THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
MAX EWANCIO
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I was one of the lucky individuals to begin my engineering journey at UMD in the Fall 2020 semester, right in the peak of COVID restrictions. Even though I was confined to almost complete solitude in my dorm room with all courses on Zoom, Mike made me feel right at home through the ENES 100 course. I was teamed up with random classmates who I grew to develop close bonds with and met with kindness and inspiration from Mike throughout the course. To give an example of Mike's character, a teammate (who coincidentally was my floormate in the freshman dorms) and I were unable to attend one of Mike's few in person events that year where he made his infamous lemon bars. Mike reached out to us outside of the classroom and drove with the lemon bars onto campus by La Plata Beach just to meet me and to give us some lemon squares and a smile. Mike doesn't just care about his Rate My Professor rating, he develops genuine connections and spreads happiness to all. ENES 100 got me excited for my future in engineering, and after I completed the semester, I signed up for Mike's section of ENES 102 as well. He is an enthusiastic and encouraging professor who creates professional yet friendly relationships with whoever is lucky enough to cross his path.
In my sophomore year, I applied for Mike's ENME 407 study abroad program to Iceland. Unfortunately, the trip had to be cancelled due to COVID regulations, but I was elated to see the following year I was accepted to partake in the course. I am so very grateful to have been accepted on this incredible trip! The ENME 407 program was truly an experience of a lifetime, enlightening me on the wonders of the natural world and how its energy can be harnessed for far less emissions than fossil fuels. The views were breathtaking, the classmates all developed genuine bonds with each other, the professors, and with Iceland as a whole. I know for a fact I plan on returning to Reykjavik someday, and to think of the times I spent there and the friendships I developed there brings me tears of joy. Mike continues to keep this trip alive, inspiring the next generation of engineers to be genuine, intelligent, and kind people who seek to bring a smile to others' faces. I am grateful for all Mike has done for me in my college career. |
Mohammad Marhamati
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I took ENCE 305 in fall of 2022 with Mike.
I could go on and on on how fun his classes were, but I think the fact that I was going to all of his classes, and was always there half an hour before the class schedule should speak for itself. His classes were energetic, friendly and well worth attending to. I do however have two complaints about him, which are: 1- He spoiled us with his interactive teaching styles as well as his cookies, and made all of the other classes during and after fall 2022 feel super boring. 2- He took on teaching many classes and was so popular that his office hours were always full of enthusiastic students! All in all, Mike was by far my most favorite teacher at the University of Maryland and I would definitely recommend him to anyone including my own friends to take classes with him. |
samarth modh
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I knew that a good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning when I had Mike as my ENES102 professor in Fall 2020 (my first and online semester). Watching him teach on zoom made me feel like I selected the right college and major as an international student. For Spring 2021, I made sure I had him for ENES100. He made these introductory classes very engaging which proved to be very important to succeed in senior level classes. The delicious lemon bars made the classes even better!
When I saw Mike was one of the professors for Iceland study abroad program I decided that I had to take ENME407 class with him as my tech elective. Going to Iceland was one of the best decisions I made in college as I made really good friends with people I had not met before. Mike was really good with the logistics and planning and there was never a dull moment since everyone first met on campus to post trip get together. He made us learn common Icelandic words and also gave us language quizzes for extra credit, although I didn't ace the quizzes I had an immersive experience with Icelandic culture. The sustainablility class itself was very practical as we went on various day trips. Dagur, our wonderful tour guide, made sure we had the best experience and didn't miss out on anything. Mike's excitement towards teaching engineering to his students is very inspiring. Undoubtedly, the best professor! |
KAITLYN MOORE
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I have had the pleasure of working with Mike as an ENES100 student, Experience Engineering Virtual Summer Program Camp Counselor, and Clark School Ambassador. Every interaction I have had with Mike has been positive!
He finds a way to make daily lectures and activities exciting for both high school and college students in a virtual and in-person environment. He brings an energy to the classroom that leaves students excited to learn. Mike goes out of his way to engage with and motivate students, from baking delicious lemon bars to giving personal facilities and campus tours to prospective students and their families. Overall, Mike is a great teacher, mentor, and person who truly cares about his students. |
RIYA SHARMA
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At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Maryland campus was in complete chaos; we were told to go home one week early for a slightly longer spring break. In ENES 100, I was incredibly stressed about our early departure and had countless questions about our group’s over sand vehicle (OSV) design. I asked Mike incessantly about the OSV’s chassis, the electronics, and the materials. Despite the fact that campus was in the midst of shutting down, Mike still showed enthusiasm and interest in each team’s presentation and provided detailed feedback; all of my questions and anxieties about the class cleared up.
At the end of that day, students waved goodbye to one another, excited for an extra week of rest and relaxation. However, there was one person that seemed slightly upset: Mike. He mentioned how, apart from traveling, teaching students was a major source of his happiness; the thought of campus potentially shutting down for the rest of the semester was saddening. It was at this moment that I realized how much Mike truly cares about his students. After all, what other instructor would surprise his students with freshly baked lemon bars? Mike has proven to be one of the most compassionate and knowledgeable instructors I’ve ever had. He never fails to create a safe, warm, and friendly environment with his sense of humor and amicability. For instance, Mike always answers questions without making anyone feel bad for asking them. He encourages students to be curious and creative: two characteristics that make a great engineer. After completing ENES 100, Mike continued to keep in touch, informing me about TA opportunities, giving me guidance about pursuing graduate school, and reminding me not to work and stress too hard but rather to enjoy my time at The University of Maryland. I could not have gotten through my four years of college without the support of a mentor like Mike! |
GARIMA GUPTA
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I had the pleasure of taking Mike’s statics course in spring 2021, and it was truly an outstanding experience. This class eventually became one of the reasons I chose to stay with engineering at the University of Maryland and later become an Undergraduate Teaching Fellow for ENES100. Mike’s incredible energy and enthusiasm made the class fun and engaging, even online. Every lecture was engaging, with Mike using real-world examples to help us understand and apply the class content to the real engineering work we will be doing in the future. He always made time to answer our questions, and especially welcomed us to approach him outside of class as well.
What really sets Mike apart is his dedication to his students. He always went above and beyond to make sure we had the resources we needed to succeed. His feedback was always thoughtful and constructive. He clearly took the time to read and consider our work. Overall, I cannot recommend Mike highly enough. His energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to his students make him an exceptional professor. |
AMANDA HARDESTY
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Mike is an amazing person and an even better teacher. His passion, personality, and leadership makes him among the best college instructors I have ever had. He makes every class interesting, entertaining, and fun, and his teaching style allows everyone to feel comfortable and confident while learning. He is very good at encouraging students to participate and truly caters to everyone's learning styles. After knowing Mike for over two years now, I am confident he will continue to change lives and thrive with anything he is tasked with.
