The College of Engineering and Computing honored outstanding faculty and staff at its annual awards ceremony on April 1, 2025, at the Center for the Arts. Individuals were honored for their excellent contributions to teaching, research, and service.
The categories and recipients are listed below.
EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
The outstanding teaching awards acknowledge excellence in teaching quality, innovations in course development, distance learning, student project guidance, course coordination, mentoring, and graduate student supervision.
Shima Mohebbi, assistant professor from the Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research, was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award for her cross-disciplinary curriculum development, creative translation of research into educational materials via interactive games, her mentorship of students, and strong teaching in courses at all levels.
Ioulia Rytikova, professor from the Department of Information Sciences and Technology, was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award for her ongoing commitment to teaching excellence, innovation, and the success of her students. Professor Rytikova combines effective teaching methods, strong mentorship, and dedication to continuous improvement to leave a lasting positive impact on every student she works with.
EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH
The outstanding research awards recognize those faculty members who have an exceptional impact in their area of research, including high-impact publications, invited articles of particular merit, significant invited lectures, and an exceptional record of graduating PhD students.
Juan Cebral, professor from the Department of Bioengineering, was awarded the Excellence in Research Award for combining a unique multidisciplinary background and expertise that has made significant contributions to several research fields most notably the study of brain aneurysms. He is a prolific writer authoring more than 250 publications a prodigious collaborator, and an outstanding mentor to PhD students.
Xuesu Xiao, assistant professor from the Department of Computer Science, was awarded the Excellence in Research Award for his impressive record of funding, publications, and research student supervision, as well as his extensive outreach and public relations activities that are bringing great esteem and visibility to the university’s efforts in robotics research.
OUTSTANDING STAFF AWARDS
The outstanding staff awards acknowledge exceptional, committed service and dedication to the College of Engineering and Computing faculty, staff, and students.
Michele Pieper, from the Department of Computer Science, was awarded the Outstanding Staff Award for playing a critical role in maintaining the high level of quality in all department activities and in shepherding the department through its recent period of significant growth. Her breadth of expertise and substantial institutional knowledge about the university, college, and department make her an irreplaceable employee.
Claudia Borke, from the Department of Bioengineering, was awarded the Outstanding Staff Award for her commitment to excellence and for helping create a dynamic, engaging work and learning environment for our community. She is a reliable and knowledgeable academic advisor and team player, who always serves in the best interests of the students, and goes beyond her responsibilities to help others.
EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE
The outstanding service awards honor those faculty members who serve their departments and the college through extensive outreach and economic development activities, service to their profession, advising student organizations, and administrative work beyond the call of duty.
Viviana Maggioni, associate professor from the Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering, was awarded the Excellence in Service Award for her dedication, innovation, and leadership, and extraordinary performance in service and outreach over the past two years. These efforts significantly impacted the academic community and enhanced George Mason's reputation.
Mark Snyder, professor from the Department of Computer Science, was awarded the Excellence in Service Award for carrying out and performing a large array of leadership responsibilities with the utmost excellence, professionalism, and integrity. He has been an outstanding leader for both the department’s vibrant undergraduate programs and its exceptional group of term instructional faculty.
John Stufken, professor from the Department of Statistics, was awarded the Excellence in Service Award for his outstanding contributions in enhancing the department's visibility through his reputation and work. His professional and departmental service and leadership have been exemplary and inspiring. His dedication and proactive involvement have set a high standard for leadership and service, making a lasting impact on the academic community.
OUTSTANDING ADJUNCT ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
The Outstanding Adjunct Assistant Professor Award recognizes adjunct professors who have achieved a level of excellence in teaching that is well above the norm.
Matthew Doyle from the Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering was awarded the Outstanding Adjunct Assistant Professor Award for unwavering dedication to student learning and community impact. His steadfast support and commitment to Engineers for International Development (EfID) make him a truly deserving candidate for this recognition. He is a superb role model for our students.
Marty Rothwell from the Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research was awarded the Outstanding Adjunct Assistant Professor Award for innovative curriculum development, quality instruction, and consistent student support for many years. His introductory courses receive high praise year over year and many SEOR students say the course is what drew them to the field.
OUTSTANDING TERM ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
The Outstanding Term Assistant Professor Award recognizes term assistant professors who in their first five years as a Mason faculty member have achieved a level of excellence in teaching and service that is well above the norm.
Kevin Andrea from the Department of Computer Science was awarded the Outstanding Term Assistant Professor Award for his selfless, meticulous, unerringly kind demeanor and tireless efforts to lift up his colleagues and inspire his students. He is on campus nearly every day, improving his courses or building new ones, animatedly advising students and providing guidance and support.
Isuru Dassanayke from the Department of Statistics was awarded the Outstanding Term Assistant Professor Award for his deep commitment to fostering student success, advancing research in statistics and data science applications, actively contributing to the academic community through meaningful service, and his unwavering commitment to fostering a rigorous and engaging learning environment.
OUTSTANDING TENURE TRACK FACULTY
The Outstanding Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Award recognizes tenure-track assistant professors who in their first five years as a Mason faculty member have achieved a level of excellence in teaching and research that is well above the norm, with a solid level of service to their department and profession.
Professor Weiwen Jiang from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is awarded the Outstanding Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Award for exceptional achievements, leadership, and contributions to the fields of quantum computing, design automation, and quantum machine learning. His work has not only advanced quantum computing as an academic discipline and future technology but has also positively impacted the research culture at George Mason University through his active involvement in the QSEC.
Jeffery Moran from the Department of Mechanical Engineering was awarded the Outstanding Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Award for nurturing a diverse research portfolio, most notably in the area of microscale active matter systems (also known as “artificial microswimmers,” “active colloids,” or “micromotors”) for applications that benefit humanity. He has actively fostered a productive writing environment on campus and assumed a significant leadership role, mentoring graduate students as Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.