L.D. Timmie Topoleski Professor, Mechanical Engineering Presidential Teaching Professor 2008-11
L.D. Timmie Topoleski, professor of mechanical engineering, has distinguished
himself as an outstanding scholar and educator whose engaging teaching has
touched and inspired many students at UMBC.
Topoleski serves as graduate program director in mechanical engineering,
and under his direction the program has seen a dramatic transformation both
in size and quality. Because of his vision and hard work, the Department
of Mechanical Engineering received two prestigious Graduate Assistance in
Areas of National Need Awards from the U.S. Department of Education. These
awards helped create a profound transformation in the type and number of
graduate students who are entering the program. He continues to provide steady
guidance to his students, working with them in addressing difficult advising
and mentoring issues.
Teaching undergraduates has always been one of Topoleski’s first priorities.
He has taught 11 different undergraduate courses, three of which he created
and developed. In addition, he reorganized and restructured two courses in
order to introduce case-based learning modules and other elements. One of
the courses he developed, Introduction to Design, has become a cornerstone
course for the design element of mechanical engineering’s undergraduate curriculum.
When Topoleski realized that the writing and oral communication skills of
students needed to be improved, he rewrote part of the course to help students
strengthen their skills. He subsequently created and taught an honors section
for his Strength of Materials class to continue to give students an intensive
writing and communication experience.
Topoleski also is active in working with and advising students outside of
the classroom. He is a mentor to several Meyerhoff students in the department,
mentoring as many as 11 students in recent years. He has been a regular lecturer
for the Honors Forum, and he co-developed and co-taught a Humanities Scholars
seminar with Jay Freyman, associate professor of ancient studies.
Last year, Topoleski received the Faculty of the Year award from the Honors
College for his teaching, and he also has received Humanities Teaching Fellow
and Orientation Teaching Fellow awards.
Topoleski earned a B.S. in the interdisciplinary College Scholars Program,
and a M.Eng. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, all from Cornell University.
He received his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from The University of Pennsylvania.
