Honor Roll – Tau Beta Pi California Gamma Chapter at Stanford

Teaching Honor Roll

Recipients

The Teaching Honor Roll was created to incentivize consistently outstanding teaching and to show faculty members that students appreciate their hard work. Faculty can be nominated for the Stanford Tau Beta Pi Teaching Honor Roll by any Stanford student, and recipients are selected annually by the Stanford Tau Beta Pi membership.

2023-24

	Ross Venook
	Bioengineering
	“Ross is quite possibly the best instructor I have ever had at Stanford. I have never seen another instructor be so legitimately interested in the course material while also being incredibly caring about the students. In both BIOE 141A,B and BIOE 123, Ross would stay late into the night to help teams finish their project, would stay for hours after class to discuss interesting concepts, and would be extremely patient in helping students troubleshoot issues by themselves. Perhaps the best indication of his supportiveness was when he stayed in the lab past midnight on the final day of class to help students complete their projects.”
	Mehran Sahami
	Computer Science
	“He is truly dedicated to CS education for everyone, always thinking of new ways to make it more accessible—as evidenced by his position as CS chair and number of years spent as the advisor for CS education.”
	Jay Borenstein
	Computer Science
	“Jay makes a dedicated effort to fill the gap between curriculum taught in classes and practical skills for the industry/real world. He and the guest speakers he brings in share valuable insights from their unique experiences.”
	Kathleen Eisenhardt
	Management Science & Engineering
	“Professor Eisenhardt’s MS&E 180 is one of the reasons why I declared as a MS&E major. Even while she was on sabbatical, she came back to campus because she saw that I was hosting an event, and her presence really made me feel connected to Stanford Professors!”
	Fredrik Kjolstad
	Computer Science
	“Dr Fred is very supportive and caring of his students and while I have just taken one class with him (CS 143), I felt enthusiastic and motivated throughout! It was a unique experience and I also had a rough time during the quarter and felt that I had support which made me cope with a difficult time. After CS 143, I also engaged in research with him and continue to feel motivated and supported as I work with him.”
	Itai Ashlagi
	Management Science & Engineering
	“Professor Itai has always been there for students when we need it; for our senior project course, he would go out of his way to help us review our content even the night before our presentation. He is incredibly kind and makes an effort to get to know his students. As a person who has taken two classes with him, I can confidently say that he is an amazing Professor!”
	Dan Boneh
	Computer Science
	“Dan teaches cryptography classes in way that shows how passionate and excited he is about the field. I fell in love with cryptography because of his energy and am now I am going to pursue a full time role in blockchain. He makes very complex and abstract concepts accessible and cares a lot about getting students into the space.”
	Jerry Cain
	Computer Science
	“Jerry is one of the most outstanding lecturers out there. His explanations are extremely clear, and he is always willing to go above and beyond to support students. Even if the material is complex, Jerry has a special ability to make the information digestible. Despite teaching classes with hundreds of students, he will alway make time for individual student attention. There is no lecturer like him on campus.”
	Mykel Kochenderfer
	Aeronautics and Astronautics
	“He is the most caring professor I’ve ever met! He is an incredible teacher and cares about his students outside of just class.”
	Nick Troccoli
	Computer Science
	“Nick’s enthusiasm always energizes the entire classroom. I had him for CS111, where his consistent happiness and overall engagement with the material made every day a joy. There aren’t many lecturers who will stay up until 3am answering questions on Ed, but somehow, Nick finds a way! He always goes above and beyond for the students, which I will always be grateful for.”

