Rajendra Singh Named ASEE's 2013 Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Educator
Mechanical Engineering Professor Rajendra Singh has been named the recipient of the 2013 Ralph Coats Roe Award by the Mechanical Engineering Division of the American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE). The award recognizes a mechanical engineering educator who is an outstanding teacher and has made a notable contribution to the profession. Formal presentation of the coveted award will take place during the ASEE Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, June 23-26. Professor Singh will also give a 30 minute talk on his pedagogical approaches and experience at the conference.
Recognized by many of his peers as an eminent educator in machine dynamics and noise and vibration control, the nomination for his award was supported by nine fellow academics from eight different universities in the United States, several of whom are themselves past recipients of the Ralph Coats Award. In particular, one noted professor stated, "Dr. Singh is the consummate classroom educator. He is constantly exploring and implementing more effective teaching methods. As a result of his industry based research program he exposes his students to a wide range of pragmatic problems and asks them to design and develop solutions. Furthermore, his practical classroom teaching approach is constantly evolving and forward looking as evident by his reliance on the National Academy of Engineering principles to provide the underpinnings of his course content."
The citation submitted with his award nomination reads, "Professor Rajendra Singh thrives in a present-day academic role, yet is also able to meet significant learning needs of engineers who often are far off campus. His pioneering contributions include developing a case-study, team-project approach for distance learning and global education, establishing an NSF (National Science Foundation) center devoted to smart vehicle concepts, launching an innovative senior-level capstone laboratory, and creating a unique undergraduate honors program. He has effectively disseminated engineering knowledge at the intersection of dynamics, vibrations, and machine design by publishing widely, organizing technical conferences, and mentoring students. He also has provided exemplary leadership in professional societies."
During the course of his academic career, Singh has been advisor to 38 PhD candidates, 70 students receiving master's degrees and 44 undergraduate honors students. He is currently advising or supervising seven PhD candidates, three master's students, one research scientist and two visiting research scholars. He holds the Donald D. Glower Chair in Engineering in the College of Engineering at Ohio State and is the Director of the NSF-funded I/UCRC Smart Vehicle Concepts Center and Director of the Acoustics & Dynamics Laboratory at Ohio State. Singh has been elected to the rank of Fellow in the Acoustical Society of America, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Society of Automotive Engineers, and Institute of Noise Control Engineering/USA. He has published more than 400 papers, including 192 journal articles and nine edited books or special journal issues. He has received the Outstanding Distance Learning Faculty Award from General Motors, the ASEE Westinghouse Award for “Distinguished Contributions to Teaching”, the Institute of Noise Control Engineering Award for Excellence in Teaching, seven faculty research awards from Ohio State's College of Engineering, and Ohio State's Harrison Faculty Award for Excellence in Engineering Education.
In the past twenty years, three additional recipients of the ASEE Ralph Coats Roe Award have been selected from within the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Ohio State, including Professors Gary Kinzel, Lawrence Kennedy (former department chair), and Michael Moran.
For more information about the award, please visit the ASEE web site.
