Chair & Professor
Dear faculty, students, alumni and friends,
It’s been a busy spring, and I’m pleased to share with you some of the accomplishments from our students and faculty.
First, some truly exciting news: Please join me in congratulating Curtis Taylor, Ph.D., for being one of only 230 people named as a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors this year. This remarkable achievement is a testament to his innovation and impact.
We are equally proud of Lilianny Virgüez, Ph.D., whose course, EEL 3003: Elements of Electrical Engineering, received the UF Quality Online Exemplary Course designation for 2026–2031, earning a perfect score in meeting all standards. Please join me in congratulating Lily on this stellar accomplishment.
In this issue, we catch up with Amanpreet Kapoor, Ph.D., who received the 2025-2026 Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Undergraduate Teacher of the Year Award and the University of Florida 2026 Division Three Superior Accomplishment Award. His dedication to teaching excellence truly shines.
Aime Baisley, Ph.D., has been doing some interesting research on student assessments and implementing changes to better serve students. You can read about her work in this issue.
Students taking our courses continue to impress as well. Edward Kempa is getting two double majors, including his bachelor’s degree in computer science, and he plans to pursue his doctorate in computer science, too. All this while presenting posters every chance he gets.
Electrical engineering student Rikki DeOreo has been hired as the EEd MATLAB Student Ambassador, where she helps fellow students with MathWorks software. And she is starting the MATLAB Student Club! Her leadership and initiative are making a real difference.
The IPPD program has been going strong for 31 years, with students designing game-changing products for industry and beyond. This talented group tackles real-world challenges, and I believe you’ll find their story both inspiring and enlightening.
I also recently returned from an impactful trip to London, where I participated in the Fulbright Scholarship Specialist Program and was honored with the Richard Felder Engineering Educator Award. I’m excited to share more details about this experience in the newsletter.
Finally, I want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who supported Giving Day. Your generosity directly benefits our students and faculty, and we are deeply grateful.
EEd is off to a fantastic start in 2026, with more great stories to come this year. In the meantime, I invite you to follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Thank you for your continued time, energy, and support.
Professor Idalis Villanueva Alarcón
Chair, Department of Engineering Education