I first had Mike as a teacher during an introduction to engineering class as a freshman. I was very excited to learn more about engineering and officially declare my major, and Mike made that process a lot easier for me. His encouraging words and knowledgeable experience greatly impacted my decision to study civil engineering. Additionally, I studied abroad with Mike in Costa Rica this past Winter (2020). This was one of the most amazing things I have ever done and Mike made sure this trip was educational and very fun. We were able to explore Costa Rican culture, volcanoes, waterfalls, beaches, renewable energy, wildlife and so much more. As our final project, we had the opportunity to design renewable energy systems such as hydroelectric and geothermal plants which required a lot of research and preparation. This trip taught me so much about engineering, design, culture and about myself. Mike has encouraged me to grow and develop more than I ever could have imagined, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to meet him and have him as an instructor. |
EILZABETH ROCHE
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After having one class session with Mike, you immediately leave knowing that it's going to be a great course. Mike has an incredibly inviting and encouraging persona and he truly strives to help each student perform their best. In ENES100, I was completely out of my element as it was my first engineering course and we took on a large project that involved applications of many different engineering principles. However, Mike's guidance and enthusiasm allowed me to learn more than I have in almost any course.
Not only does Mike impress upon students the importance of course material and how it applies to the real world, but he also emphasizes the need for collaboration, diversity of thought, and learning to learn, rather than learning to take a test. I also had the pleasure of taking an engineering study abroad course with Mike in Costa Rica. Once again Mike displayed his passion for teaching as he shared endless information about the places we visited and historical/cultural aspects of them with my fellow students and I. This course was the most interesting and impactful that I have ever taken and that is mostly because of the superb teaching. First and foremost Mike was incredibly prepared to carry out the content of the course should there be any complications. He made it very engaging and informative and drew direct connections to Costa Rica, the United States, and all over the world. Furthermore, Mike committed himself to teaching constantly - not just in class or when the course content was relevant on a field trip. He had evidently done thorough research on just about everywhere we went and even went to the lengths of giving us walking tours of restaurants, excursion offices, and shops he recommended every time we changed locations. Mike took on the role of teacher and chaperone and absolutely outdid the both of them. Mike even exemplified his love for learning as he paid close attention to the Spanish speakers we interacted with and did his best to use Spanish to order food, address the class or our tour guides, etc. despite never having learned any of the language before. Overall, Mike is a unique teacher because he has taught me how crucial it is to be open-minded, anticipate different perspectives than your own, and to love learning rather than to treat it as a chore. Anyone that meets Mike can see that he is intent on his students truly learning and absorbing the material - a quality that I find to be rare in college instructors. |
CHERIE LANDA
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Mike was one of the first engineering professors I had when I changed my major from undecided to mechanical engineering my freshman year. Having just switched in, I was excited and a little apprehensive to start learning engineering in ENES100--looking back, I am so fortunate to have had Mike as my professor; his organization, enthusiasm, and genuine care for his students set such a positive tone that carried on throughout my undergraduate engineering experience. With such an engaging and interactive teaching style, I learned so many technical and pragmatic engineering concepts from Mike; but I also learned other key lessons that professors seldom care about, like learning the names of the students in your class, having fun and enjoying the project, and possibly most important: lemon bars.
After plans to study abroad my junior year got cancelled, I was certain I would not have enough time left to study abroad in college. I was ecstatic in my senior year to find out that ENME407, a study abroad sustainability engineering trip to Costa Rica, was not only over winter break, but also that Mike would be the professor! Just from the fact that Mike was one of the professors for the course, I knew the trip would be fantastic, and it was! Being able to apply thermodynamics to understanding geothermal and hydropower was made so tangible and real by going on all the interesting trips and beautiful hikes Mike (and Natasha) planned. We really got to appreciate the nature and culture our engineering could preserve and help. As a successful engineer who can so well weaves his other passions for travelling, photography/videography, and baking into his professional life, Mike is a true role model for his students. He shows us by example the feasibility and importance of not only balancing our personal and professional strengths, but combining them to create something new and amazing. |
Shannon Donaldson
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I was lucky enough to have Mike as my ENES100 professor my very first semester at UMD (Fall 2016). Every Monday and Wednesday I was warmly welcomed into the classroom and positively encouraged to participate and reach success. Mike is the kind of professor who goes above and beyond for his students. He systematically structured the class, provided assistance whenever necessary, and most importantly made the class fun. Over the past four years I’ve been able to interact and learn from dozens of professors, but Mike has remained one of my favorites throughout that time. He works tirelessly to build relationships with his students. He’s the only professor who actually made the whole class learn each other’s names that way we could build a network and connections going forward through college. Engineering is hard; it takes a village. There’s a huge emphasis on teamwork. And due to Mike’s energy, enthusiasm, discipline, kindness, and support, he made the class feel like a family.
After that first semester, I was able to interact with him through the FLEXUS/VIRTUS program. With that program as well, Mike reached for success. He took the lead and held focus groups to see how he and the other professors could make the program better. He listened carefully to our comments and concerns to see how he could help. When we worked on a little entrepreneur lesson, he excitedly told me that he’d invest in my product if I chose to actually pursue the idea because he liked the idea. It’s this kind of positivity, support, and encouragement that helped keep me as an engineer. As a woman in engineering, it’s easy for imposter syndrome to kick in. But having Mike as a professor helped combat that and remind me that I’m more than capable of being a great engineer. Although I stopped seeing Mike in the classroom after my sophomore year, it always made my day when we’d run into each other around campus. His upbeat attitude, outgoingness, and ease with conversation makes interacting with him such a joy. |
SHANNON FLYNN
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Mike was one of the professors leading the Iceland short term study abroad program that I participated in. From the moment I met everyone in our first meeting on campus, Mike expertly created a relaxed and engaging environment. Even though most people had never met each other, by the end of the meeting, everyone was laughing and having a great time. This atmosphere transitioned smoothly from Maryland to Iceland thanks to Mike’s efforts. He made sure that everyone felt comfortable by conversing with each student every day about how they were doing and leading fun activities like an Icelandic language quiz. During our time in Iceland, he displayed a clear talent for both communicating engineering concepts and fostering an inclusive and supportive environment both in and out of the classroom.
