Jasna Jankovic named 2024 Distinguished Engineering Educator
By Alec Arbia, Written Communications Assistant
Associate Professor Jasna Jankovic, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Jasna Jankovic, Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), has been recognized by the UConn College of Engineering as a winner of the 2024 Distinguished Engineering Educator Award. The DEE award is bestowed yearly on select engineering faculty for outstanding teaching and innovation at the undergraduate level.
Jankovic has been with UConn since 2018 and has been a valued member of the MSE Department. She has received a number of awards, including Provost Letter of Teaching Excellence in 2019 and 2020, and AAUP Award for Special Achievements 2021. Also in 2021 she received the prestigious NSF CAREER Award, which, besides an innovative research component, has a unique educational component using virtual reality. Jankovic recently received two grants from the Department of Energy, totaling close to $3 million. Her research group’s interests include advanced nanomaterials for clean energy, electrospinning for clean energy applications, and templating nature designs for application in clean energy.
Jankovic’s research is closely interconnected with her teaching, in which she uses creative ways to inspire students to learn. These methods include ideation, design and building of the UConn STEAM Tree, implementing of entrepreneurship aspects in engineering classes, and offering research experiences to undergrads in her lab. Jankovic’s friendly and inclusive teaching style is appreciated by her students, as stated in one of the student support letters. MSE undergrad Jaclyn Grace wrote, “Within my four years at UConn, I have yet to find another professor who loves and cares about each and every one of their students as much as Professor Jankovic. Lectures are tailored to the individual learning styles of those in her class, including having an online synchronous option for students who are traveling or sick, no questions asked.”
When asked how she feels upon receiving this award, Jankovic said that it means a lot to her. “I really care about how students experience learning – for me it is a holistic experience. Students need to be inspired, to enjoy the process, and to trust the instructor. It’s then that learning comes naturally.”
The Distinguished Engineering Educator Award comes with $5,000 and a plaque, the latter of which will be presented to Jankovic on 2024 Design Day, which will be taking place on April 26th in Gampel Pavilion.
Published: April 17, 2024
Categories: awards, faculty, news, research
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