Four Swanson School Faculty Receive Chancellor’s Distinguished Awards
University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Joan Gabel will honor four Swanson School of Engineering faculty with the 2025 Chancellor’s Distinguished Award for “outstanding individuals whose scholarly commitments and contributions in research, teaching, or public service have advanced the Pitt community or their respective fields.”
“On behalf of the Swanson School community, we are excited that Chancellor Gabel is recognizing these exemplary faculty,” said Michele V. Manuel, U. S. Steel Dean of Engineering. “Each is passionate to transform student and community engagement at the Swanson School and creating greater impact across the university and the communities we serve.”
This year’s awards will be presented at the Faculty Honors Convocation, Thursday, April 3. Each award includes a cash prize of $2,000 and a $3,000 grant to support the faculty member’s teaching and public service activities.
Distinguished Teaching Award
Matthew Barry, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
For the transformation of mechanical engineering and materials science courses, including the development of “Statics and Mechanics of Materials: An Example-Based Approach," a Top Hat interactive textbook.
Distinguished Teaching Award
Robert Parker, Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering and Associate Dean for Graduate Education
For his role as co-PI in developing "Pillars of Chemical Engineering," a Department-Level Reform of Undergraduate Engineering Education funded by the National Science Foundation, "drafting" the innovative and widely popular Engineering a Craft Brewery course.
Distinguished Public Service Award
Harvey Borovetz, Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering
For helping to establish an infrastructure for teaching biomedical engineering at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; and for personally providing nearly 20 years of teaching, training and mentoring to students in NC A&T's biomedical engineering program, including through leading NC A&T's Bioengineering Advisory Board.
Distinguished Public Service Award
David V.P. Sanchez, Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Associate Director, Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation
For collaborating with local organizations in Beaver County, Homewood, Uniontown, Fayette and elsewhere to develop programs that help to increase community sustainability; focusing research on sustainable design for critical water and agriculture systems and adapting the findings to benefit local and international communities; and creating educational initiatives such as Teach the Teacher workshops which empower educators to incorporate sustainability concepts in their classrooms.
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