Nominations open: 2027 Romeo L. Moruzzi Young Faculty Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Education

Dear Colleagues,

The Educational Development Council (EDC) is now soliciting nominations for the 2027 Romeo L. Moruzzi Young Faculty Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Education. Romeo was a dedicated professor of Electrical Engineering and a founder of the WPI Plan. Presented annually since 1999, this memorial award recognizes early-career faculty members at WPI for specific innovations or improvements to undergraduate education.  The innovations must result in benefits such as:
  • enhanced motivation
  • conceptual understanding
  • reinforcement of knowledge
  • real-world applications of theory

Recipients from the last five years are showcased on the Awards webpage.

Eligibility

Again, this year and with the support of the Moruzzi family and other donors, TWO award recipients may be selected, across dual-mission and teaching-mission faculty, whether on or off the tenure track. To be eligible for the award, an early-career faculty member must meet both of the following requirements at the time of nomination:

  1. Appointed at WPI in a full-time position for less than six full years (with allowances made for parental leaves)
  2. Hold the title of Assistant Professor, Assistant Teaching Professor, or Assistant Research Professor, Instructor/Lecturer, Professor of Practice, or Assistant Professor of Teaching. (Those under consideration for tenure, promotion, or reappointment this year are still eligible.)
Nomination Process

Any student, staff, or faculty member who wishes to nominate an eligible faculty member is asked to complete a brief online form by December 18,2026. Self-nominations are welcome.  After the form is submitted, nominees will be notified. 

Nominating someone is easy using the brief online form!

  1. A nomination is simply a sentence or two describing the specific innovation, initiative, or improvement made by the nominee. Details about the remainder of the process will be sent to nominees and can also be found at the bottom of the award webpage. 
  2. Nominees will be asked to apply with an online form that they will receive with the nomination form.  The nominee will be in the best position to define the focus of the nomination and to solicit support letters. by January 20, 2027. 

Each award will be $5,000 in professional development funds, and the winner(s) will be announced at the Faculty Awards Convocation in April 2027.

Please reach out to the morgan-center@wpi.edu if you have questions.

Sincerely,

Jessi Hill, Director, Morgan Center, Ex Officio EDC Chair, Associate Professor, SSPS

Michael Buckholt, Teaching Professor, Biology & Biotechnology (Provost appointee 2024-2027)

Stacy Shaw, Assistant Professor, Social Science & Policy Studies (CAP appointee 2025-2028)

Farnoush Reshadi, Assistant Professor, The Business School (COG appointee 2026-2029)

Kate Beverage, Associate CIO, Academic Technologies

Caitlin Neer, Instructional Designer, Morgan Teaching and Learning Center and Information Technology Services 

Emilia Costa, Student, Mechanical Engineering, ‘28 (SGA appointee 2026-2027)

Mary Courtemanche, Operations Manager, Morgan Center