MENTORSHIP
In addition to helping the students in my classes learn and grow, I believe it is also my responsibility and duty to help mentor the teaching assistants that I work with. I have been extremely fortunate over the years to have had the opportunity to work with both dedicated and passionate students, and I know that I could not be as successful in my teaching without all of their help and input! Below you'll find testimonials from a number of my former students that I have had the pleasure to work with and mentor.
EMILY WAYSON
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I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to both work with Mike and have him as a professor during my time at the University of Maryland. One characteristic that really sets him apart is the genuine care he has for his students and their growth as individuals. A story that I think really emphasizes this is from one of my first encounters with Mike when I applied for a study abroad course he was co-leading in the fall of my first year at UMD. As a severely underqualified freshman, I did not get into the trip, but Mike remembered my application several months later when I started his Introduction to Engineering class that spring. He came up to me on the first day to thank me for applying, and encouraged me to try again when I had earned more credits. The fact that he took the time to do this even though he had not even known me at the time I applied made me feel as though he truly cared about me and wanted me to have opportunities to develop my interests as an engineer. I ended up applying the next time the course was offered, and was able to go on the trip of a lifetime to Iceland, which has been one of my favorite and formative college memories.
Mike has also impacted my college experience by encouraging me to apply to be an undergraduate teaching fellow. Even though going into college I did not think I would do anything with teaching, this job has become one of my favorite activities outside of class. Getting to work with Mike several times in this role, I have learned a lot about teaching through his enthusiasm and ability to connect with his students. It is clear that he is incredibly passionate about his job, and this attitude inspires his students to learn, take risks, and have fun. It has also made me a better teaching fellow, because it is hard not to try and reciprocate the effort and care that he pours into his class so that his students make the most of their experience and enjoy the learning process. |
KA'LIYAH BURNETT
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Mike is an amazing teacher. His energy is always very high and I really enjoy how he engages with the classroom. Mike was my professor for ENES100 and ENES102 and then I had the opportunity to work with Mike as a teaching fellow for ENES100 for the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters. I have really enjoyed working with Mike because he is very understanding, values students learning, and cares about his students.
One of my favorite memories of Mike from ENES102 was my birthday. Earlier in the semester I had filled out an in class survey and jokingly asked Mike to bake my favorite cookies and bring them to class on my birthday. It goes without saying that I did not expect my college engineering professor to prepare anything, so on my birthday I walked into class and sat down as usual. Because I sat close to the light switch in the room Mike asked me to turn out the lights. I was so clueless as to what was happening, but when I cut out the lights Mike walked over with a wooden make-shift cake with lit candles. The whole class sang happy birthday and Mike made white chip macadamia nut special cookies for everyone in the class! This shows mike really cares about his students and their experience beyond the classroom. My favorite memories from ENES100 are Mike teaching lectures and the energy and enthusiasm he exuded. He is always doing something to keep the students attentive and engaged in the content; whether he is jumping on a table or tries to shoot something in the trash to demonstrate the concepts he is teaching. I appreciated this greatly, as physical demonstration is something that helped me and other students better understand the concepts. Mike also held extra office hours for students to work on their vehicles for this class on weekends, one day coming in on a Saturday for 12 straight hours. I really appreciate Mike devoting time to provide students with extra help! |
Quinn WANDALOWSKI
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Mike’s superpower is his ability to captivate an audience with his energy and enthusiasm. He is able to make the most complex engineering topics relatable, understandable, and even fun. I witnessed these lively lectures first hand when I served as Mike’s undergraduate teaching assistant for ENES100 during the fall 2019 semester.
After working alongside Mike for the semester I can attest to his passion for the course and his dedication to his students, both inside and outside of the classroom. ENES100 is many students’ first experience with real-world engineering. Mike ensures that this course is a transformative experience for his students and that they leave feeling both challenged and accomplished. He is invigorated by the chance to help students tackle difficult engineering problems, and he enjoys celebrating their accomplishments by sharing his latest baking creations. Mike constantly thinks of new, interactive ways to teach engineering concepts to cater to students’ different learning styles in his classroom. There are very few professors who make an effort to know the names of the students in their lectures. Mike not only learns each of his students’ names, but also their hobbies, interests, and life goals. Mike’s dedication to his students inspires me daily, and I have learned invaluable lessons serving as his apprentice. He has been more than a professor; he is also a trusted mentor and friend. |
Mary Smith
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I worked with Mike in Fall of 2019 in my first semester as an Undergraduate Teaching Fellow for ENES102, Mechanics I. In this position, I had the opportunity to work with students in Friday discussion sections and office hours. I was also able to watch Mike’s interactions with students during lecture and discussions.
Mike shines working with students in the classroom. I have never seen a teacher so dedicated to his students. It was clear to me and to the students in his class that he was there for them both inside and outside of the classroom. He was very approachable and made an effort to get to know every student in his class (even bringing in cookies for students’ birthdays!). He also did an outstanding job making the content of the class approachable. This is so important for students in their first semester of engineering and Mike did an incredible job helping them to build skills to help them succeed in their engineering careers. However, Mike is not just talented at teaching the content in an approachable way. The thing that stands out most about his teaching is the energy he brings to the classroom. He truly makes the experience of being in his classroom enjoyable so that students are excited to learn every day. |
Brooke Nesselt
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The strongest impact from Mike on my development as a teaching fellow is his passion. Mike’s passion for the classes he teaches exudes every moment both inside and outside the classroom. It is the type of passion that inspires others to be their best selves each day. The passion that Mike has is something that cannot be taught or faked, it is something innate to Mike’s drive to teach, help and inspire students. Working with Mike has inspired me to be a better teaching fellow, find my own passion and bring my “A-game” each and every day because I know he does the same.