Mike’s enthusiasm for engineering and travel were apparent throughout the entire trip as he made sure that we experienced both the culture and engineering marvels of Iceland. There was never a dull moment, whether it be in the classroom or on the road to one of our many destinations. It is clear that Mike truly cares about teaching and making sure that his students leave his classes with not only knowledge but also a passion for engineering. |
PHILLIP VEA
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Out of all the engineering classrooms at UMD, none are filled with more excitement to learn than Mike’s. The infectious energy and enthusiasm he brings to the classroom can be seen every day in the smiles, laughter, and hard work of his students. It is impossible to be in his classroom without both learning and enjoying yourself. One of the best parts about taking a class with him is his encouragement to think creatively and push the bounds of engineering. When I took ENES100 with Mike, our team got stuck on a specific task within our project. Rather than suggesting that we use a tried-and-true solution used by teams in past semesters, he pushed our team to think outside the box, leading to us winning an innovation award for our project.
Because of the great experience I had in ENES100, I decided to sign up for a short-term study abroad trip to Iceland co-led by Mike, which turned out to be one of the best decisions I made in college. As an incredibly experienced traveler himself, Mike is the ideal person to take a study abroad course with. Over the two week course, we immersed ourselves in Icelandic culture, visited some of the most breathtaking spots in the country, and learned about the engineering principles behind Iceland’s sustainable energy infrastructure. If I could do the trip all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing because Mike did such an amazing job planning the trip. Engineering can at times seem overwhelming, frustrating, and boring. With Mike, engineering feels manageable, fun, and engaging. His ability to connect with his students and inspire a love for engineering makes him an incredible teacher and friend to his students. |
NICHOLAS PERKINS
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I really enjoyed taking Mike’s ENME407 study abroad course in Reykjavik, Iceland. He spent months planning out every detail of the trip, making sure we were able to make the most of our short time abroad. Everything that we learned in the classroom related directly to the educational trips that we went on. In one lecture, we learned how to calculate the amount of energy generated by a geothermal plant and then the next day we took a tour of the Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Station. Mike also made time for us to visit tourist and cultural sites in Iceland. We went to museums, farms, black sand beaches, volcanic craters, geysers, waterfalls, lava caves, hot springs, and glaciers. Throughout all of these trips, Mike managed to find great tour guides that shared his lightheartedness and passion for teaching. The best part of this trip was how Mike went out of his way to create a bond between everyone on the trip. Anyone who has had Mike as a professor knows he goes above and beyond to make class fun for everyone, and this class was no different. Whether he was playing pickup soccer, encouraging us to try Icelandic foods, or joining everyone at happy hour, Mike made sure that everyone had a blast.
After the Iceland course I was able to stay in contact with Mike as I started working as an LTF for ENES100. It always amazed me how well Mike is able to capture everyone’s attention with his teaching style. He tells jokes and plays music to create a warm, friendly atmosphere in his class. Mike’s students are always some of the most engaged in the course and they are definitely the most passionate about the OSV project. Many times, they will show up to the end of semester showcase wearing matching T-shirts and take team photos with their OSV. I’ve always been impressed by Mike's energy in the classroom; it made it great to be one of his students and it sets a wonderful example to strive for as a teaching fellow. |
RENOOKA KARMARKAR
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Mike is easily one of the most memorable, encouraging and motivating professors I had during my time at the University of Maryland. In 2015, Mike was my professor for ENES100, the first engineering course many students take at UMD. He made difficult concepts easy to understand, and more importantly made me want to learn. He made longer lectures interesting by using more accessible teaching methods, rather than only assigned readings. I also had the pleasure of studying abroad in Iceland as his student for ENME407. I was hesitant at first to take the course abroad, but seeing that Mike developed it and would be facilitating pushed me to the finish line. He created an incredible curriculum for a short, two week timeline. His assignments were engaging and created to be flexible for a study abroad environment.
The interest Mike takes in each of his students sets him apart from many other professors I have worked with. He understands the strengths and weaknesses of his students and adjusts his approach to fit the many different styles of learning they are accustomed to. Overall, Mike’s unmatched passion for what he does is what made taking classes with him incredibly rewarding. |
ARJUN MAHAL
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Out of the many professors I have had at UMD, Mike has been the most personal, energetic and engaging one. I took three classes with Mike and I was genuinely excited to attend each one of them. He adds laughter and comedy to each lesson, which makes the subject so much more enjoyable and easier to retain.
In my freshman year I took ENES 100 and 102 with Mike, and doing so gave me the confidence to continue on a mechanical engineering path. He took the time and energy to explain basic engineering concepts and made each student feel as if their concerns were heard. A big reason he was able to do this is because he is extremely personable and creates a culture of honesty and comfort. When it comes to Mike, there is absolutely no student teacher barrier. Everyone is extremely comfortable around him and feel that they can truly be themselves and ask any question without any hesitation. I also took an abroad course in Iceland taught by Mike about Geothermal and Hydroelectric energy. Through this experience, Mike taught us how geothermal energy is obtained, and even how to calculate energy generation and efficiency. He brought the class to so many cultural sights and natural landscapes that really opened our eyes as individuals. Each day was filled with so many insightful conversations led by Mike that allowed me to think more globally as an engineering student. In my experience, Mike is the perfect college professor. He has not only taught me so many engineering principles, but has been an amazing mentor giving me both professional and personal advice. |
Allison Mirrer
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It is not every day that you meet an individual who inspires you to work your hardest, encourages you to challenge yourself, and motivates you to be creative. I consider myself fortunate to have had Mike as a teacher for both ENES102 and a study abroad course in Iceland. Throughout both experiences, Mike has demonstrated an incredible passion for teaching and sharing knowledge.
When I took ENES102 with Mike, it was clear from the start that he would be one of the most entertaining lecturers I’ve ever had. Mike always captivated the entire classroom. He brought a unique energy to class by facilitating discussions, welcoming group collaboration, and incorporating the occasional joke into each of his lectures. In addition to classroom laughs, Mike also provided practical examples in his lectures. Not only was Mike an excellent lecturer, but he also made himself available outside of the classroom. He offered ample office hours and was approachable for any questions or concerns. Without a doubt, I looked forward to attending every one of Mike’s classes. |
GABRIEL LUIS TESCON
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I’ve had the pleasure of being a student of Mike’s for 2 classes at the University of Maryland: ENES100 and ENES102. Undoubtedly, he was one of the most passionate professors I had during my time in college. I can speak for any other student of Mike’s when I say that one can physically see his dedication to his students. As a UMD alumnae himself, Mike understands what students go through when being a Clark School student. In turn, he does everything in his power to make even the most stressful moments bearable. On top of that, Mike never settles. Even though something works, he will always find more solutions that could be more effective than the previous one. In ENES100 specifically, the course seems like, at face value, a semester-long project (and it is). But if taught by Mike, it becomes more than just a project… it becomes a semester-long life lesson. Alongside meeting the project deliverables, students of Mike’s will learn more about themselves and what it takes to be an engineer.
