Sources: Julia Keen, 785-532-3575, jkeen@k-state.edu;
and David Fritchen, 785-532-5964, dfritch@k-state.edu
Photo available. Contact media@k-state.edu or 785-532-6415.
News release prepared by: Beth Bohn, 785-532-6415, bbohn@k-state.edu

Monday, Aug. 24, 2009

K-STATE'S JULIA KEEN RECEIVES 2009 OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARD FROM REGIONAL SECTION OF AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION

MANHATTAN -- Julia Keen, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering's department of architectural engineering and construction science at Kansas State University, is receiving the 2009 Outstanding Teaching Award from the Midwest Section of the American Society of Engineering Education.

The award, given by each section of the association, recognizes outstanding classroom performance by teachers of engineering and engineering technology students. Candidates must be from ABET/CEAB-accredited engineering or engineering technology programs.

"The awards committee cited professor Keen for creating a foundation of industry-based concepts and problem-solving skills in her classes, creating valued-added education for her students and the K-State architectural engineering and construction science programs," said David Fritchen, head of K-State's department of architectural engineering and construction science. "Additionally, the committee noted that her efforts are drawing acclaim from the programs' stakeholder industries and from both her current and former students. They said she has set a high measure for teaching at K-State and for the society's Midwest Section."

Keen joined K-State in 2003. Her many honors include becoming the first engineering faculty member in the nation to achieve the designation of High-Performance Building Design Professional from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

She also was recognized by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers as its 2007 student chapter adviser of the year. Keen was one of the faculty advisers to the chapter's competition team that placed first in the society's 2009 Student Design Competition. In addition, Keen received one of K-State's Putting Students First awards in 2007.

Keen received a bachelor's and a master's in architectural engineering from K-State.