MCEER's George Lee receives Presidential Award for Mentoring
Dr. George Lee, a former director of the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, has received a a 2007
Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and
Engineering Mentoring. Dr. Lee was honored for decades of commitment to
STEM education and mentoring of underrepresented students. The full NSF
award citation reads as follows:
George C. Lee is Samuel Capen Professor of Engineering, and
former dean of the school of engineering and applied sciences at the
University at Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY). He has
internationally recognized scholarship and leadership in
multidisciplinary earthquake engineering, and is a leader in providing
and sustaining educational opportunities in engineering. For nearly 40
years his mentoring efforts have led to thousands of underrepresented
high school students in the greater Buffalo area being exposed to
engineering and science. Once underrepresented students are enrolled in
the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Lee continues mentoring
to encourage student success during the undergraduate engineering
experience. Lee has also served as the principal advisor for a large
number of underrepresented graduate students. He was the principal
founding member of BEAM, Buffalo Area Engineering Awareness for
Minorities, an organization whose membership draws on Omega Psi Phi, a
black professional men's' national fraternity, and the Buffalo City
Schools in addition to the SUNY Buffalo population. Lee has designed,
developed and obtained funding for a wide variety of highly effective
mentoring programs, including research internships for students in
grades 5-12 and their teachers; community programs; and leadership
training programs.
The 2007 Awards announcement is at:
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=110716
See also a Buffalo-area newspaper account of the honor at:
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/208823.html
UB PROF HONORED, CARE FOR MINORITIES LAUDED
Source: The Buffalo News, 11/18/07
A University at Buffalo engineering professor known
internationally for his research was recognized on November 16th for
nurturing local students. George C. Lee was among 11 people honored by
the White House with a 2007 Presidential Award for Excellence in
Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. The annual award,
administered by the National Science Foundation, recognizes commitment
to mentoring students and boosting the participation of minorities,
women and disabled students in science, mathematics and engineering.
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