Tom Yankeelov, professor of biomedical engineering and core faculty member at the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, received the 2024 Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship.
The Friar Society, established in 1911, is the oldest and most prestigious multidisciplinary honor society at The University of Texas at Austin and the award is given in recognition of a faculty member who attained distinction in teaching undergraduates and makes a significant contribution to the university.
The organization honored Yankeelov for his work to bridge the gap between computational science and oncology. Yankeelov’s pioneering work has not only positioned him as a leader in this critical field but also profoundly impacted many lives. The annual award is given to an outstanding undergraduate professor selected through nominations from students, faculty, staff and administrators.
For Yankeelov, it came as a complete surprise when representatives dropped by his class to present the certificate.
I had no idea the award even existed and I had no idea I was nominated. I still don't really know how I was selected. I am convinced it was an accounting error. They showed up in my class, asked for everyone's attention, and then told me told me I had won this very nice teaching award. It was amazing.
Oden Institute Director Karen Willcox said that Yankeelov’s enthusiasm for his work, along with his skill in explaining the intricacies of computational science and oncology in a way that the average person can understand, is a talent makes him well-deserving of the award.
University President Jay Hartzell said that Yankeelov embodies what is meant by the university tagline “Change Starts Here.”
“He and his colleagues are approaching cancer research in ways that were previously considered radical and ineffective by the medical establishment. Now, his work to apply two seemingly disparate disciplines has put computational oncology on the map and established UT as a societal leader in this area of research that can truly impact the lives of so many people who suffer in some way due to this terrible disease,” said Hartzell.
The Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship was established by the Board of Regents on August 12, 1983 and is the largest undergraduate faculty award at UT Austin with a monetary award of $30,000. In addition to a surprise announcement in the classroom, recipients were honored during the Friar Spring Reception held at the Harry Ransom Center.
Article adapted from Oden Institute for Computational Sciences Website
