are underrepresented in those fields. By offering their expertise and encouragement, mentors help prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers while ensuring that tomorrow’s innovators reflect the full diversity of the United States.

Candidates for the presidential mentoring award are nominated by colleagues, administrators and students from their home institutions. The mentoring can involve students at any grade level from elementary through graduate school.

Official White House Press Release: Click HERE

Official Stevens Institute of Technology Press Release: Click HERE

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

January 21, 2011

President Honors Outstanding Science, Math, Engineering Mentors

President Obama today named 11 individuals and 4 organizations as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. The mentors will receive their awards at a White House ceremony next week. The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring, awarded by the White House each year to individuals or organizations, recognize the crucial role that mentoring plays in the academic and personal development of students studying science or engineering—particularly those who belong to groups that are underrepresented in those fields. By offering their expertise and encouragement, mentors help prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers while ensuring that tomorrow’s innovators reflect the full diversity of the United States. Candidates for the Presidential Mentoring Awards are nominated by colleagues, administrators, and students in their home institutions. The mentoring can involve students at any grade level from elementary through graduate school. In addition to being honored at the White House, recipients receive awards of $10,000 to advance their mentoring efforts. “These individuals and organizations have gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that the United States remains on the cutting edge of science and engineering for years to come,” President Obama said. “Their devotion to the educational enrichment and personal growth of their students is remarkable, and these awards represent just a small token of our enormous gratitude.” The individuals and organizations receiving the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring this year are: · Richard L. Cardenas, St. Mary’s University, TX

· Anthony Carpi, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, NY

· Isaac J. Crumbly, Fort Valley State University, GA

· Jo Handelsman, Yale University, CT

· Douglass L. Henderson, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI

· Bruce A. Jackson, Massachusetts Bay Community College, MA

· Marigold L. Linton, University of Kansas, KS

· Maja J. Matarić, University of Southern California, CA

· Gerard F. R. Parkin, Columbia University, NY

· Julio J. Ramirez, Davidson College, NC

· Michelle A. Williams, University of Washington, WA

· Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology, NJ

· Baccalaureate and Beyond Community College Mentoring Program, State University of New York, Purchase College, NY

· Grinnell Science Project, Grinnell College, IA

· Women in Science and Engineering Mentoring Initiatives, Center for Research on Women and Gender, University of Illinois-Chicago, IL