The guidance and support he provided for me during my first year at UMD lasted until my final capstone presentation two years later. I have Mike to thank for my feats as a civil engineering student at UMD. Not only is he a UMD professor, but he’s also a life professor and everyone should take his class. |
NICOLETTE CORRAO
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I had Mike in an unusual setting as a professor compared to other students. Mike was my professor for a study abroad class in Athens, Greece. Mike was an amazing professor and travel guide to have! He gave us lectures that were extremely engaging and presented well. He also focused his lectures on particular parts that applied to our project which was centered around Athens, Greece. Having Mike for this class really made me wish that I had him for previous classes, because I felt with his teaching style I would have performed better in those classes. Whenever underclassmen ask about what professors to take, I always recommend them to take Mike. Not only is he a great lecturer, he takes the time to get to know his students' names, something MANY professors at UMD do not even attempt. This makes the class seem more personal, even if it is a 50+ person class. Having a professor that WANTS to teach you and help you exceed in classes is such a rarity in the engineering school and is something that should be encouraged.
On the study abroad side, having Mike on the trip was great. He also has a true passion for traveling along with teaching which really makes study abroad classes seem like a perfect combination for him. He researches his trips extremely well and would show us around to places to eat and give us history facts like a local. However, study abroad trips are not all fun and games, so he would make sure we got our work for the class done, even if it meant bringing us all delicious local pastries during our late night cram sessions. I highly recommend Mike as a professor for any class whether it be in-person, online, or during a study abroad class. He was hands down one of the best professors I had at UMD and I wish I had him for more classes! |
Samer AbouSaleh
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I had the pleasure of having Mike as a professor for two short term study abroad trips (Italy and Greece). I will begin by elaborating on his enthusiasm for the classes was evident from the moment I met him. At the beginning of the trips, no one really knew each other but Mike was able to come in and ease the tension between the group. By the end of the trip, everyone became great friends and wished that the trip could be extended as much as possible. Mike is a very down to earth professor who enjoys being asked questions and tries his best to go above and beyond to help the students understand the topics. He even befriends them, which I believe is a rare and priceless quality, as many professors only think of their students as numbers. After the trip ended and the class was completed, he even created a video collage of the memories and organized reunions to keep relations with his old students (and to show off his amazing baking skills).
During the trip, Mike engaged us in lecture while organizing tours to visit touristic and educational sites. He takes both the academic and cultural sides very seriously and prepares extensively to make the most out of the time. It is evident that he put a lot of time and research into each trip and was even able to guide us to various local eateries and areas as if he himself has been living in the city. Mike always had a positive energy and vibe no matter what he was doing. This made the educational portion easier to absorb, and the travelling portion that much more enjoyable. Since I was able to go on two different study abroad courses with him, I was able to witness the same level of enthusiasm and passion from Mike during both trips. It is most definitely not a coincidence and his love for traveling and teaching is real. I see Mike as not just an amazing teacher, but a good friend and my one regret is not taking more classes with him. |
RICHA GUPTA
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From day one, Mike has continuously offered nothing short of genuine enthusiasm and support to each one of his students. His passion for not only what he is teaching but the act of teaching itself is immediately apparent, and speaking for myself, was extremely transformative in my growth in confidence and education from my start as nervous freshman. Mike made every single class period in ENES100 and ENES102 engaging as well as informative, with tie-ins to his own experiences, current events, and in particular his emphasis on making student-instructor as well as student-student connections in such a way that students do not hesitate to ask questions and succeed. Mike was so committed to our growth as students that it truly seemed like he himself took pride and joy in his student group’s successes and motivations both in and out of his classroom. This was only re-emphasized by working with him as a teaching fellow for ENES100, as Mike would constantly propose improvements and new opportunities to help and encourage our students within the curriculum and even as instructors ourselves. His compassion for students was contagious within the department as we were all eager to follow in his footsteps to make the classroom a more stimulating place for our students.
Mike’s approach in making the classroom engaging and supportive has established himself as someone students can come to even outside of coursework. All throughout my time at UMD, I have come to Mike for advice and even updates about my own education, internships, travels, or even check-ins and he has responded with his own encouragement, personal experiences, as well as advice he has taken initiative to collect that is specific to my career path. Mike’s passion and outlook for engineering extends way past his role as a professor and I would say has directly translated to inspiration for students to explore experiences and take learning upon themselves; in fact I would say that my talks with Mike are one of the major reasons I decided to study abroad! Mike is undoubtedly someone who makes students excited to learn and is an outstanding mentor on the path to becoming not only a better engineering student but also for a better future. |
ANDREW SHANNON
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Mike offers something every teacher should strive for: making learning fun. From the first day of class, Mike captured the attention of the students, as his passion for teaching inspired us to learn. ENES100 was a fascinating class and having Mike as a teacher made it even more enjoyable. Mike motivated us to learn about our fellow students, which made making friends at a big school easier (some of whom I have grown close with) and also improved team chemistry for the semester-long Over-Sand-Vehicle (OSV) project. He was incredibly patient when any student was struggling and needed a more in-depth explanation. When trying to get our Arduinos to work properly with the OSV, Mike was more than willing to be available at random hours outside of class to help teams. He kept students enthused, whether it was surprising us with homemade baked goods, or playing music to get everyone pumped up before and during competition day. He emphasized success not on the outcome, but on the knowledge gained throughout the engineering process, inspiring students to persevere.
Mike has also been there for me several times on a personal level. During my first year of college, when not everything was coming easy to me like I was used to in high school, I struggled with confidence that I could make it as an engineer. I confided in Mike and talking with him helped boost my confidence and give me ideas on how I could increase my chances of success. I still think back to some of his emails and our conversations on this topic in times of struggle. Mike and I have kept in touch since freshman year, and he was a big help when I made the decision to study abroad in Madrid this semester. Mike is someone that will do whatever he can to assist any student, and I am grateful that I had him as a teacher and continue to value him as a mentor. |
ALEXI TZAMARAS
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Mike is the exemplification of what it means to be a great professor. Nowhere have I met, in my over 16 years of formal education, a teacher that has as much passion and enthusiasm for what their doing than Mike has. Mike would consistently show up to class with an excitement that is unmatched and has a sense of enthusiasm about engineering that is contagious. He clearly loves what he is doing, and it shows in his work. His lectures were interesting, and he always found a way to break down really tough engineering concepts and make them simple.
