2023 ECE Department Awards Announced
April 1, 2024
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering recently recognized faculty, students and staff with its 2023 awards. The winners of the department’s awards were recognized in front of faculty, students, staff, and the ECE Advisory Board this spring.
Department Head Dr. Samee Khan presented the awards during the recognition lunch, and Graduate Program Coordinator Dr. Jenny Du helped present the winning graduate student awards.
ECE Outstanding Instructor Award
Dr. David Wallace
ECE’s 2023 Outstanding Instructor Award was presented to Assistant Clinical Professor Dr. David Wallace. This award, which recognizes excellence in the classroom, is determined by student evaluations and awarded annually. In addition to teaching Electromagnetics II and Power System Relay Control in 2023, Wallace is also manager of the Paul B. Jacob High Voltage Laboratory.
ECE Outstanding Faculty Researcher
Dr. Vuk Marojevic
For the third year in a row, Associate Professor Dr. Vuk Marojevic has been named the ECE Outstanding Faculty Researcher. Marojevic’s research and fields of interest include software-defined radio, spectrum sharing, resource management, wireless security, vehicular communications, wireless testbeds and testing, and engineering education. He also serves as faculty advisor for IEEE.
ECE Outstanding Staff Award
LaShaunda Bobbett
The 2023 Outstanding Staff Award was presented to LaShaunda Bobbett. Bobbett was selected for the award by the faculty vote of the department in recognition for her hard work and dedication.
Best Graduate Researcher
Md Mehedi Farhad
The 2023 Best Graduate Researcher is Md Mehedi Farhad, whose major professor is Dr. Ali Gurbuz. This award is recognition to one of the department’s graduate students and is selected by the graduate committee based on submissions. Applicants are chosen based on publications, conference papers, oral presentations, and other awards and memberships.
Best Graduate Teaching Assistant
Daegan Appel
Daegan Appel, a graduate student in the department, was announced as the 2023 Best Teaching Assistant. He served as a teaching assistant for both Embedded Systems and Digital System Design. The TA Award is an annual recognition within the department that includes a $1000 award. It is designed to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of a graduate student who is assisting students.
ECE Research Symposium Award
Yehong Peng
Yehong Peng, a graduate student in ECE, was recognized as the winner of the department’s 2023-24 ECE Research Symposium. She won for her presentation “Efficient Reserve Constrained AC Optimal Power Flow.” The annual event allows for the department’s students to present on their research through a poster presentation.
Fall 2023 Exemplary Students of Digital Devices and Logic Design
Samuel English and Matthew Heidorn
Computer Engineering undergraduate Samuel English (left) and Electrical Engineering undergraduate Matthew Heidorn (right) were named as ECE’s Fall 2023 Exemplary Students of Digital Devices and Logic Design. They were recognized by faculty member Jane Moorhead, who taught Digital Devices and Logic Design.
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Mississippi State University consists of 27 faculty members (including seven endowed professors), seven professional staff, and over 700 undergraduate and graduate students, with approximately 100 being at the Ph.D. level. With a research expenditure of over $14.24 million, the department houses the largest High Voltage Laboratory among North American universities.