Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Chairman and Professor Philip L. Varghese was selected to receive the October “Professor of the Month” Award by The University of Texas Faculty Affairs Committee of the Senate of College Councils. The award was presented during the Senate General Assembly meeting on December 1, 2011.

The Faculty Affairs Committee receives nominations from three college councils for the award each month. The award is designed to honor an outstanding tenured or tenure-track professor who exemplifies outstanding teaching ability and a commitment to the students and university. The selection committee focuses on the nominee’s character, classroom interactions and personal achievements.

Mechanical engineering graduate student and Graduate Engineering Council (GEC) President Columbia Mishra nominated Varghese for the award. She is currently enrolled in his Molecular Gas Dynamics class.

According to Mishra, Varghese’s ability to clearly and concisely teach difficult and abstract concepts is a testament to his outstanding teaching qualities.

“His style and ease of teaching makes even difficult concepts really easy to understand and grasp,” Mishra said. “His style of teaching instills a desire to learn in students.”

Mishra also believes that Varghese is deserving of the award because of his dedication and commitment to students even when he has a full plate of administrative and professorial responsibilities.

“Professor Varghese encourages questions and interactions in class. We expected him to be less available since he is the Department Chair but he always has time for our questions both after class and during office hours,” Mishra said. “This has been a very rewarding learning experience. I have been studying engineering for quite a while now and I would not hesitate to call it one of the best classes I have taken in my last seven years as a Bachelors, Masters and now as a PhD student.”

Varghese is a University of Texas Distinguished Teaching Professor. He holds the Stanley P. Finch Centennial Professorship in Engineering and serves as Director of the Center for Aeromechanics Research.