February 18, 2019
Kulesza named Cornerstone Teaching Scholar
Stacey Kulesza, Kansas State University assistant professor of civil engineering, has been named a Darold and Debbie Davis Cornerstone Teaching Scholar by the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering.
Cornerstone Teaching Scholars receive a three-year appointment that includes additional financial support for assistants, travel, equipment, summer salary, etc. The award encourages the college's best teaching instructors and professors to teach the most fundamental courses in the sophomore and junior years. The goal is to improve student retention and graduation rates by ensuring students receive the best possible learning experiences in the early formative stages.
Funded by Darold, 1970 K-State graduate in civil engineering, and Debbie Davis, Ketchum, Oklahoma, the award will honor the couple and promote teaching excellence in the department of civil engineering.
Kulesza joined the civil engineering faculty at K-State in 2013. Her research focuses on nondestructive testing and monitoring of deteriorating infrastructure, geophysical testing and soil erosion potential. Research sponsors include the National Science Foundation, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Kansas Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Kansas Water Research Institute.
In 2018, Kulesza was named a Steve Hsu Keystone Research Scholar, received the Kansas State University College of Engineering Outstanding Professor Award, the ASCE Section 7 Outstanding Engineer Volunteer Award and the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers Tri-Valley Young Engineer of the Year Award. She was a nominated speaker at SPOTLIGHT K-State in 2016 for innovative teaching practices. In 2015, she received the Kansas State University Department of Civil Engineering Outstanding Teaching award and the Chi Epsilon Advisor of the Year award.