Two CEE Faculty recognized with awards
Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Doctoral Students
Dr. Zhihui Sun
Dr. Zhihui Sun is the 2019 recipient of the UofL Outstanding Mentor of Doctoral Students. This award honors one-on-one mentoring of a doctoral student through direction of a dissertation, supervision of a student’s lab research, or oversight of a student’s internship or final professional paper.
Dr. Sun joined the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department in 2005 as a tenure-track assistant professor. She got her Ph.D. degree from Northwestern University. Letters of nomination from current and previous students highlight her emphasis on research and ability to train students to become independent researchers while showing respect for her trainees. Some comments include, “She is more than a mentor; she is an inspiration and friend,” and “She is a very responsible mentor who not only imparts knowledge, but also teaches me how to be a good researcher, with great enthusiasm and patience.”
Her students are highly productive, evidenced by multiple journal papers with which Dr. Sun co-authored. With her experience as a Director of Graduate Studies, and her current position as the department chair, Dr. Sun has a strong commitment to serve our graduate student population with research mentoring and career development advising.
Institution Faculty/Staff of the Month Award
Dr. Mark French
Dr. Mark French is selected as the campus winner for Institution Faculty/Staff of the Month for the month of October. His outstanding contribution to UofL campus is widely recognized by his students. “Of all the professors I have had at the University of Louisville, there is no one more deserving of recognition than Dr. Mark French,” said one CEE senior.
Dr. French teaches multiple subjects of Civil Engineering, and also serves as the faculty advisor for the student organization American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). “There are not enough words to say about Dr. French that can give justice to the impact he has had not only on current students, but also on my own personal life,” said the student. “His impact is felt beyond any subject he teaches. He genuinely cares about his students’ success and it is evident by the extra mile he consistently goes both inside and outside of the classroom,” he said.
Dr. French will receive a certificate commemorating his award from the NRHH Cardinal Chapter. His nomination has been advanced to the regional level, which will be decided on November.