Current Recipient

• Academic Engineer of the Year Award 2025

  Professor W. Jong Yoon, Ph.D.
  University of Washington, Bothell

  Nominated by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers

  

  Professor W. Jong Yoon, Ph. D., University of Washington, Bothell, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Academic Engineer-of-the-Year Award in recognition of his exceptional career as a mechanical engineering educator, his significant contributions to the design and development of smart medical devices, his active engagement as faculty advisor of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Student Chapter, and his dedicated efforts as a teacher and mentor of engineering students.

  
  His research activities center on the design and development of mechatronics systems and their applications in biomedical devices. His research team designs, simulates, builds, and assesses different smart devices in a variety of domains. He led the development of surgical telerobot systems and a variety of surgical tools, including sensorized robot graspers. His research team currently is focused on developing robotics for rehabilitation of stroke patients, robot-assisted medical systems and smart user interfaces, and assistive technologies to reduce caregiver’s work-related musculoskeletal disorders. To serve his professional community, Professor Yoon has served as an associate editor of two prestigious journals and co-chaired regional engineering conferences.

  
  As a founding member of the mechanical engineering program at the University of Washington, Bothell, Professor Yoon has committed to education excellence through innovative and creative curricula, interdisciplinary teaching and research, and a vibrant community. He has been particularly active in developing the dynamics, control systems, and mechatronics course series. He served as Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Program for five years providing critical leadership to the developing program.
  Professor Yoon strongly believes that students who participate in extracurricular activities are more motivated and that the experiences are positively related to academic performance and leadership. For this reason, he assisted his students in founding an American Society of Mechanical Engineering Student Chapter and continues to serve as its advisor.

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Award Criteria

• Has significantly advanced the state of the engineering art.
• Has actively participated in interposing new technologies in society.
• Has actively participated in improving the level and scope of engineering education.

Past Recipients

• 2023 – Professor Pedro Arduino, Ph.D, University of Washington
• 2022 – Professor Katherine G. Kuder, PhD, PE, Seattle University
• 2020 – Professor Laura N Lowes, Ph.D, University of Washington
• 2019 – Professor Jeffrey W. Berman, Ph. D., University of Washington
• 2018 – Professor Marc O. Eberhard, , Ph.D., University of Washington
• 2017 – Dr. H. David Stensel, P.E., University of Washington
• 2016 – Dr. Elaine Scott, University of Washington Bothell
• 2015 – Gregory Miller, Ph.D. – University of Washington
• 2014 – Dorothy A. Reed, P.E., Ph.D. – University of Washington
• 2013 – G. Scott Rutherford, Ph. D. – University of Washington
• 2012 – Steven Kramer, Ph,D., P.E. – University of Washington
• 2011 – Stephen Burges, P.E. – University of Washington
• 2010 – Ronald E. Nece, ScD, P.E. – University of Washington
• 2009 – Neil M. Hawkins, Ph.D., P.E. – University of Washington
• 2008 – Robert D Holtz, Ph.D., P.E. – University of Washington
• 2007 – Ann Mescher, Ph.D. – University of Washington
• 2006 – Nirmala Ganapragasam, Ph.D, PE – Seattle University
• 2005 – Amanie N. Abdelmessih, Ph.D – Saint Martin’s College
• 2004 – Jean M. Jacoby, Ph.D – Seattle University
• 2003 – Richard Storch, Ph.D, PE – University of Washington
• 2002 – Charles W. Roeder, Ph.D, PE – University of Washington
• 2001 – John E. Schaufelberger, Ph.D, PE – University of Washington
• 2000 – Richard C. Collet, PE, Ph.D – University of Washington ret.
• 1999 – R. T. Schwaegler, Ph.D – Seattle University
• 1998 – D. Scott Eberhardt, Ph.D – University of Washington
• 1997 – Juris Vagners, Ph.D – University of Washington
• 1996 – Kelin J. Kuhn, Ph.D – University of Washington
• 1995 – Barry I. Hyman, Ph.D – University of Washington
• 1994 – Mamidala Ramulu, Ph.D – University of Washington
• 1993 – Stephen B. Robel – Seattle University
• 1992 – Jens E. Jorgenson, Ph.D – University of Washington
• 1991 – Patricia Daniels, Ph.D – Seattle University
• 1990 – Ashley F. Emery, Ph.D, PE – University of Washington
• 1989 – Rolf Thorsten Skrinde, Ph.D, PE – Seattle University
• 1988 – Ilhan A Aksay – University of Washington
• 1987 – Fr. Francis P. Wood – Seattle University
• 1986 – Piere Gehlen – Seattle University
• 1985 – Harry Majors Jr. – Seattle University
• 1982 – Creighton Depew, Ph.D, PE – University of Washington
• 1981 – Edward Wenk, PE – University of Washington
• 1980 – Albert Drui, PE – The Richardson Associates