I think Mike’s strongest contribution as a mentor to me as a teaching fellow is his investment in those he mentors. He is very attentive and took it upon himself to take a personal interest in the teaching fellows. He was compassionate and knowledgeable, always offering resources and his time to help us out. In addition to his passion, his compassion shines through as he truly cares about the development of those around him. |
Kevin Li
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I had the pleasure of working alongside Mike over the course of the semester for the ENES100 course, and it was an amazing experience that I learned a lot from. Mike genuinely shows a desire to get to know each student and bring out the best in them. Whether its bringing in freshly baked lemon bars, sharing wild stories that are actually filled with life advice, or rewarding students for going on team bonding excursions, he manages to keep his students motivated to learn and excited for each day of class. Mike’s dedication to his job is proof that having a passion for teaching that extends outside of the classroom inspires both his students and his colleagues to reach their full potential.
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Alec Boyle
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It is often said that, “education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” Through his years teaching courses at the University of Maryland, Mike is the fulfillment of this William Butler Yates quote. Mike demonstrates every day his enthusiasm and excitement about the engineering design process and the rewarding struggle of learning something new. He is at his most happy, his most fulfilled, when he sees that a student has learned something and is both surprised and excited to discover their own newfound skills and knowledge. This is true of his students and of his Teaching Fellows, both of whom look to him as a mentor and a confidant. In weekly meetings and in-class conversations, Mike has guided me through difficult decisions with wisdom and understanding; even today, after graduating, I ask for advice from Mike as I pursue full-time jobs and graduate schools. He has established himself well in a role of being a friend and a mentor, someone who is respected yet approachable.
Mike’s commitment to his students and to the courses he teach serve as an excellent example to his co-workers and Teaching Fellows. Every undergraduate who has worked with Mike in a Teaching Fellowship role has come out of the semester with a new vision towards the course and towards engineering in general. Mike shows us all that engineering can be fun! His personality and outlook in the classroom are contagious; students and fellow faculty who would otherwise be asleep or daydreaming are instead actively engaged in the content of the course and taking an active role in their own education. Mike’s strongest influence on people is his ability to inspire, and to make difficult concepts accessible to those who would otherwise be intimidated. His commitment and excitement in and out of the classroom serve as an example of a mentor who truly cares. |
Josh Cocker
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Without a doubt Mike is one of the most beloved professors at the University of Maryland. He is a charismatic lecturer who’s passion for his students is unmistakable, and it is not uncommon for Mike’s past students to continue to keep in touch with him long after graduating. Even when he isn’t standing at the front of the classroom it is easy to tell Mike loves what he does. I’ve often walked past Mike’s office and seen him tweaking or crafting lecture slides to perfectly keep his students engaged and learning.
I worked with Mike the first semester I was a Teaching Fellow, and to say I learned a lot under his tutelage is an understatement. The way Mike holds the attention of a classroom is awe inspiring. He brings an energy to his teaching that I haven’t seen replicated by any other instructor. The way he presents content is in a way that is exciting, modern, and relevant. Looking at some of his lecture slides, it is clear that he has spent countless hours building and perfecting them till they receive the Mike seal of approval. When I looked around the room during his lectures there wasn’t a single student not engaged. Often times though, it comes down to the little things that Mike does. Whether it is bringing in candy for a middle of the week boost, handing out course materials in an Oprah-esque “and you get an Arduino”, or having a student imitate a hip-hop air-horn to celebrate a success, Mike brings a unique and refreshing energy to engineering. |
Mohamed Nassif
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Mike was a wonderful instructor to work with. I had the pleasure of working with him as a Teaching Fellow for ENES100: Introduction to Engineering Design during the Spring 2016 and 2017 semesters. In the class I found him to be very enthusiastic and engaging with his approach to each lecture. Irrespective of the multiple sections he would teach each day, he was responsive to student concerns and made an effort to make sure everyone succeeded in the class. His goal in the class was not to make everyone win the Over Sand Vehicle Challenge but to make sure everyone understood what it takes to be an engineer in today's world.
As a TF, he discussed with me his ideas for the each lecture or new concepts that he wanted to show in class and frequently asked for my opinions. I enjoyed this as it treated me as someone equal as opposed to someone whose sole job is to grade students' homework assignments. I love teaching and being a TF was certainly a way for me to indulge in my interest; I have definitely learnt a lot from Mike on how to be a great instructor! |
Jenna Schueler
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One of the things that stood out to me the most about Mike during my time as one of his ENES100 Teaching Fellows was his passion for teaching and his dedication to his students. He had an endless supply of energy and excitement preparing for every class and activity. That excitement was contagious and was immediately picked up by his students, inspiring them to engage in the class in a unique way. Mike was always willing to go the extra mile to make sure his students gained a true understanding of the material, whether that took staying after class to answer questions, setting up one-on-one time with students to go over difficult material, or creating interactive and engaging ways to present new concepts. He is always looking for ways to grow as an instructor and make classes better. He takes his teaching fellows and students feedback very seriously, and views feedback from evaluations as opportunities to grow.
As a mentor, he always encouraged me and gave me opportunities to engage with the class. He helped me prepare material if I asked for it, but really gave me the space to tackle and present on my own, which helped me grow as a presenter and instructor. He also made time to meet with me and his other teaching fellows, weekly, and made sure we were all on the same page in terms of material and class progress. He really made me feel like I was part of a peer team, and like he valued my opinion. It is my belief that good teachers are the ones who can make material understandable to their class. But outstanding teachers are the ones who have the passion to inspire their students to want to learn, and who never stop learning and growing themselves. Mike is definitely an outstanding teacher. |
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