Tangali Sudarshan, a professor of electrical engineering in the College of Engineering and Information Technology, received the University's highest teaching honor--the Michael J. Mungo Distinguished Professor of the Year Award--at the 2006 General Faculty Meeting Awards Presentation April 26.

The award, given annually to an outstanding teacher of undergraduates, is selected by a committee of undergraduate students and former winners.

Also, the Michael J. Mungo Graduate Teaching Award was presented to Manoj Malhotra of the Moore School of Business.

Joanne Herman

Julie Hubbert

Sudarshan, a native of India, specializes in high-voltage engineering and has built an international reputation in the area of growth and use of silicon carbide. Among the four patents he holds or has pending is one involving bone-implant biomaterials. His many teaching and research honors and awards include a Carolina Distinguished Professorship, Sigma Chi Excellence in Teaching Award, and Mortar Board Excellence in Teaching Award.

Student testimonials praised Sudarshan's enthusiasm and his knowledge:

• "constantly challenging students to think"
• "instrumental in preparing engineering sophomores for the rigors of upper-division engineering courses"
• "approaches each semester with enthusiasm that is contagious"
• "one who loves his career and students most"
• "really wants students to learn more in his classes."

Mark Becker, USC's executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, saluted Sudarshan's commitment to the University.

"His selection as the Michael J. Mungo Distinguished Professor of the Year Award is another example of the outstanding research and teaching that Professor Sudarshan has provided to the University over his 24 years of service to USC," Becker said.

Malhotra, winner of the top graduate teaching award, is chair of the Moore School's Department of Management Science. His honors and awards include the Alfred G. Smith Teaching Excellence Award, the Moore School Master Teacher Award, and seven Outstanding Professor awards. He is a two-time winner of the Stan Hardy Award for the best paper published in the field of operations management.

Other awards presented at the faculty meeting included the following:

• John Weidner, chemical engineering, Golden Key Faculty Award for Creative Integration of Research and Undergraduate Teaching
• Sandra J. Kelly, psychology, Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award
• Kendrick Clements, history, Ada B. Thomas Outstanding Faculty Advisor, and Eileen Korpita, Ada B. Thomas Outstanding Staff Advisor
• Stanley Dubinsky, English, Russell Research Award for Humanities and Social Sciences
• Vicki Vance, biological sciences, Russell Research Award for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering
• Alexander McDonald, medicine, USC Educational Foundation Research Award for Health Sciences
• Virginia Scotchie, art, USC Educational Foundation Research Award for Humanities and Social Sciences
• Subhash Sharma, business, USC Educational Foundation Research Award for Professional Schools
• Hans-Conrad zur Loye, chemistry and biochemistry, USC Educational Foundation Research Award for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering
• Chaden Djalali, physics and astronomy, USC Educational Foundation Outstanding Service Award
• David Cowart, department of English, Carolina Trustee Professorship in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Areas
• Kim Creek, medicine, Carolina Trustee Professorship in the Health, Engineering, Medical, and Science and Mathematics Areas.

4/06