Seven faculty members in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences received awards on May 10 at a dinner held in their honor and attended by their families, colleagues and top college officials.
The award winners were: Molly Kennedy, Sez Atamturktur, Garrett Pataky, Amy Apon, Ronnie Chowdhury, John DesJardins and Simona Onori.
Seven outstanding faculty members received college awards and then posed for a photo with Dean Anand Gramopadhye. Those pictured are (from left): Garrett Pataky, Molly Kennedy, Simona Onori, John DesJardins, Sez Atamturktur, Gramopadhye, Amy Apon and Ronnie Chowdhury.
The college faculty awards reflect Clemson University’s tradition of excellence in teaching and research. They also honor those who have made or are making extraordinary contributions to improving students’ Clemson experience.
Here’s more about Dr. Pataky:
Dr. Pataky joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering as an assistant professor in the fall of 2015. His expertise in solid mechanics made him a natural fit for the sophomore level course ME2040 – Mechanics of Materials.
Over three semesters, student evaluations have generated an average overall teaching effectiveness score of 4.81, which is among the highest scores in mechanical engineering.
He believes that fundamental learning is strengthened with application so he has established two Creative Inquiry courses to introduce undergraduate students to research. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are engaged in both projects, with many of these students having taken Mechanics of Materials from him.
The desire of these students to seek further instruction from Pataky showcases the enthusiasm he brings and spreads through his teaching.
In addition to his own projects, he also supports other organizations that offer hands-on, out-of-classroom learning experiences. For example, he has been instrumental in helping Clemson’s Formula SAE team move from steel to carbon fiber suspension members.
His passion for the subjects that he teaches and his commitment to his students often translate into extending office hours or meeting students outside assigned times.
One of his students quoted William Arthur Ward who said, “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
