Carol Richardson Receives Berger Award from Engineering Education Society

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Carol Richardson

Carol Richardson was recently presented the Frederick J. Berger Award from the American Society for Engineering Education. The professor emerita at Rochester Institute of Technology was recognized for her contributions as a faculty member, advisor, administrator and mentor in RIT’s College of Applied Science and Technology.

The prestigious award is given to members of the society, recognizing excellence in teaching, leadership in curriculum development and administration of engineering technology education. She was presented the award at the society’s annual conference on June 29 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Richardson designed the Bachelor of Science program in telecommunications engineering technology in 1993, and it was the first of its kind accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology at that time. She led a team to develop a master’s degree program in the discipline several years later. While at RIT, she served as chair of the Department of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering Technology and, from 2006–2008, was interim dean of the college.

“I am honored to receive these recognitions from the American Society for Engineering Education,” says Richardson. “Frederick Berger encouraged me to write one of my first publications on the development of the undergraduate telecom program at RIT.”

In addition to the Berger Award, Richardson was named an ASEE Fellow, a designation given to members with more than 10 years of service to engineering education and the national organization.

“My fellow designation allows me to continue to associate with many colleagues that I have met through my ASEE activities during my career as an engineering technology educator,” she adds.

Richardson is an ABET commissioner and will be the chair of its Technology Accreditation Commission next year. She was a member of the ASEE executive committee and on the board of directors as vice president, as well as past chair of the ASEE engineering technology division. She also served as program chair of the society’s Women in Engineering Division, former director of both the Engineering Technology Leadership Institute and Engineering Technology Council and general chair of the 2006 ASEE Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration.

“It is most fitting for Professor Richardson to be honored with this prestigious award,” says Fred Walker, dean of RIT’s College of Applied Science and Technology. “Carol has dedicated herself and her career to supporting the success of students in engineering technology. Her valuable contributions to the industry, the college and RIT will continue to have a resonating presence within our School of Engineering Technology. We are all most grateful for having been able to call her teacher, colleague and friend.