Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar - VCUQ, Doha - Gallery news: VCUQatar Faculty Receives Distinguished Educator and Service Award

VCUQatar Faculty Receives Distinguished Educator and Service Award (30.9.2009)

Dr. John Schmeelk receiving his award from Dr. Phillip Smith

Doha, Qatar - Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar's Professor of Mathematics Dr. John Schmeelk was honored with the 2009 Distinguished Educator and Service Award from the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE). The award was presented by Dr. Phillip Smith at the ASEE national meeting held in Austin, Texas, USA in June 2009.

The American Society for Engineering Education annually recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of engineering and engineering technology educators through the ASEE awards program. Awards for Mathematics have been presented since 1999. "Being in ASEE for over 30 years, I have a long history with its Mathematics Division," said Dr. Schmeelk. "The Distinguished Service and Education Award was established years ago by my former father-in-law, who was also one of my mentors. Consequently, to be recognized by the membership as worthy of this award is especially meaningful to me, and receiving it was one of the finest moments in my career," he added.

Dr. John Schmeelk is a respected and admired member of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program at VCUQatar. He came to VCUQatar in 2001 from the home campus in Richmond for a one-year stay at the invitation of Paul Petrie, who was then Dean. "That year was a life-changing experience and such an exciting assignment that now, in 2009, I find myself still charmed by the friendliness and kindness characteristic of the student-instructor rapport in our multi-cultural environment," he said.

Dr. Schmeelk joined ASEE in 1976 and began his career with the organization as a Director of the Mathematics Division during the academic years 1977-1980. During the last 28 years he has served the division as Chairman and Program Chairman several times and as Newsletter Editor from 1989-1996. From 1989-1997 he was Editor and Peer Review Coordinator for the Annual National Meeting Proceedings, Mathematics Division.

Dr. Schmeelk's primary research areas are generalized functions and wavelet transforms. In 2003 his paper, 'Wavelet Transforms on Two-Dimensional Images', published online in the Elsevier journal, Mathematical and Computer Modeling, was recognized as the most frequently downloaded paper for that year. He has spoken on his technical results around the world, including presentations in Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, India, Japan, France, Australia, Turkey, United Arab Emirate, Hungary, Canada, and throughout the USA.

"Dr. Schmeelk has been here since 2001 and has remained a leader in our educational programming," said Byrad Yyelland, Director of Liberal Arts and Sciences at VCUQatar. "He is also one of the most popular and effective instructors at VCUQatar where the students fondly refer to him as Dr. John. The Distinguished Service and Education Award from the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) is just one of numerous awards received by this phenomenal scientist and genuinely nice man. We are all exceedingly proud of John and I couldn't be happier for him," he concluded.

About American Society for Engineering Education
Founded in 1893, the American Society for Engineering Education is a nonprofit organization of individuals and institutions committed to furthering education in engineering and engineering technology. ASEE develops policies and programs that enhance professional opportunities for engineering faculty members, and promotes activities that support increased student enrollments in engineering and engineering technology colleges and universities. Strong communication and collaboration with national and international organizations further advances ASEE's mission. ASEE also fulfills its mission by providing a valuable communication link among corporations, government agencies, and educational institutions. ASEE's 12,000+ members include deans, department heads, faculty members, students, and government and industry representatives who hail from all disciplines of engineering and engineering technology. ASEE's organizational membership is composed of 400 engineering and engineering technology colleges and affiliates, more than 50 corporations, and numerous government agencies and professional associations. ASEE directs many of its efforts at providing for open and ongoing dialogues among these groups. For more information, please visit www.asee.org.

About Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar:
Established in the US in 1838 and in Qatar in 1998, Virginia Commonwealth University offers students from all over the world the opportunity to earn Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in fashion, graphic, interior design and painting & printmaking and a Master of Fine Arts degree in design studies. A team of highly skilled professors provide rigorous curricula that prepare students to assume leadership roles in the professional design field of their choice. VCUQatar regularly organizes and hosts exhibitions, gallery events, world-class conferences and holds an annual fashion show. VCUQatar is supported and funded by the Qatar Foundation. For more information please visit www.qatar.vcu.edu

About Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development
Founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, Qatar Foundation is a private, non-profit organization committed to the principle that a nation's greatest natural resource is its people. The headquarters of Qatar Foundation are located within its flagship project, Education City, a fourteen million square-meter campus which hosts numerous progressive learning institutions and centers of research, including branch campuses of six of the world's leading universities, plus a cutting-edge research and development center. Qatar Foundation also works to enhance the quality of life in Qatar by investing in community health and development.
For more information please visit: http://www.qf.org.qa