Sam Wojda and Eleni Christofa Named Recipients of the 2024 College of Engineering Outstanding Teaching Award

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Sam Wojda, lecturer in biomedical engineering (BME), and Eleni Christofa, associate professor in civil and environmental engineering (CEE), have been announced as recipients of the 2024 College of Engineering College Outstanding Teaching Award (COTA), which recognizes excellence in teaching by honoring individual faculty members at each of the university’s colleges for their instructional accomplishments.

Administered jointly by the Center for Teaching and Learning and the individual colleges, COTAs are presented annually during the spring semester with each awardee receiving a $1,000 prize and a commemorative plaque. Candidates for the 2024 award were selected based on faculty nominations and student feedback.

“Wojda is a role model of teaching innovation and dedication in the BME department,” says Sanjay Raman, dean of the College of the Engineering. “She has been instrumental in shaping the department since its inception, developing and teaching several core and elective courses with a focus on real-world application and student success. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and a commitment to lifelong learning, traits that are vividly reflected in her course designs and teaching methods, particularly within the BME 414 and 415 Senior Design courses she leads.”

Wojda has also significantly contributed to the BME program’s curriculum development and initial ABET accreditation, ensuring the curriculum’s alignment with ABET standards and relevance to current industry and academic demands, Raman added.

Raman complimented Christofa as “a trailblazing educator and passionate advocate for sustainability curriculum development within CEE. In her courses, she creates an inclusive environment where students feel empowered to take risks and explore with an open mind.”

In her Transportation Sustainability course, Christofa expanded access to the material by adopting a hybrid classroom and simultaneously engaging students in both modes through interactive sessions. Propelled by her research expertise, she also developed a curriculum on pedestrians and bicycles within CEE.

“Christofa has made an indelible impact on her students in her role as faculty advisor for the [UMass Amherst chapter of the] Women’s Transportation Seminar and Joint Student Transportation Organization,” Raman says. “Students cite her active involvement in both as being instrumental in establishing the inclusive environment in both organizations.”

The full announcement of the College of Engineering COTAs can be found here. For more information about the COTAs and a list of previous recipients, visit the Center for Teaching and Learning grants and awards website.