2022-23

	Chris Piech
	Computer Science
	“His energy is unmatched and his teaching style makes the course incredibly accessible to those who have never programmed before. I believe that the CS 106A program, and Chris in particular, are why so many students end up majoring in computer science at Stanford.“
	Keith Schwarz
	Computer Science
	“I was amazed by how caring and kind he was to his students. He spent hours in office hours patiently reviewing concepts, and he has a masterful way of breaking things down and numerous methods of conveying concepts.”
	Mykel Kochenderfer
	Aeronautics and Astronautics
	“Mykel is the kindest professor I know! He truly cares about students and want to help them succeed, both in his class but in life in general. He is a fantastic teacher and an even better person. ”
	John Ousterhout
	Computer Science
	“He takes the time to read through EVERY line of our projects, which sums to tens of thousands of lines of code. He then leaves nearly one hundred substantive comments AND even schedules an hour to discuss each one of them with us. This is truly a remarkable feat.“
	Jerry Cain
	Computer Science
	“Jerry is a great teacher and cares about student wellbeing so deeply, especially during Covid. He wants everyone to learn but also takes care to protect student mental health with fair and thoughtful grading policies. ”
	Julie Zelenski
	Computer Science
	“Julie Zelenski was actually the first professor I had visited in office hours, back during the fall quarter of my freshman year. Within that hour, I truly felt her role in making CS more accessible to everyone at Stanford and for all the women in the field.”
	Kunal Mukherjee
	Mathematical and Computational Science
	“Kunal has an infectious enthusiasm for the classes he teaches. He wants to make sure the students enjoy and understand what they are learning, so he bases a lot of his courses on the students’ questions and interests.”
	Jack Fuchs
	Management Science and Engineering
	“Jack is one of few lecturers that takes feedback super seriously and tries to dynamically update the feedback he gets throughout the course of the quarter, not just for future classes.“
	Guosong Hong
	Material Science and Engineering
	“Guosong has a high level of enthusiasm for the topics he teaches that is palpable even through emails and Canvas announcements. He possess a great amount a patience to aid in our success and learning in addition to having a great ability to explain things based on your level of background knowledge.“
	Chelsea Finn
	Computer Science
	“Chelsea is an amazingly accomplished researcher, even though she is just in the beginning of her career. But more than that, she makes concepts seem completely intuitive for her students. In creating a new class, she has put in so much work to provide her students with a seamless learning experience.“
	John Pauly
	Electrical Engineering
	“Pauly’s excitement for all things EE makes it really hard not to be curious and excited to learn what the tools of EE can allow you to do, and there’s some magic in the pacing and the way he teaches that takes a subject often touted as complex and hard, and breaks it down into something that feels very practical and doable.“
	Stephen Monismith
	Civil and Environmental Engineering
	“Stephen continues to be supportive of his students as they navigate their time in college, from serving as my advisor to doing coffee chats with my classmates and I. He is such a joy to have here, and I’m so grateful to have been taught by him! ”

2021-22

	Christina Wodtke
	Computer Science
	“Christina’s classes were always incredibly exciting and informative; she’s so supportive of all her students and brings an enthusiasm that is unmatched.”
	Paul Mitiguy
	Mechanical Engineering
	“Paul’s passion for physics and engineering shines; he is an astonishing instructor who accepts all students at every level, encourages all questions, and makes physics feel real.”
	Kayvon Fatahalian
	Computer Science
	“Kayvon is able to describe complex parallel systems intuitively, and most importantly, he gives students the confidence to pursue computing beyond the classroom.”
	Ross Venook
	Bioengineering
	“Ross is an incredible teacher and mentor-hands-down the most selfless, service-driven, engaged, positive, kind, caring, and genuine professor I have ever had the privilege of learning from.”
	Fernando Mujica
	Electrical Engineering
	“Fernando was caring, knowledgeable, and fun; he went out of his way to make sure each student had what they needed to succeed, spending extra time with those who were struggling.”
	Nick Troccoli
	Computer Science
	“Nick’s distinguished teaching made CS accessible, particularly due to the organized and clear lectures and unmatched support on our class online forum.”
	Sheri Sheppard
	Mechanical Engineering
	“Sheri’s excellence in teaching comes not only from her complete mastery or material but also from her devotion outside of the classroom to ensuring that students with marginalized identities feel safe and listened to.”
	Andrew Barrows
	Aeronautics & Astronautics
	“Professor Barrows brings an exceptional eagerness to class. He cares about the learning of his students as well as their enjoyment and engagement with the material.”
	Drew Endy
	Bioengineering
	“Drew encourages every student to tailor bioengineering to their own visions and strengths by showing people the potential of the field without prescribing what to do.”
	Adam Bouland
	Computer Science
	“Professor Bouland explained the technical details and intuition so clearly, and he gave extremely detailed and insightful answers to questions, even for parts distantly related to the lecture.”
	Riitta Katila
	Management Science & Engineering
	“Ritta is an amazing instructor; her class had fun activities that pushed us to think creatively and expand our abilities, and you could tell how invested she was in the success of every student.”
	Cynthia Lee
	Computer Science
	“Cynthia is one of the kindest, most down to earth instructors that I’ve had. Her office hours helped me approach the answer on my own and greatly enhanced my learning.”

