Kahraman Presented 2009 Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching

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Every year, The Ohio State University honors about ten faculty members from the more than 3000 faculty members in the university, for their superior teaching abilities. The Department of Mechanical Engineering recently had one of its own recognized for this distinction as Dr. Ahmet Kahraman was awarded the 2009 Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching.

Kahraman joined Ohio State in 2003 after working at the University of Toledo where he was an Associate Professor as well as the Director of the Center for Gear Research. During his tenure at Ohio State he has taught a number of courses that cover different aspects of the dynamic behavior of mechanical systems. In addition to the time he spends in the classroom, Kahraman also serves as the Director of the Gear and Power Transmission Research Laboratory where he interacts with a large number of students and staff, as well as more than 50 different companies who are consortium members of the lab.

Teaching was not in Kahraman's original plans when he graduated with his Ph.D. from Ohio State in 1990; he was originally focused on becoming a researcher upon graduation. During his ten years in industry working as a researcher, he learned that he enjoyed working with junior engineers and summer interns and it was then that he realized that he should "go into teaching."  Ohio State has certainly benefited from his decision.

One of Kahraman's former students said, "Dr. Kahraman has an uncanny ability to inspire students to take a serious interest in the subject and push them to want to learn more. I cannot think of another professor or teacher that I have had over the years of my continuing education that has challenged and inspired me to want to learn more than Dr. Kahraman."

When asked about the significance of the award, Dr. Kahraman said, "It's something [that] I'll value more than any other award because it's initiated by the students. It's because of them that I am being honored with this award. To me, that means that I am making a positive impact on them. My goal is to help teach the next generation of students the fundamentals of engineering."

If this award is any indication, he is certainly achieving what he set out to do.

Award winners are nominated by current and previous students as well as their colleagues. Kahraman will receive a cash award made possible through contributions from the Alumni Association, friends of Ohio State, and the Office of Academic Affairs and he will receive an increase in his base salary, with funding from the Office of Academic Affairs. Kahraman will also be inducted into the University's Academy of Teaching. Kahraman's selection marks the second year in a row that a Mechanical Engineering faculty member has been honored with this prestigious award and the fifth such time in the last eight years. Previous award winners include Dennis Guenther (2008), Blaine Lilly (2006), Gary Kinzel (2005), and the interim Dean of the College of Engineering, Greg Washington (2002).

Category: Faculty