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Notaros Receives ECE Distinguished Educator Award from ASEE


B. Notaros Head Shot

Dr. Branislav Notaros, a decorated professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Colorado State University, has been selected to receive the 2015 ECE Distinguished Educator Award from the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).

The ECE Distinguished Educator Award is given annually for significant contributions not only to ASEE, but also to the ECE education profession. Notaros was honored "for outstanding contributions to theory and practice of electromagnetics education through innovative textbooks, pioneering pedagogical methodologies, and assessment tools and exceptional achievements in education of ECE university students at all levels."

"I continue to be impressed with Professor Notaros and the honor he brings to CSU. He has made a name for himself as one of the best educators in the world," said ECE Department Head Tony Maciejewksi. "We deeply value his contributions and commitment to our students."

Innovation in the Classroom

Notaros, who joined the department in 2006, creates a learning experience that extends well beyond the classroom. His passion and unique approach to education help students understand electromagnetics, one of the most challenging subjects in the curriculum. He works his magic in the classroom using textbooks he has developed, mixed with a bit of humor.

Prof. Notaros is the author of the 2010 comprehensive textbook Electromagnetics with Pearson Prentice Hall, which introduces many new teaching and learning approaches, techniques, and tools. "Notaros' textbook, Electromagnetics, is becoming the gold standard in the field, widely used by faculty and organizations around the world," said Maciejewski.

Notaros also authored a breakthrough textbook, MATLAB®-Based Electromagnetics, and Conceptual Questions in Electromagnetics, an e-supplement. In addition, his Electromagnetics Concept Inventory (EMCI) assessment tool is being used extensively worldwide for classes and educational research projects.

Growing List of Honors

The ASEE Distinguished Educator Award is Notaros' third significant honor in the past year for contributions to educational scholarship and innovation. Earlier this year, he was chosen by the IEEE – the world's largest professional association with nearly half a million members – as the sole recipient of its Undergraduate Teaching Award. Notaros was also selected last November as the Carnegie Foundation and CASE Colorado Professor of the Year.

In 2014, Colorado State selected Notaros for the Provost’s N. Preston Davis Award for Instructional Innovation. He also received the 2012 IEEE Region 5 Outstanding Engineering Educator Award—with citation "for outstanding contributions to engineering education" and the 2012 Colorado State University System Board of Governors Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award. In 2010, Notaros won the George T. Abell Outstanding Teaching and Service Faculty Award for the College of Engineering.

In addition to his teaching and educational honors, Notaros has gained much recognition for his research, including the 2005 IEEE Microwave Prize, 1999 IEE Marconi Premium, and 2005 UMass Dartmouth Scholar of the Year Award.