Mike also showed that he cares deeply about his students, going above and beyond to make sure they were doing the best they possibly could be. Whether this was answering questions in class or in office hours, Mike always did it with a smile – he has always been willing to go the extra mile and see to it that his students succeed. In my experience, Mike is everything that a great professor should be. Although I only took two classes with him in my time at UMD, I wish I were able to take more. The classes I took with Mike were taken my very first semester of my freshman year. Since then, however, we have stayed in touch and he’s been a great mentor to me throughout my time in college, which is just further proof that Mike cares about his students. I’m proud to have been able to call Mike my professor, but even more proud to consider him a mentor and a friend. |
HAYAT JABBOUR
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During my freshman year, Professor Mike taught me ENES100. This was my first introductory course to engineering and really helped encourage my passion for the major. Mike emphasized team-building skills and the applicability of concepts to the real world. Learning these engineering mindsets is extremely important for succeeding in an engineering career so beginning college with Mike’s course set the tone for my future academic life.
Mike was always patient with me and my classmates and encouraged us to set reasonable milestones for our projects. He always made sure to have available office hours and reached out to students if they were struggling. I remember being worried about an upcoming quiz that I was able to later do well on because Mike took the time to further explain those concepts during office hours. He made sure I knew the material and encouraged my questions. Professor Mike showed me an example of an impactful and effective professor, one who ensured shared communication and knowledge between peers. I am very thankful to have taken a course with Mike and have used the lessons from that course in the rest of my engineering classes. |
OLIVIA O'CONNOR
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I had Mike for ENES100 in the Fall of 2016, which was my first semester at College Park. Mike stood out amongst all other teachers I had that semester as his passion for teaching and his positive attitude never wavered. He made learning new topics approachable and easy to understand, and always encouraged questions. He knew every student by name and not only cared about how students were doing in class, but also how they were adjusting outside of classes.
Even after leaving ENES100, Mikes support of his students never diminishes. He has graciously allowed me to interview him for school projects and put him down as a reference as I applied to jobs. He always stops to chat when I see him on campus or while walking through JMP. Four years later, my group’s robot still sits in his office with pride. Mikes dedication to his students goes above and beyond the typical professor. Mike is the kind of teacher every student hopes to have. |
CARLY TORRADO
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I think it's safe to say that ENES100 always falls on the list of any UMD Engineering Student's favorite undergraduate classes. For us lucky ones, it was more than just the fun hands on work of creating an OSV that made it memorable. We were also blessed to have a super outgoing, approachable, compassionate teacher- Mike Galczynski.
I was one of those students lucky enough to have Mike as my professor for the class. Not only does he present the knowledge needed to create such vehicles in an easy to understand and even enjoyable way, Mike also inserted tiny bits of life lessons into every lecture. Life lessons that have stuck with me and so many others even years after taking the class. As young adults new to the corporate world, finding our place and our confidence can be intimidating. However, his guidance and advice will stick with us forever. I don't think any of us in his Fall 2016 class will ever forget Mike standing on top of the desks on the last day of class to preach to us about being our own champion. He said to not let unrealistic job requirements or even job rejections deter us from reaching our dream careers. He taught us to be our own biggest advocates and to stomp over any obstacles that people try to place in front of us. I can only hope that every college student gets to have a professor like "Mike Galczynski" because his courses are fun, educational, and empowering which is something that every young college student needs. |
FRANK LOPEZ
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Mike was the first professor I had at the University of Maryland as a nervous freshman in the Fall of 2016. Looking back at my 4 years at UMD, I can safely say that he was also one of the best professors I had. His energy and confidence in his students’ ability to succeed was infectious among all of the groups in our class. He successfully turned a class of timid freshmen into a talkative, cohesive unit. At the time, I was wondering why we were being forced to know everyone’s name. Looking back, some of my closest friends in the engineering school came from Mike’s ENES100 class, which can be contributed to the sense of community he established during that semester.
Academically, Mike struck the perfect balance of throwing us into the fire, while also being willing to help us debug once we’d exhausted all possible outcomes. While ENES100 wasn’t a class where you’d learn technical skills that last you a lifetime, Mike’s teaching allowed me to drastically improve my problem-solving skills and showed me that effective teamwork can truly succeed (except on test day). Mike also taught me as a freshman that it’s okay to make mistakes and even fail, while still having the confidence in yourself to keep going and try again. Mike has an intrinsic willingness to go above and beyond, whether that was sharing his baking with the class or staying on campus past the last Metro of the night to help us finish our projects. This willingness has made a positive impact on all of the students that got lucky enough for that “TBA” professor we signed up for to be Mike. |
BRIANNA DAVIS
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When it came time to register for my freshman year fall semester classes, I remember having no idea which classes and professors to sign up for. Because of this, during orientation I asked both of my orientation guides for advice. Without a doubt, they both recommended Professor Mike to me and I am beyond grateful that they did. Not only was Mike an outstanding professor, but he has been a continued mentor for me.
As a professor, Mike is passionate and inspiring. His lectures were creative and engaging, and they made me want to learn. If you spend a day in his classroom, you can instantly tell that his enthusiastic nature rubs off on his students. As a result, his students are more engaged and the learning becomes fun and not forced. I learned such valuable skills in this classroom that I didn't learn in any of my other classes and for that I am grateful to have had him as a professor! As I mentioned, Mike continued to be a mentor for me even after I had finished his course. Later in my college career, I decided that I wanted to study abroad and Mike was the first one to reach out to me and offer to be a mentor during this process. He was able to advise me on which programs were available to me and where I might want to go, which proved to be very helpful. Furthermore, in my last year of college, Mike became a mentor to me throughout the job search and eased the stress of that process. I believe that his persistent mentorship beyond the classroom is a strong testament to just how much he wants his students to learn and succeed during and after college. |
Aaron Balogh
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As an adult student returning to school, I found myself challenged in many ways. It was a new experience to be back in the classroom after 15 years, and I had a lot of anxiety about both the classes and relating to my classmates. Having Mike as a professor for ENES 100 not only eased me back into the college experience, but helped me become more comfortable with the experience as a whole.
Mike was friendly, engaging, and welcoming from the get go. He has an absolute knack at helping students to become comfortable in the classroom and with each other. He was able to frequently sprinkle unobtrusive exercises into his lesson that helped us to get to know both him and our peers. I truly felt that he cared about us and providing a great learning environment. In addition, Mike was able to effectively introduce us to the world of engineering without either overwhelming us or spoon feeding us information. He is able to convey information in such a way that it is both easy to digest and entirely comprehensible. Having Mike as a professor in my very first semester at the University of Maryland was an invaluable introduction to the University, to engineering, and to just how great a professor can be. |
RACHEL ORSINI
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Mike was my professor for the ENES 100 Introduction to Engineering class at University of Maryland and the Sustainability and Smart Cities Program in Prague, Czech. Mike was a source of support in the process of choosing an engineering major and the transition to the rigorous nature of engineering classes. In his role as an instructor on our study abroad trip, Mike guided myself and a group of other students in learning in a new environment while discovering a new culture.
