Dr. Steven Little Honored with Chancellor’s Awards
The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine congratulates faculty member Steven Little, PhD, chair of the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, associate professor, and Bicentennial Alumni Faculty Fellow of the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, as a recipient of the 2013 Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award and also previously the recipient of the Chancellor’s Research Award (junior category). Dr. Little is the first Swanson School of Engineering faculty to win in both of these categories. In the Swanson School, Brian Norman, PhD, also was selected to win a 2013 Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award.
Dr. Little’s award citation from Chancellor Nordenberg reads:
It is my pleasure to inform you that you have been selected to receive a 2013 Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award. The very existence of this award underscores the high institutional priority that we assign to our instructional responsibilities. And your individual efforts stand as an inspiring example of excellence in the role of University teacher.
This award also recognizes your impact on the teaching mission of the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, of which you now serve as chair. As one of only 14 individuals nationally to be named a 2012 Camille Dreyfus Teacher Scholar and as a Plenary Speaker at the 2012 Beckman Scholars Symposium, your positive influence on the undergraduate learning experiences of your students is evident. Your excellent student evaluations, including those given in one of the most challenging courses of the chemical engineering major, make clear that your students have greatly benefited from your commitment to teaching. You provide valuable research opportunities in your laboratory for 10 to 15 undergraduate students, and as a result, many of your students win local and national honors for their work. The University is proud to reward your many contributions to excellence in teaching with this award.
On behalf of the University and the many students who have benefited from their interactions with you, let me express deep gratitude for your dedication and hard work. Your outstanding record of teaching accomplishment adds to the distinction of the University of Pittsburgh. Speaking more personally, and as a past recipient of this award, let me extend warm congratulations. Your efforts honor the title of “teacher,” and I am pleased to play a part in recognizing those efforts in this tangible and visible way.
The Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes teaching excellence by members of the University of Pittsburgh’s faculty. Up to five awardees may be chosen annually. Each award consists of a cash prize to the faculty member of $2,000 and a grant of $3,000 to support the faculty member’s teaching activities. All awardees are honored publicly.
Teaching is defined broadly and includes all activities that faculty members engage in to facilitate learning by undergraduate, professional, or graduate students: lecturing; clinical teaching; conducting seminars, tutorials, or recitations; etc.
Any faculty member who has served full-time at the University of Pittsburgh for at least 5 years is eligible, provided that he or she has been active as a teacher. Previous winners are not eligible.
Congratulations, Dr. Little!