Teaching awards honor excellence within and beyond the classroom

Photo of Kyle Hiers and Gabriel Mantegna

Engineering students recognized outstanding educators at the annual Teaching Awards ceremony. Here, sophomore Kyle Hiers, left, presents an award to Gabriel Mantegna, a graduate student in mechanical and aerospace engineering. Photos by Tori Repp/Fotobuddy

Engineering students recognized the passion and dedication of faculty members and graduate teaching assistants on April 4 at the annual School of Engineering and Applied Science Excellence in Teaching Awards. Organized by the Engineering Council, the awards recognized outstanding instructors in courses held during the spring semester 2023-24 and the fall semester 2024-25.

Woman speaking at podium. — Princeton Engineering Dean Andrea Goldsmith addresses students, award recipients and guests gathered at the Friend Center.

Student presenters expressed gratitude to instructors for creating positive learning environments and for encouraging students’ ideas and endeavors — in some cases influencing students’ career goals well beyond the classroom.

Senior Emma Limor praised Chris Greig, a senior research scientist and lecturer at Princeton’s Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, for his depth of knowledge, “unwavering openness” to new ideas, and commitment to enriching his teaching by inviting industry leaders and guest lecturers to the course “Rapid Switch: The Transition Challenge to Low-carbon Energy.”

In addition, Limor said, Greig “gave me the encouragement to pursue a career building large-scale environmental projects. Your class will stand in my memory as a life-changing pivot point for my career trajectory … learning from you has been an incredible honor.”

First-year student Christal Chen said that her academic adviser, Ruth Fong, a lecturer in computer science, was pivotal in helping Chen “manage the chaos” of her first few weeks at Princeton.

Photo of Christal Chen and Ruth Fong. — First-year student Christal Chen, left, presented an award to Ruth Fong, a lecturer in computer science.

And as an instructor in the introductory course COS 126, “[Fong’s] precept was one of the most interactive and engaging ones I’ve been in, because she intentionally created an environment where we not only can learn effectively but also get to know our classmates better,” said Chen. “Her attention to detail, kindness, and genuine care for her students make her an outstanding professor and adviser.”

Sophomore Kyle Hiers presented an award to Gabriel Mantegna, a graduate student in mechanical and aerospace engineering, for his role as a teaching assistant in the course “Applied Optimization for Energy Systems Engineering” — as well as for his engagement with students beyond the classroom.

“Outside of class, Gabe clearly wanted all of us to succeed in our own goals, too,” said Hiers. “He even pointed me toward the company I’ll be working for this summer, which I never would have known about otherwise. It never felt like he was just doing a job — he really cares about his students as people.”