In teaching, Mike is utterly devoted to his work. He uses his unique perspective to dismantle complex ideas and present them in an accessible way. Mike’s unparalleled enthusiasm shines through in every lecture. He makes a point to prioritize real-world applications and accommodate different learning styles. Mike also provides an open and collaborative environment within his classroom. He is thoughtful and generous with his time, and manages to invest himself in each student’s well-being as well as their academic pursuits. |
JILLIAN HOLT
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Mike’s high energy attitude and ability to connect with students during course lessons made him an ideal instructor for International Business Cultures in Engineering & Technology, which I took in Sydney, Australia, in 2016. He taught engaging lessons that connected textbook readings to the real-world experience we gained during site visits to businesses in Sydney. His teaching methods drove home the importance of understanding international business cultures and how, as college students, we could use lessons from the course as we started our careers. As an engineer, I often have to work in teams with coworkers from different parts of the company and lessons from this course have helped me succeed in these diverse teams. As part of the unique opportunity to take a course in another country, Mike also encouraged students to experience Australian culture during off days. He was a great source of ideas for where to explore and took time to catch up with students on our experiences once we were back in the classroom. I am grateful Mike taught this class and would highly encourage other students to take his classes.
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Lasya Komaragiri
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I had the pleasure of having Mike as my teacher for ENES100 in Spring of 2016 my freshman year. Coming into the class, I was pretty nervous as it was my first engineering class in college but Mike made sure to make the students feel very comfortable. He took the time to plan activities to make sure that the students knew each other and properly introduced himself as a teacher with a presentation.
Throughout the course Mike was so helpful with any questions about homework or projects. This was one of the only classes where I did not feel stressed to learn the material because Mike taught in a way that made the students want to learn/challenge themselves. His passion for the subject really showed and rubbed off on the students. My favorite memory had to be the last day of class because that day inspired me the most and made an impact on my decision making for the rest of my education/career. Along with summing up the course he took the time to share some of his experiences in the engineering field and gave us such helpful advice for the future. Mike genuinely cares for his students to learn and succeed and truly helps them bring out their full potential which is why he is a teacher/mentor I will never forget! |
LAUREN KERLIN
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When I signed up for ENES100 as a first year undecided engineering student, I had no idea what a treat I was in for when I was randomly assigned Mike Galcynski as my section instructor. Being fresh out of an all-girls high school straight into being 1 of 4 girls in a 30 person classroom was quite the adjustment. Despite this, Mike created an environment where everyone was welcomed, challenged, and able to learn from mistakes, a hard thing to achieve. I knew nothing about electronics, coding, you name it, but through his class, I was able to stay engaged through the learning process and even successfully complete the OSV project with my team. Not only that, I gained the confidence that I could figure out what was ahead of me in the Engineering school and succeed in more ways than one such as taking on the team leader position in my Mechanical Engineering Capstone.
Mike truly cares about the success of all of his students individually. Even after finishing his class, I've always considered Mike a great part of my professional engineering network. He truly exceeds professor expectations and as you can see from the numerous student testimonials, it's apparent to all of his students. Any department or program would be lucky to have a professor or mentor like him. |
YONIT OLLECH
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My first semester studying mechanical engineering at University of Maryland I was lucky to be placed in Mike's ENES100 class. ENES100 is one of the first classes taken by engineering students at UMD, and is the baseline of learning how to think and problem solve as an engineer. All the other classes focus on one specific subject, whether it be Thermodynamics or Mechanics, but ENES100 is about building a project to specification from beginning to end. In the fall of 2015 I learned basic technical skills that allowed me to build an OSV that would navigate a sandy course and then proceed to blow out a candle. But it wasn't the technical skills that helped me on the path to becoming a great engineer. Mike as a teacher taught me to be confident in my engineering ability. He taught me to not be afraid of not knowing something. That what was important was the ability to learn it. People came into this course with varying experience. Some people had taken classes in highschool. Others, everything was completely new. But Mike believed in every single student. He built us up and gave us the tools to be successful.
As the mechanical student on my team, I was in charge of the overall structure of the OSV. That meant utilizing power tools to build the physical body. I was terrified. But with Mike's encouragement I pushed through my fears and found a love for the machine shop. Some of my favorite memories are using those power tools. With his energy and enthusiasm, Mike not only believed in us wholeheartedly, he taught us to believe in ourselves. And that is one of the most valuable lessons an engineer can learn. Because without belief and trust in yourself, there is no way you can go forward and solve the world's most challenging problems. And Mike's belief in his students does not stop when they hand in their final assignments. There were multiple times throughout college that I would reach out to him for advice and he was always happy to help. I know even as a professional now that I can always reach out if needed. |
PAULA KLEYMAN
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Mike is an incredible instructor and mentor. My first experiences with Mike were as a student in his ENES100 class and then later as a Teaching Fellow that leaned on him for support. Mike’s teaching style and dedication made a huge impact on my development as an engineering student. He adapted his lessons to engage us in different, fun ways while also having us apply important concepts of the curriculum. He showed great compassion for us, making sure to get to know each of his students. He also went to great efforts to be there for us by hosting additional support sessions, such as presentation practices and after-hour open labs, and offering support outside of the class. His approach to the main class project focused on the development of important skills as engineering students, rather than us simply getting the best results. Being in his class and having an instructor with this amazing student-oriented approach is what made me decide to apply to be a teaching fellow.
As a teaching fellow, I saw Mike continuously dedicate himself to improving the ENES100 curriculum. He would create new activities and initiatives to support the students, learn from the feedback, and work to further improve. His continued effort to develop the course and implement both student and instructor feedback in these changes demonstrates his commitment to the course and engineering students. |
Dale Aram Tassbihi
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Mike was one of my first professors I had at UMD and he set the bar very high. His class was engaging, fun, and challenging. He had this perfect balance between being a fun professor who baked lemon bars for the entire class and a serious professor who wanted all the groups to bond and succeed in the Over Sand Vehicle Challenge. Mike is very personable to his students and empowers them to grow. Unlike my other engineering classes, Mike's class was the one I would look forward to because of its welcoming and dynamic environment.