2019-20

	Ross Venook
	Bioengineering
	“Ross is everything you could ask for in an engineering mentor; he is extremely knowledgeable about all things in his field, and he refuses to let a question go unanswered.”
	Julie Zelenski
	Computer Science
	“Julie listened to all of the feedback that she got from students, even going so far as to immediately begin working on fixes for issues that were just minor inconveniences.”
	Kyle Douglas
	Civil and Environmental Engineering
	“Widely lauded by students as an incredible professor, Kyle truly cares about students’ learning and overall well-being.”
	Roseanna Zia
	Chemical Engineering
	“Roseanna is the most organized professor I have had; her lectures were clear, thorough, rigorous, accurate, and so easy to follow.”
	Steve Collins
	Mechanical Engineering
	“Steve did a fantastic job of motivating all of the concepts brought up in lecture, and the projects were well designed to directly apply these ideas through hands-on experience.”
	Mary Wootters
	Computer Science & Electrical Engineering
	“Not only is Mary quick to adapt course content, speed, and style to what students need throughout the quarter, but she puts incredible effort into making the content approachable.”
	Russ Altman
	Bioengineering
	“Russ Altman brings enthusiasm, humor, and passion for the subject to every lecture, office hour, and meeting.”
	Nicholas Ouellette
	Civil and Environmental Engineering
	““Not only are Nick’s responses to questions energetic, clear, and helpful, but they are also kind, which allows students to feel comfortable being totally honest about their points of confusion.”
	Melissa Valentine
	Management Science and Engineering
	“Melissa inspires curiosity, not just in the subject matter, but in the interests of her students.”
	Jian Qin
	Chemical Engineering
	“Jian ensured every student was welcome in his classroom, always enthusiastically checking in with us about our days and remembering everything we told him.”
	Paul Vorster
	Bioengineering
	“Paul actively takes on the challenge of not just teaching us content, but engaging us with content.”
	Parth Sarin
	Computer Science
	“Parth is proactively helpful and goes out of his way to ensure students are getting the help they need for the course material.”

2018-19

	Ali Mani
	Mechanical Engineering
	“He really cares about all students in his classes and makes significant efforts to get to know them individually, to understand their needs and looks to find ways on how to support their unique interests.”
	Chris Edwards
	Mechanical Engineering
	“Chris was able to teach everything flawlessly and could explain complex topics in a way that just made perfect sense.”
	Chris Gregg
	Computer Science
	“Prof. Gregg did everything in his power to not only help us learn, but to also make the labs fun, interesting, and applicable; he pushed us, and encouraged us to take risks in order to advance our learning to the fullest potential.”
	David Beach
	Mechanical Engineering
	“He has a unique way of engaging the whole class; I have never met anyone with as much passion for teaching and learning.”
	David Obershaw
	Electrical Engineering
	“David made sure to cover product development from all angles, so that not only did each person understand insights in the context of their background, but all people acquired a holistic understanding of those principles.”
	Jeff Koseff
	Civil and Environmental Engineering
	“Prof. Koseff cares deeply about every single student in his class, as exemplified by his memorization of every single student’s name.”
	John Eaton
	Mechanical Engineering
	“John is a great professor and really expresses his desire to make sure everyone in the class understands the material; he goes above and beyond inside and outside the classroom to help you learn the best.”
	Mary Wootters
	Computer Science & Electrical Engineering
	“Prof. Wootters was an exceptional instructor: she channeled her passion for algorithmic design into the course, teaching lectures like stories and conveying the beauty of the subject.”
	Paul Mitiguy
	Mechanical Engineering
	“Paul is an exemplary instructor who makes time for his passion: teaching students – it is abundantly clear to me that he cares about student health and effective learning.”
	Ross Venook
	Bioengineering
	“His positivity and energy are boundless, and through this attitude he lifts team spirits and creates an atmosphere where failure and troubleshooting is not only okay but celebrated.”
	Thomas Kenny
	Mechanical Engineering
	“Tom pours himself into the class; he held the late night office hours, and would frequently stay even later if students were still working as he is extremely devoted to his students’ learning.”
	Tina Seelig
	Management Science and Engineering
	“Tina’s courses focus on innovation and have been some of the most eye opening experiments I have had; Tina is an amazing role model, innovator, and advocate.”

