The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) has also awarded Pauline Wade the 2021 Isadore T. Davis Award. This award, given annually to an outstanding engineering educator, celebrates the spirit and leadership of individuals who make a mark in the collaborative efforts of engineering with industry.
Wade is the Associate Professor of Practice, Computer Science & Engineering at Texas A&M University. She is also currently the faculty lead for the department’s Industry Capstone Program which allows companies to sponsor and mentor a senior design project, to allow students to benefit from the experiences of an industry practitioner.
She has more than 25 years of IT industry experience and her contributions to engineering education and bridging the industry-academia gap are highly remarkable. Wade makes sure to help her graduates be successful in industry, through the engagement of industry practitioners to team-teach courses and participation in course content and curriculum improvement.
The students she has mentored on the knowledge, skills, and attitude needed to succeed in industry, achieved nearly a 100% employability rate. Her contributions include development of 28 capability building programs over 14 years, helping prepare over 3,000 undergraduates for industry, creation and funding of a Technology Business Incubator (TBI), which has incubated over 60 Information Technology (IT) start-ups, with some involving alumni. Wade has also raised funds and in-kind donations to support infrastructure and educational improvement programs, establishment of a continuing education program, consisting of over 30 courses for IT professionals, and design and deployment of new employee training programs for 400 employees of three multinational IT companies, co-taught by faculty and industry professionals.