Even when I wasn't his student anymore, I would still attend Mike's office hours the following semesters. When I was doubting myself as an engineering student, he became a mentor and shared his insight on what to do. He told me about his experiences from his days as an undergraduate student at UMD all the way to becoming a Keystone professor. He helped me come up with pros and cons lists and encouraged me to take my own path. As I took my own path, he continued to support me and cheer me on. Our conversations weren't only centered around academics and professional development. Mike is a relatable professor who also enjoys to travel and bike, so it's nice to exchange travel tips and stories with each other. His dedication to his students in and out of the classroom is inspiring and appreciated. |
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
GABRIELLE WAINWRIGHT
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Mike was my GSI at UC Berkeley for the class Physics 8A. One of Mike’s strongest qualities as a teacher is his true enthusiasm and passion for learning and teaching others, which in my experience, is a rare quality to find in a GSI. He genuinely cares about his students, and this is sincerely felt by every student who is taught by him. During lectures, he engages every student with his contagious energy, and he uses clear, creative, and relatable examples to demonstrate difficult concepts. He is always willing to stay for an extra amount of time or set up a time to meet with students outside of the scheduled hours to offer extra tutoring and ensure that every student understands the concepts and is on the path to success. He really is an inspiring instructor and individual, who cares about making every interaction with students instructive and meaningful.
Not only is Mike a wonderful instructor, but he is also very personable and makes sure to find ways to connect with his students outside of teaching. He enjoys getting to know every single student in his classroom and learning about their interests outside of school. Every single time he enters the classroom, he brings positivity and enthusiasm for learning, and he often brings delicious baked treats for everyone as well! I know I am not only speaking for myself when I say he is the best GSI I have ever worked with. |
MASON UEMERA
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Mike was my discussion group instructor for an introductory physics class, primarily for pre-med students at a large university. Like it is anywhere, pre-med culture can be a little intense, some might say overtly cutthroat. And yet, in the midst of this environment, Mike managed to make the time in discussion groups feel like a community and less like the warzone it normally is.
Like any good community, it wasn’t built in a day, but consistently and over time. I remember the first day of class started off with icebreakers to get to know everyone in the discussion group, a sharp contrast to the norm of jumping right into the material. Mike brought in lemon bars on multiple occasions. He held ‘Physics Parties’ the days leading up to exams for us to come together, ask questions, and learn from him and each other. In fact, I was learning material so well that I was coming to these parties primarily to tutor others. He created a space that encouraged us to lift each other up, and accept help when we needed it. That’s not an easy thing to do in a class that meets twice a week. Every day from start to finish was polished, hilarious teaching that helped us learn in a way that felt more like a break in the day than actual class. On days we had time to spare, he’d tell us about his own experience as a student in higher education and made a strong case to not be afraid of looking silly or getting things wrong. It’s a vulnerable feeling to admit we don’t know something, but learning that lesson early on from Mike helped me to let my curiosity guide my education rather than social pressure. As an educator, a student, and a person, Mike is someone that I respect immensely. Beyond physics, he taught me so much about how to teach and how to respect others. I can only hope that as I continue on in my own path that I can emulate how he does business in some small part. Future generations would be better for it. |
JUNA HURTDADO
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My name is Juan Hurtado-Rodriguez; I am a UC Berkeley Alumnus from the Class of 2014 who was lucky to receive instruction and support from Mike Galczynski in an introductory physics course. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and work full-time with plans of applying to nursing school in the coming years.
The approach to teaching Mike took is one of great care and passion. As a first-generation Mexican American navigating STEM courses designed to weed out students, Mike was one of a handful who truly cared for my learning. Obviously overworked he showed up in not just the role of an educator, but a counselor, friend, and cheerleader. I make no exaggeration in my claim that of the 4 years I spent at Cal, Mike Galczynski was the best instructor to grace that institution. I now find myself as an assistant adjunct professor supporting students on their paths towards careers in public health, a trainer of nurse case managers and social workers for patients in the acute care setting, and a leader for volunteers providing resources to patients in the community. I attempt to follow in the footsteps of Mike by teaching with compassion, integrity, and an appreciation for the challenges students and individuals bring to the table. His class was one I actually looked forward to because he prepared elaborate ways of teaching through videos, real-life examples, contraptions he would create, and countless other methods. Mike has the capacity to change the way education is offered to students, especially now during a time that requires bold progressive change in service delivery. His teaching is first class and I would be honored to speak further to his abilities as an educator of the future. |
MADDIE MCCLURE
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Mike Galczynski was the Teaching Assistant (TA) for my section and lab of Physics 8A at the University of California, Berkeley. I remember when I walked into his class for the first time how his unique and engaging teaching methods were a breath of fresh air, especially juxtaposed to the rest of my dreary classes. While other TAs and professors spent our first day of class reviewing lesson plans, and exam formats, Mike went over the syllabus, but set up our first class so that he could get to know us better. This gave a personal touch to the class and allowed us to form connections with our peers. This ultimately set the stage for a more effective learning environment because he tailored his lesson plans to the way we learned.
Mike also encouraged collaborative learning, with many of our labs and assignments consisting of group activities which fostered teamwork and leadership skills. Mike’s commitment to his students and his passion for teaching was unmatched by most of my more experienced professors at Berkeley. Mike above all else is a kind and fun-loving teacher, who made physics, which I had previously dreaded, into a subject that I was excited to learn every day. Mike engaged with his students at each class with great positive energy. Mike was also available and responsive outside of class hours via email for help with homework problems and exam preparation. Since my time at Berkeley, Mike has continued to help me on my path to becoming a physician assistant. He cares about every student and goes above and beyond to help them succeed, in his class, but also in life. I am very thankful that I had Mike as my teacher, and if I ever had the opportunity, I would take another course instructed by him! |
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
YANNIE GUO
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I had the opportunity to learn from Mike in a civil engineering course at the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institute. Although the course was only three weeks long, Mike did an amazing job of thoroughly explaining the material in a way that was not overwhelming, despite the compact schedule. His engaging personality made his lectures a joy to participate in. He was so inspiring and easy to relate to. Mike often used personal anecdotes to allow me to further understand the topic being taught. On top of it all, his fun personality and attentive nature made his class a wonderful experience.
In addition to learning in the classroom setting, Mike gave us the opportunity to apply our knowledge in hands-on activities and competitions. Additionally, he took the time to take us on fieldtrips to real-world examples of the structures and machines we learned about in lectures. This allowed me to gain a more grounded perspective of engineering and its various aspects. As a mentor, I feel that Mike definitely goes above and beyond expectations to make his students’ learning experience memorable and impactful. |
LUKE SEYBOLD
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Never have I had a teacher so excited about the content they were teaching as Mike. Not only did he bring a powerfully positive energy into the classroom everyday, but you could tell that he genuinely wanted to share that energy with everyone else in the room. There was never a dull moment as he integrated engaging activities into each of his lessons in order to fully illustrate concepts in a tangible and fun way! His friendly nature makes him super approachable so that it is easy to ask questions in order to fully understand the material.
