School of Engineering Founding Dean Dr. Jenna Carpenter was among the 2022 recipients of the National Academy of Engineering’s Bernard M. Gordon Prize on May 6 at a gala held on the campus of the University of Southern California.
Hosted by the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, the gala honored Carpenter; Dr. Yannis Yortsos, dean of engineering at USC; Dr. Rick Miller, president emeritus of Olin College; and Dr. Tom Katsouleas, professor of electrical and computer engineering and computer science at the University of Connecticut. The prize is given to educators “for creating an innovative education program that prepares students to become future engineering leaders who will address the NAE Grand Challenges of Engineering.”
“It is such an honor to be recognized with the Gordon Prize for our work on the Grand Challenges Scholars Program,” Carpenter said. “We are all passionate about the program and its ability to communicate to a diverse array of students how a career in engineering makes a difference in the world. I am particularly proud of the fact that the program has attracted a far larger percentage of women than does engineering in general.”
Carpenter, currently the president-elect of the American Society for Engineering Education, will take over as president in June.
The event featured remarks by National Academy of Engineering President John Anderson on the history and importance of the Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education. Yortsos gave an overview of the history of the Grand Challenges Scholars Program, and Katsouleas gave the acceptance speech on behalf of the awardees. Each recipient received a medallion and a certificate.
The Gordon Prize is presented annually, and each recipient receives a $500,000 cash award, half granted to the recipient and the remainder granted to the recipient’s institution to support the continued development, refinement and dissemination of the recognized innovation.
The intent of the donor, Bernard Gordon, in endowing this prize was to enhance U.S. engineering leadership, to foster the development of engineering leaders through innovative educational programs developed by U.S. institutions of learning in the U.S., and to increase U.S economic competitiveness.