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Rebecca Kuntz Willits, Ph.D.
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ST. LOUIS - Rebecca Kuntz Willits, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical engineering
at Saint Louis University, has been named Missouri's "Professor of the Year"
by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for
Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
Willits, who teaches in SLU's Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology,
was selected from nearly 400 top professors in the United States.
"This is an outstanding achievement and a fitting recognition of Dr. Willits'
dedication to her students," said University Provost Joe Weixlmann, Ph.D.
Known for integrating research into her classes, Willits has been recognized
for providing opportunities for undergraduate students to gain valuable experience
by working in her laboratory. Five of her students have received national awards
for undergraduate research at Biomedical Engineering Society conferences.
Willits' involvement with students extends far beyond the classroom. She advises
and mentors students throughout their undergraduate careers. She also serves
as the adviser for students who want to pursue medical school as well as the
faculty adviser for the Biomedical Engineering Society student group.
"Dr. Willits truly is an asset to Saint Louis University," said Bjong
"Wolf" Yeigh, Ph.D., dean of Parks College.
Willits also is committed to outreach and service. She charges her students
with developing biomedical engineering demonstrations that can be taken to middle
and high school classes to inspire young students. She also has been involved
in outreach programs focused on recruiting young women into the historically
male-dominated engineering field.
"Dr. Willits is a highly effective and challenging instructor," said
David Barnett, D.Sc., chairman of the biomedical engineering department. "The
research-focused education that students receive from Dr. Willits is quite unique
and generally not available to most students until they reach graduate school."
After previously working exclusively with undergraduates, Willits now has the
opportunity to collaborate with graduate-level students, thanks to the recently
added a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at Parks. Students began pursing
their doctorates in biomedical engineering this fall.
"This is an exceptional accomplishment and recognition for Dr. Willits
personally," said Donald Brennan, Ph.D., dean of the Graduate School. "It
is also wonderful for her department and Saint Louis University."
Willits joined the University in 1999, just two years after SLU established
a biomedical engineering program. She was the second faculty member in the department.
"Dr. Willits has been highly involved in the development of our young
department," Barnett said.
Willits also is an accomplished researcher, especially in the area of tissue
engineering. Her research goal is to develop materials that control cellular
function. Projects are focused around three main areas: regeneration of nervous
system tissue, improvement of orthopedic implants and restriction of vascular
blockage.
Willits earned her Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Cornell University. She
earned her master's degree in chemical engineering from Johns Hopkins University
and her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Tufts University.
She has received numerous teaching honors since joining Saint Louis University,
including a "Faculty Excellence Award" from the Student Government
Association in 2002.
For the "Professors of the Year" program, CASE assembled two preliminary
panels of judges to select finalists. The Carnegie Foundation then convened
the third and final panel, which selected national winners and state winners.
Winners were chosen from faculty members nominated by colleges and universities
throughout the country. CASE established the "Professors of the Year" program in 1981, and
the Carnegie Foundation became the co-sponsor a year later.
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is the largest
international association of education institutions, serving more than 3,200
universities, colleges, schools and related organizations in 55 countries. CASE
is the leading resource for professional development, information and standards
in the fields of education fund raising, communications and alumni relations.
Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1905 and chartered in 1906 by an act of Congress,
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is an independent policy
and research center with a primary mission "to do and perform all things
necessary to encourage, uphold and dignify the profession of the teacher and
the cause of higher education." The improvement of teaching and learning
is central to all of the work of the Foundation.
