Award Winner Recognition

Award of Distinction

Gonzalo Mendoza 

Gonzalo Mendoza serves as Director of Engineering at Textron Aviation, Inc, maker of Cessna and Beechcraft airplanes.

Since graduating in 1998, Gonzalo has held multiple positions with Textron Aviation in the areas of Aerosciences, Structural Dynamics, Acoustics, and Advanced Design and Technology. He participated in the development of over a dozen new models and derivatives, and received several company awards for leading successful teams in the development of novel flight control concepts, advanced cabin acoustics solutions, and addressed complex regulatory requirements.
 
Gonzalo serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at SJSU, teaching graduate and undergraduate Aircraft Design courses over the last 12 years.
 
Gonzalo currently serves as Chairperson of the Aerospace Flutter and Dynamics Council and is a member of the SJSU Aerospace Engineering Advisory Board.  His other industry engagements include active participation as company representative and subject matter expert in rulemaking committees for flight control systems, flight testing, and environmental standards.
 
Gonzalo holds degrees in Aerospace Engineering from San José State University and Wichita State University and is an active instrument rated pilot.

The Newnan Brothers Award for Faculty Excellence

Katy Kao, Chemical & Materials Engineering

Katy Kao is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at SJSU. Prior to joining SJSU in 2019, she was an Associate Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on understanding microbial adaptation to develop strains for applications in biomanufacturing and stress tolerance in human fungal pathogens. She was awarded the National Research Service Award by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the TEES Young Select Faculty, and several teaching awards, including the Fluor Distinguished Teaching Award and the Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award for teaching. She moved to SJSU to be closer to family and friends, and because it is located in the Bay Area, which is a major biotechnology hub. Outside of the college, she enjoys being involved in her professional community by serving as reviewer and organizer. Her hobbies include hiking and photography. And one of her favorite things to do is camping in State Parks and National Forests. Something unique about her is that she recently became an active member of the Bay Area LEGO User Group and displayed her LEGO creations in Christmas In the Park and at the American Heritage Museum.  

Dean's Service Award

Ossie Rashel, Systems Analyst, Faculty, College of Engineering

Many years ago, my uncle gave me a small FM radio kit as my birthday gift. I was in middle school, but when I successfully put the radio together and heard a sound, I knew what I would like to study and pursue as a career. Afterward, I chose to study Electronics in a technical high school, and then completed an Internet Technology IT program at Foothill College in 1995. Starting as an IT specialist, it became evident that one should simultaneously study and practice in the field to be an efficient IT solution provider. Subsequently, in 1998, I joined the SJSU College of Engineering as an IT staff while studying Computer and Network Technology programs. Since academia was always my passion, I began teaching computer network courses at the National Hispanic University (NHU) and at the College of Engineering at SJSU. My goal is to train students and help them develop technical skills and perspectives so they eventually qualify for thousands of vacant IT jobs. I believe in the saying: “Students hold the key to creating a better future”.

Dean's Service Award

Babatunde Onadele Jr., COREBuilders

Babatunde (Tunde) Onadele, Jr. is a Bay Area native of Nigerian descent whose joy in life comes from making memories with his wife and children. He graduated from San José State University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Construction Management. As a student, he served as Chapter President of the Black Alliance of Scientists and Engineers (BASE), Regional Chair for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and was actively involved in the
Minority Engineering Program (MEP).

After graduating he continued to work closely with SJSU engineering students through career fairs, mock interviews, career advice, resume critiques, and making connections through networking. He also serves on the board of the African American Community Service Agency (AACSA).

For Tunde, it is an honor and a privilege to win the Dean’s Service Award from SJSU’s College of Engineering.

Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching

Mahima Agumbe Suresh, Computer Engineering 

Mahima Agumbe Suresh is an Assistant Professor at San Jose State University. Part of her name, Agumbe, is the name of a beautiful hill station in India. SJSU, being at the heart of Silicon Valley, aligned well with her teaching philosophy and research goals. The diverse student population and SJSU’s commitment to student success attracted her to the University. Since joining SJSU, she has incorporated novel pedagogical practices, including specifications grading and active learning. Outside college, she likes to spend time with her family and travel. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University in December 2015 following which, she was a postdoctoral researcher at Xerox Research Labs, India. Her research interests include edge computing, machine learning, modeling and system design for cyber-physical systems and the Internet of Things. She is also interested in learning about equity and inclusion in the classroom.

Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship

Özgür Keleş, Chemical and Materials Engineering

Dr. Keles received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at Middle East Technical University, and his Ph.D. from the School of Materials Engineering from Purdue University. He joined SJSU after a two-year postdoc at Illinois Institute of Technology because he liked the teacher-scholar approach in the college. His current research interests are artificially intelligent automatic discovery of nanocomposites, multi-scale additive manufacturing, informatics, and engineering education, funded through NSF CAREER, NSF MRI, National Endowment for the Arts, and industrial partners. He is also a photographer and digital artist who uses aesthetically appealing images and computer visualizations to aid student learning and foster creativity in engineering students. His work at the intersection of engineering, education, and arts was highlighted in the Member Journal of TMS. Dr. Keles shoots for automatic conversion of local raw materials and polymer waste towards consumer products, such as shoes, toys, or tools to cover basic human needs without any cost.

Faculty Award for Excellence in Service

Fatemeh Davoudi, Aviation and Technology

Dr. Fatemeh Davoudi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Technology at San José State University. She teaches research methods in engineering and technology, design of experiment, quality control and continuous improvement through lean six sigma, and coordinates graduate academic advising for the department. Her research interests lie in applied machine learning and predictive modeling of industrial systems, quality management and lean manufacturing, and statistical modeling of industrial occupational incidents for improving safety outcomes and informed decision-making in industrial environments. She leads the Machine Learning & Safety Analytics Lab at the Department of Technology, and supervises graduate students in various projects on machine learning in autonomous systems, artificial intelligence in quality improvement of industrial processes, and applied machine learning in improving transportation safety.

Award for Outstanding Lecturer

Wendy Hales Mora, Aviation and Technology   

Wendy's lifelong love of aviation started as a simple but self-assured statement to her father when she was four years old, "Well then, I'm going to be a Pilot!"

With over 30+ years of aviation industry experience, 20+ years as an airline pilot.  Wendy's passion is mentoring and inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals.  Working with several nationally recognized aviation youth outreach programs and recruitment teams, she believes in the power of connection, showing up, and supporting people as they strive to reach their big dreams.   

Most recently, she has had the honor and privilege to return to her alma mater SJSU as an Aviation and Technology Lecturer, allowing her to give back to the community that made her childhood dream of being an airline pilot come true.

Staff Award for Excellence in Service

Adriana Daudt, Aerospace Engineering

My name is Adriana Daudt, and I am privileged to be a part of the SJSU family. I joined SJSU, namely the Aerospace Engineering Department, in January of 2020, seeking an opportunity in academia, while yearning to be surrounded by an environment thirsting for knowledge. Having been in the corporate world since 1987, I was eager to enhance my career from an academic vantage point, which has stimulated me, and for which I have developed a great admiration. On my leisure time, I love to travel, and am an avid reader. Learning about other cultures and history absolutely fascinate me. I love airplanes and flying, but you may find it surprising, that in the event of turbulence, the only thing that floods my mind and causes me utter terror, is the remote possibility of crashing into the ocean and dealing with sharks! I am currently fixated on the state of our world, and the oftentimes, lack of humanity and compassion therein. I pray for a better world – one in which our children can live without violence and indifference, and one in which we can all smile with the innocence of laughter.

The Scott T. Axline Memorial Student Award for Excellence in Service

Tyler James Erwin, Mechanical Engineering

I am the Vice President of our University's American Society of Mechanical Engineers club and the chief engineer of this year's ASME electric-Human Powered Vehicle Challenge submission. I'm a fourth year Mechanical Engineering major with a minor in Robotics.

I decided to join SJSU after attending Admitted Spartan Day in 2019 and visiting the Central Machine Shop. I'm a big 3D printing fan, so the Makerspace's Formlabs printer that was showed at the event had me set my eyes on SJSU if I had access to that level of machinery.

Outside of school, I like to prototype and make cool small projects in my spare time. I have a 3D printer at home so I enjoy making small mechatronics projects and maker projects.

Additionally, one thing I think people would find interesting about me is that I'm a baseball hat collector! I've grown up a baseball fan my whole life, so naturally I like to collect rare baseball hats that are hard to find. 
One of the core research aspects I'm currently fixated on are the applications of 3D printing in zero gravity as the means for colonization in space.

The Donald Beall Student Award for Engineering Accomplishment

MiaoMiao Dong, Industrial and Systems Engineering

I'm Mia Dong, a second-year graduate student studying Human Factors and Ergonomics. I chose SJSU for its excellent reputation in engineering programs and its diverse community. The university's commitment to providing a hands-on learning experience has enabled me to develop practical skills to apply to real-world problems. I enjoy reading, hiking, and exploring coffee shops around the city in my free time. One unique thing about me is that I studied Art Education before pursuing my current field, and I'm pretty good at drawing and painting. I'm now fixated on learning more about human-automation interaction and UX research. As technology continues to shape our world, designing user-friendly and intuitive products is essential for creating a better world. This intersection of human behavior and technology fascinates me, and I'm excited to explore more about it as I continue my studies. Ultimately, I want to use my skills and knowledge to positively impact people's lives and help create a better, more sustainable future...