Michael Clarkson, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science in the Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, was awarded the 2021 Tau Beta Pi Professor of the Year Award from the College of Engineering Alumni Association. As noted by Tau Beta Pi President, Alexa Podolsky:
Michael Clarkson has been selected as Professor of the Year for his incredible dedication toward the success of all of his students. He is extremely supportive of his students and teaching assistants, providing them with bite-sized online videos for effective learning, moving office hours to virtual consultation rooms on Discord, and frequently asking for and implementing feedback to address concerns. Professor Clarkson has consistently displayed both passion and empathy to bring out the best in his students.
In the last decade, other computer science faculty have also won this prestigious award, including: Robert Kleinberg '97 (2012), Walker White, M.S. '98, Ph.D. '00 (2014), Anne Bracy (2019), and again, Walker White (2020).
In related award-winning teaching news, Rafael Pass, Professor of Computer Science, who sits at Cornell Tech, is the recipient of the CTSG Faculty Teaching Award for the 2020-2021 academic year. The CTSG notes that the award "speaks to the impact" Pass has had "on the campus community during this unprecedented year." Pass was honored at a Virtual Recognition Ceremony.