Watson College Recognition Awards

the Watson Awards

Since 2017, the Watson College Recognition Awards have honor excellence among faculty and staff.

Nominations are taken from department chairs, faculty and staff in Watson College, and a committee reviews the nomination dossiers. The awards are generally given during a spring meeting of all faculty and staff.

2016-17

  • Outstanding Faculty Service: Eileen Head (Computer Science)
  • Early Stage Distinguished Research: Zhanpeng Jin (formerly Electrical and Computer Engineering)
  • Outstanding Research Achievement: Kartik Gopalan (Computer Science)
  • Outstanding Staff Service: Erin Hornbeck (Systems Science and Industrial Engineering)
  • Distinguished Educator: Dmitry Ponomarev (Computer Science)
  • Distinguished Alumni: Sandeep Tonapi, MS ‘98, PhD ‘01, Founder and CEO at Anveshak Technology and Knowledge Solutions (SSIE department)

2017-18

  • Early Stage Distinguished Research: Guy German (Biomedical Engineering)
  • Distinguished Educator: Amber Doiron (formerly Biomedical Engineering)
  • Outstanding Staff Service: Lucy Pompeii (Computer Science – retired)
  • Distinguished Alumni: Ken Goldblatt ‘87, CIO and portfolio manager at S Squared Technology (computer science alum)

2018-19

  • Outstanding Faculty Service: Sha Jin (Biomedical Engineering)
  • Outstanding Staff Service: April St. John (Computer Science)
  • Outstanding Research Achievement: Yu “David” Liu (Computer Science)
  • Early Stage Distinguished Research: Yao Liu (Computer Science)
  • Distinguished Alumni: Jim Bankoski ‘91, Distinguished Engineer, Google (computer science alum)

2019-20

  • Early Stage Distinguished Research: Xin Yong (assistant professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering)
  • Outstanding Faculty Service: Dmitry Ponomarev (professor, School of Computing)
  • Outstanding Staff Service: Trisha Gana (senior assistant to the chair for the Department of Biomedical Engineering) and Elizabeth Kucharek (senior assistant to the chair for the Department of Mechanical Engineering)
  • Distinguished Educator: Sangwon Yoon (associate professor, School of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering)

2020-21

  • Early Stage Distinguished Research: Aravind Prakash (assistant professor,  School of Computing)
  • Distinguished Educator: Ammar Abdo (lecturer, Department of Biomedical Engineering( and Kirill Zaychik (lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering)
  • Outstanding Faculty Service: Hiroki Sayama (professor, School of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering)
  • Outstanding Staff Service: Tara Brentari (graduate administrative assistant, School of Computing)

2021-22

  • Early Stage Distinguished Research: Yuan Wan (assistant professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering)
  • Outstanding Faculty Service: Professor Kartik Gopalan (professor, School of Computing)
  • Outstanding Staff Service: Dave Richner (instructional support technician)
  • Distinguished Alumni: Ruofei "Bruce" Zhang (vice president and distinguished engineer, Microsoft Corp.)

2022-23

  • Early Stage Distinguished Research: Jeremy Blackburn (Computer Science), Ahyeon Koh (Biomedical Engineering), Bing Si (Systems Science and Industrial Engineering)
  • Distinguished Educator: Tracy Hookway (Biomedical Engineering)
  • Outstanding Faculty Service: Guy German (Biomedical Engineering)
  • Outstanding Staff Service: Kathy Feczko (Biomedical Engineering)
  • Distinguished Alumni: Joseph Kolly ‘88;  Joseph Mari ‘05, MS ‘07