2024 ECEDHA Annual Awards
ECEDHA is pleased to announce the award winners for the 2024 ECEDHA Annual Awards. Awardees will be honored on Sunday, March 23rd during the ECEDHA Awards Ceremony during the 2025 ECEDHA Annual Conference in Norfolk Virginia.
Robert M. Janowiak Outstanding Leadership and Service Award
This award is given to an individual with a sustained record of leadership and service to ECEDHA (primary) and to electrical and computer engineering (secondary). The institution of the individual recognized by this award need not be a member of ECEDHA at the time of the award, nor is it necessary for the candidate to have been a department head. Preference will be given to candidates who have made significant contributions to ECEDHA.
Anthony Macijewski
Colorado State University
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Dr. Anthony A. Maciejewski is recognized for his exceptional contributions to electrical and computer engineering education, research, and leadership.
As Head of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Colorado State University for 19 years and former President of ECEDHA, Dr. Maciejewski has played a pivotal role in shaping engineering education. He led the first NSF Revolutionizing Engineering Departments (RED) grant awarded to an ECE department, earning national recognition, including the ECEDHA Innovative Program award. His dedication to student success is reflected in multiple teaching awards, including CSU’s “Instructional Innovation Award.”
A leading researcher in robotics, Dr. Maciejewski has published over 100 journal articles and mentored 30 Ph.D. students. His work on kinematically redundant robotic systems has been supported by NSF, NASA, DARPA, and industry leaders. An IEEE Fellow, he has provided exemplary service through leadership roles in IEEE and major conferences, including Editor-in-Chief of the IROS Conference Paper Review Board.
For his outstanding leadership and service to the field, Dr. Maciejewski is a deserving recipient of the Robert M. Janowiak Outstanding Leadership and Service Award.
Miguel Velez-Reyez
University of Texas at El Paso
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Dr. Velez-Reyes has played a pivotal role in the success of the 2to4 Scholarship program, which supports students from community colleges in their pursuit of an ECE degree. His efforts have led to six of the 40 scholarship recipients coming from El Paso Community College or the University of Texas, El Paso.
As a co-PI on the scholarship proposal, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership in fostering strong collaborations between UTEP and El Paso Community College, creating a seamless transfer pathway for students. His service on the Inclusive Engineering Consortium board has also contributed to improving policies and practices that support transfer students.
Beyond policy, Dr. Velez-Reyes actively engages with students and faculty, helping to build confidence among students transferring to UTEP. His dedication to expanding scholarship opportunities, strengthening institutional partnerships, and supporting student success makes him a deserving recipient of the
Robert M. Janowiak Outstanding Leadership and Service Award.
ECEDHA Community Development Award
This award is given to department(s) or individual(s) in recognition of proactive efforts to enhance engagement and expand participation within the ECE community, beyond standard institutional practices. The selection is based on a qualitative evaluation of the initiative as described in the nomination form, recognizing and encouraging outstanding efforts that contribute to the growth of ECE programs. The institution associated with the individual or department receiving this award does not need to be an ECEDHA member at the time of the award, nor is it necessary for an individual to have been a department head.
Carlotta Berry
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
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Dr. Berry has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to STEM education and outreach. As the founder of NoireSteminist, Dr. Berry has created an initiative dedicated to inspiring young minds to pursue STEM careers through robotics. By using robotics as an engaging educational tool, she has captured the interest of countless young learners and provided them with a pathway into engineering and technology.
Beyond her individual outreach, Dr. Berry co-founded the Rose-Hulman Building Undergraduate Diversity (RoseBUD) program, which provides scholarships and ongoing support to students. RoseBUD participants take part in various leadership activities, including organizing Spark!, a workshop designed to mentor and inspire local high school students. Through these efforts, Dr. Berry has helped develop the next generation of STEM leaders while fostering a strong sense of community and mentorship.
Dr. Berry’s commitment to education and outreach exemplifies the spirit of this award, making her a truly deserving recipient of the ECEDHA Community Development Award.
ECEDHA Industry Award
This award is given to company(s) or individual(s) in companies in recognition of seminal contributions to engineering education - especially in the ECE disciplines - that go well beyond typical industry-university relations. The selection is based primarily on qualitative evaluation of the educational contributions as described on the nomination form to recognize and encourage effective engagement in engineering education by industry representatives. The individual's company or company recognized by this award need not be a sponsor of ECEDHA at the time of the award.
Clint Cole
Real Digital
For two decades, Digilent, Sparkfun, and Adafruit have empowered students, hobbyists, and engineers to design electronic and embedded systems. Founded within two years of each other, these companies have introduced electronics to diverse audiences through innovative products and educational resources.
Clint Cole, co-founder of Digilent, played a key role in developing the widely adopted Pmod standard and the Analog Discovery series, which revolutionized hands-on ECE education. Sparkfun’s commercialization of the Lilypad expanded e-textile design, while Adafruit’s extensive online tutorials have made embedded systems accessible to all. Their contributions have shaped modern engineering education and hands-on learning.