Janet Dong, PhD, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Cincinnati, has been awarded the Distinguished Teaching Professor Award. The recognition is reserved for faculty members at the university who have made significant contributions to student education through teaching, curriculum development, and mentorship. Dong carries an impressive pedigree, holding a PhD from Columbia University and a prior position as a professor in engineering technology at Metropolitan State College of Denver before dedicating over two decades of her career to UC.
In her current role, Dr. Dong directs the UC Center for Robotics Research and has impacted the lives of numerous students. She's advised many senior capstone projects, is a guiding force behind two student organizations and plays a vital role in mentoring Joint Co-op Institute students—a collaborative program between UC and Chongqing University in China. One of Dong's standout achievements is the development of the new Robotics and Automation Lab, which serves as a state-of-the-art teaching facility that has benefited over 200 students, as reported by the University of Cincinnati News.
This lab, nestled in Rhodes Hall, provides hands-on experience with advanced robotics systems and supports several courses, including Manufacturing Automation and Introduction to Robotics, both instructed by Dr. Dong. Former student Jian Su told University of Cincinnati News, "Dr. Dong's passion for teaching, commitment to her students, and exceptional mentorship have made a profound and lasting impact on my academic experience." Su's commendation reflects the widespread appreciation for Dong's dedication, especially during the pandemic, when she went above and beyond to connect with JCI students attending classes remotely.
The esteem for Dr. Dong within the academic community is evident in her collection of accolades including the CEAS Master Educator Awards, the Neil Wandmacher Teaching Award, and the Sarah Grant Barber Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award. Moreover, student teams under her tutelage have notably won awards at the annual CEAS EXPO and have gone on to publish papers at the ASME Conference, underscoring the depth of her mentorship. These achievements, alongside the latest Distinguished Teaching Award, solidify Dong's stature as an educator of rare dedication and impact—a fact that UC and her students can attest to with pride.