2017-18

	Jerry Cain
	Computer Science
	“Jerry is an extremely accessible teacher who is always responsive and willing to engage with you. He goes the extra mile to tailor his classes in order to best suit the students.”
	Alexander R. Dunn
	Chemical Engineering
	“Professor Dunn lectures in a way to make the material not only digestible but also engaging; he encourages critical thinking and understanding beyond rote memorization.”
	John K. Eaton
	Mechanical Engineering
	“Professor Eaton is an incredible mentor and a phenomenal instructor. His vision for a better undergraduate major extends far beyond the classroom.”
	Chris Edwards
	Mechanical Engineering
	“An incredibly welcoming, energetic, engaging, thoughtful, and passionate instructor. Chris truly cares about his students and is willing to go out of his way to make sure they succeed.”
	Margot Gerritsen
	Energy Resource Engineering
	“Margot constantly strives to improve herself and her students at all levels while also recognizing current strengths and accomplishments. She is a phenomenal teacher, researcher, and lifelong learner.”
	Christopher Gregg
	Computer Science
	“Chris truly wanted us to succeed: He gave us no shortage of resources, encouraged us to think beyond the scope of the class, and made a point to learn not just everyone’s name, but who everyone was.”
	Joseph M. Kahn
	Electrical Engineering
	“I have never had a professor invest so much time in me outside of class, and I admire Professor Kahn for how much he cares about education.”
	Jan Liphardt
	Bioengineering
	“Jan is an inspiring lecturer who encourages students to go after grand challenges. He goes out of his way to make himself available for advice, be it academic or professional.”
	Paul Mitiguy
	Mechanical Engineering
	“Paul takes a personal stake in all his students, knows them all by name, and is always looking for ways to keep the class entertained and moving forward.”
	Dwight G. Nishimura
	Electrical Engineering
	“He is an amazing teacher who genuinely cares about his students. Not only were his lectures structured well and taught well, but he also knows when to inject humor to keep the class on its toes.”
	Allison M. Okamura
	Mechanical Engineering
	“Professor Okamura has opened doors that I never believed would be available to me. Her mentorship has been the most valuable experience I have had at Stanford.”
	Chris Piech
	Computer Science
	“In a huge feat for an introductory class with hundreds of students, Chris empowered us to see how, as engineers, we could have a positive impact on communities around the world.”

2016-17

	John Barton
	Civil and Environmental Engineering
	”John is a fantastic teacher first and foremost because he cares about student learning […] He is never one to hinder creativity or shy away from a new idea. He provides support and resources, not restrictions.”
	Stephen Boyd
	Electrical Engineering
	“Prof. Boyd’s humor, honesty, approachability, and understanding have shaped, in my mind, the epitome of what a great class and a great professor should be.”
	Jennifer Dionne
	Materials Science and Engineering
	“Beyond her clear pedagogical style and genuine concern for her students, Professor Dionne is inspiring […]I run a tutoring service for underprivileged students, and since taking her classes, I have adopted many of her teaching techniques into my practice.”
	Mykel Kochenderfer
	Aeronautics and Astronautics
	“He designed this class to test comprehension with projects and assessments that built me up and redoubled my interest in the subject. […] Mykel is a real role model to me, and I hope that I can channel even some fraction of his kind energy, passion, and warmth into my own teaching endeavors.”
	Percy Liang
	Computer Science
	“Professor Liang’s CS 221, an introduction to artificial intelligence, was perhaps my favorite technical course at Stanford. While he grounded the algorithms with mathematical rigor, he emphasized the intuitions motivating these techniques to make them more accessible.”
	Reza Mahalati
	Electrical Engineering
	“EE 263 is one of the best taught, best organized, and most useful classes at Stanford. It was obvious from day 1 that Reza really cared about optimizing his teaching for the students.”
	Paul Mitiguy
	Mechanical Engineering
	“His courses are filled with smiles and laughs – from us students, him, and his phenomenal TA team. Paul cares deeply about our success and happiness beyond his courses, will share relevant life advice and stories mid-lecture, and is always open to talk about anything.”
	Parviz Moin
	Mechanical Engineering
	“Prof. Moin presents the messiness of numerical methods with the clarity of pure math, while demonstrating applications in his own field.”
	Rahul Prabala
	Electrical Engineering
	“Rahul is currently teaching EE108 and has been the head TA for EE108 for the last two years. He is by far the main reason why the class functions so well and the students know they can always ask for help and get a rapid response. […] All in all he has been a perfect TA and is doing a great job as an instructor now.”
	Manu Prakash
	Bioengineering
	“His success could be attributed to his inclination to go off the beaten path, and his innovative teaching techniques in BIOE 41 are no exception […] Every conversation with him inside and outside the class piques your interest as he inspires students every day to tackle new problems.”
	Tim Roughgarden
	Computer Science
	“Prof. Roughgarden was not only an excellent instructor in clearly presenting beautiful results at the forefront of algorithms research, but also a wonderful mentor in guiding students through the process of reading papers and delivering a technical talk.”
	Keith Schwarz
	Computer Science
	“Not very many times do I enjoy staying for an 80 minute lecture but Keith’s delivery of the material made it a delight to come to class. On top of that, his passion for teaching was evident in every lecture and every session.”