A Zachary Trimble
2021 Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
A Zachary Trimble is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering. He is an inspiration to his students to whom he has been an extraordinary mentor and teacher. A colleague shared, “In truth, I wish we could 3D print a dozen more Zacs. Such is the inspiring effect that he has had on faculty and staff alike.” A student wrote, “Professor Trimble’s course reminded me why I wanted to be an engineer and raised my own expectations for the quality of my work,” validating a core value in Trimble’s teaching that students discover for themselves a lasting desire to explore a subject on their own. He acts as chief technology officer of an engineering company and treats students as newly hired engineers. Students report on their current progress, which requires them to take ownership of their projects, transitioning to defining their own tasks and really understanding their significance in the context of each project.
2021 Teaching Awardees