Xiwen Kang and Obaidullah (Obaid) Rahman have received 2021 Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Awards from Notre Dame Graduate School and the Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning.
Graduate students are nominated by faculty in their department. Award-winners receive a certificate, a letter documenting the award, and an honorarium.
A second-year graduate student, Kang worked as a teaching assistant in EE-40453 Communications Systems and EE-30344 Signals and Systems. He helped faculty members transition labs to complete online instruction during the COVID lockdown and adjusted the courses for hybrid learning. He also worked with undergraduates, helping them navigate the issues associated with rigorous courses and online labs.
“Xiwen’s efforts to adapt courses and labs for remote learning were Herculean,” said J. Nicholas Laneman, professor of electrical engineering and director of graduate studies. “Students and faculty alike praised his service during challenging times.”
Rahman, who will defend his thesis later this year, served as teaching assistant for EE-20224 Introduction to Electric Circuit Analysis. Faculty pointed out his dedication, dependability, and compassion for students.
“Obaid consistently delivered results beyond his call of duty as a teaching assistant,” said Yih-Fang Huang, professor of electrical engineering and senior associate dean for education and undergraduate programs.
“He worked well with the students as they made the difficult transition to a complete remote system and helped make online instruction more effective.”
— Nina Welding, College of Engineering