Having taught my first ever engineering class, Mike confirmed my passion for the field. As I enter my third year in mechanical engineering at UC Berkeley, I attribute much of my preparation to Mike’s teachings and still often refer to the notes I took from them. Mike exemplifies the mentorship responsibilities of a teacher by sharing his passion and curiosity with his students within and beyond the classroom. |
MARTHA BRANSKY
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I had the privilege of having Mike as a professor at a Summer Engineering Program at Stanford University. He was an outstanding professor who not only helped me and other students gain an understanding of complicated concepts but he also showed that he cared about each of us. His passion and enthusiasm towards the material was clear from the moment the classes started. Whether it was a compelling story or a real life example, there was always something that kept us thinking more deeply and critically. For me, this summer program was one of my first exposures to engineering concepts. Mike's teaching encouraged me to further explore engineering and I am now studying to be a chemical engineer. In short, Mike is an inspiring educator and an incredible professor.
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D'ARCY SEAMON
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I spent 3 weeks as Mike’s student in an introductory civil, environmental and mechanical engineering summer program at Stanford University. From day 1, Mike was awesome, encouraging a group of nervous, inexperienced 16-year-old students to challenge their conception of engineering and enter the course with an open mind. He had a true talent for balancing his lessons to blend theoretical content with a mixture of interesting guest speakers, relevant problems, and practical project work. Mike also did a fantastic job of motivating students to engage with concepts; outside of our regular problem sets, he set us a final group project to build an energy-themed Rube Goldberg machine that gave us the opportunity to engage with the class concepts in the context of our own interests.
A large part of Mike’s talent as a teacher lay in his personability. Armed with a wealth of fun games, stories and tips, he helped students learn and step out of their comfort zone without even realizing it. From those three weeks with Mike I saw how much of an amazing teacher and lecturer he was. He took his experience in life, as an engineer and as an educator, and condensed it into a wonderful three-week class that helped me in my own decision to become an engineer. Thank you Mike! |
GRANT HUSHEK
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The things I learned from Mike far exceeded the curriculum for my course. Mike has this infectious way of getting students interested in a subject because his passion extends to every subject he touches. The title of the course was “Building Bridges” with a focus on structural and civil engineering, but instead of a textbook style lecture, Mike helped us engage with the content. We visited the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, learned how to make concrete and urban planning from a colleague of his, and analyzed advertisements to inspect what is real engineering innovation and what are taglines produced to capture an audience attention.
Mike constantly kept my class and me engaged in the content even though my interest in civil engineering was never extraordinary. The reason I had such a good time at this summer program was because of Mike. |
DISHA Samaiyar
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I attended the Stanford EPGY 2013 summer program in engineering on an intuition that I was a demonstrative learner, a hands-on individual that would most likely major in the subject in college but was eager to learn more about specific fields in Mechanical Engineering. Mike was a very animated, passionate, and engaged teacher. His lesson plans were deliberate, intent, and downright valuable and fun and more importantly, he always incorporated hands on elements and exercises, and brought in genuinely interesting and exciting guest lecturers to give us a summer experience that was valuable and worthwhile. I looked forward to learning every day in Mike's classes and he set a precedent for me regarding the quality of learning and teaching relationships. To this day, I still hold the projects Mike designed for us to participate in very dearly - a Rube Goldberg machine that we designed in teams as well as a final paper on a topic of interest in engineering that allowed us to explore our passions (for me specifically, Product Design and Engineering for low income communities and needs, of which Stanford had plenty of courses and resources devoted to).
As an instructor, Mike was the "talk of the summer" for all the right reasons. I look back on my instruction at EPGY very fondly and a major factor for that was Mike's devotion and dedication to creating a thoughtful, deliberate, and engaging space in which our cohort could learn about the fundamentals of engineering. Even years later, Mike has made a huge impact on my fellow students and I. Without his excitement for engineering and teaching, I may not have pursued Mechanical Engineering myself. He will no doubt continue to inspire others wherever his career takes him. |
GRETA STUDIER
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I had the pleasure of being taught by Mike in Standford's Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) in 2013. I was a part of the summer engineering program during my second year of high school, and it exposed me to the world of engineering. For most of us at the summer program, this was our first real exposure to engineering concepts and Mike made the content approachable and hands-on. Not only did we learn technical engineering skills in the classroom, but we applied those skills to various individual and group projects throughout the summer. He took a personal interest to each and every student and ensured that the whole class was engaged. In addition to being an exceptional engineering instructor, Mike also passed along wisdom from his personal life, career, baking, traveling, the importance of team bonding, and many more nuggets of advice. I am glad to say that Mike's mentorship, passion for engineering, and energetic teaching style got me hooked on engineering as a career path!
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SOPHIA YAMAS
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Mike was my instructor for my second summer at EPGY in 2013. Having known that I wanted to study civil engineering, I took a structural course the previous summer. At first I was hesitant to take a civil engineering course after a structural engineering course, because there might be too much overlap. However, Mike approached the subject in a variety of ways that addressed all aspects of civil engineering, not just structures. He was very hands on, discussed engineering for the developing world, and brought in guest speakers who were experts in their fields. He would show us things that happened in the real world, then explain the physics rather than sticking to theory. He also made the course more about engineering in general than specifically civil by having a final project of a Rube Goldberg machine, showing us the hydrogen fuel cell car he was using at the time, and allowing us to write our final paper on any topic we found interesting. He was also the most popular teacher among the three engineering courses running that summer.
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VRINDA VASAVADA
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I had the opportunity to have Mike as a professor during a three-week Stanford summer program for high schoolers, and he has been an extremely supportive mentor for me ever since. The program was an introduction to civil engineering, and Mike was able to teach a range of concepts, from basic to more advanced, to students with all levels of experience. His sense of humor made the class engaging for every type of learner. In designing the curriculum, he chose hands-on projects that would make us excited about the content; and with much success, since I owe much of my current love for building things to him! I still remember the final project, building a Rube Goldberg machine. Mike encouraged us to challenge ourselves -- to choose features that were hard to build and perfect and to experiment with new media that we had never worked with before. The project taught us about the joys and challenges of building complex systems as a team, and it was an incredible learning experience.
Since then, Mike has been an incredible mentor, connecting me to great opportunities and helping me explore my interests. He has been critical to my intellectual growth and success, as well as that of myriads of other students, in the classroom and beyond! |
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