Tennessee Tech’s College of Engineering honors faculty and staff at annual awards
Tennessee Tech University’s College of Engineering awarded top honors to five members
of its faculty and staff for their innovation, teaching, research excellence and service
during the college’s annual Faculty and Staff Awards Luncheon, held Tuesday, April
29.
Hosted by Joseph C. Slater, Ph.D., P.E., dean of the College of Engineering, the annual
awards celebrate the hard work and service of individuals who help advance the college’s
mission. The awards recognize both seasoned leaders and rising innovators whose work
continues to shape the future of engineering education.
“The strength of our college lies in the people who bring passion, innovation and
excellence to every corner of our community,” Slater said. “Today is a celebration
of the people who make our mission possible through their intellect, creativity, service
and heart.”
The 2025 Faculty and Staff Awards recipients include:
Outstanding Staff Award
Giovanni Mainardi Neto, research and development engineer at the Center for Manufacturing Research, received
the 2025 Outstanding Staff Award. A Tennessee Tech alumnus from Brazil, Giovanni manages
the mechanical testing lab, where his technical knowledge and collaborative spirit
have been instrumental in supporting faculty and graduate student research. “Giovanni’s
work ethic and expertise are foundational to our research community,” said Slater.
Brown-Henderson Outstanding Engineering Faculty Award
Indranil Bhattacharya, Ph.D., professor and interim chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
received the prestigious 2025 Brown-Henderson Award. Recognized for his contributions
to wireless power transfer and lithium-ion battery technologies, Bhattacharya has
led groundbreaking research while mentoring more than 80 students. “He exemplifies
excellence in research, teaching and mentorship,” said Slater.
T.S. McCord Fellow in Innovation and Techno-Entrepreneurship
Daniel VandenBerge, Ph.D., P.E., associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, was named the 2025 T.S.
McCord Fellow for his commitment to student success and his impactful research in
geotechnical engineering. Known for his rigorous yet compassionate teaching style,
VandenBerge also revitalized Tech’s ASCE student chapter and developed open-access
educational resources. “He is a transformational force in student engagement and academic
excellence,” said Kumar Yelamarthi, Ph.D., associate dean of the college.
Leighton E. Sissom Innovation and Creativity Award
Cynthia Cole Davis, communications coordinator for the college, received the Sissom Award for her creative
leadership and innovative problem-solving. Her design work creating a visual building
experience for the college’s new Ashraf Islam Engineering Building opened in fall
2024, redefined how the college’s story is told visually. “Cynthia’s vision and dedication
elevated our college’s image in a powerful and lasting way,” Slater said.
Kinslow Engineering Research Award
Muhammad Ismail, Ph.D., Director of the Cybersecurity Education, Research, and Outreach Center (CEROC) and
associate professor of computer science, was awarded the 2025 Kinslow Award for his
paper titled “Cyber-Physical Intrusion Detection System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,”
published in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems. The work marks
a breakthrough in cybersecurity for UAVs, setting a new standard in cyber-physical
fusion research. “Dr. Ismail’s leadership in cybersecurity research is positioning
Tennessee Tech as a national innovator in this critical field,” said Allen MacKenzie,
Ph.D., associate dean for research in the College of Engineering.
Learn more about Tennessee Tech's College of Engineering at www.tntech.edu/engineering.