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ɫ����Ƶ proudly announces that Dr. Diane Peters, professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been awarded the American Society for Engineering Education’s (ASEE) 2024 National Outstanding Teaching Award. This prestigious award recognizes educators who demonstrate excellence in teaching, make notable contributions to engineering education, and inspire students to achieve their fullest potential.​

Dr. Peters received the award at the 2025 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, held June 22–25 in Montréal, Québec. The conference is ASEE’s flagship event, bringing together engineering educators and researchers from across the country to exchange ideas, explore emerging trends, and honor excellence in teaching and scholarship. 

A faculty member at ɫ����Ƶ since 2013, Dr. Peters exemplifies these qualities through her dynamic, hands-on teaching approach and dedication to student success. She was nominated for the award with letters of recommendation, including support from former students, making the recognition especially meaningful.​

“I was absolutely thrilled, excited, and incredibly honored when I learned I was receiving a national award from ASEE,” Peters said. “This recognition affirms the years of effort I’ve dedicated to students and their success — both in and out of the classroom."

The 2024 ASEE National Outstanding Teaching Award is the latest in a year of significant accolades for Dr. Peters. In the fall, she earned the 2024 Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Distinguished Engineering Educator Award, celebrating educators who have made a lasting impact in STEM education. She also earned ɫ����Ƶ’s Outstanding Researcher Award, a testament to her contributions to advancing engineering knowledge and innovation.​ Most recently, she was elected to serve as a Senator for the Society of Women Engineers through 2028 and received second place in the Best Professional Paper competition at the ASEE North Central Section Conference for her work exploring student engagement through personal inquiry.

Further demonstrating her commitment to enhancing research opportunities, Dr. Peters played a pivotal role in securing two major National Science Foundation (NSF) grants. A $464,937 NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) grant is helping ɫ����Ƶ establish an innovative program that provides students with hands-on research opportunities, integrating industry-relevant skills with academic exploration. Additionally, she contributed to securing a $398,946 NSF Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) grant, supporting the Enabling Meaningful External Research Growth in Emergent Technologies (EMERGE) project. This initiative strengthens partnerships with local industries and builds capacity for high-impact, industry-relevant research at ɫ����Ƶ.​

Beyond her research and teaching endeavors, Dr. Peters serves as the faculty advisor to ɫ����Ƶ's AutoDrive team, Bulldog Bolt. This elite student team competes in the SAE/GM AutoDrive Challenge II, an international competition focused on developing Level 4 autonomous vehicle capabilities. Under her guidance, Bulldog Bolt has advanced through the competition, showcasing ɫ����Ƶ’s leadership in mobility and automation.​

“What sets Dr. Peters apart as both a professor and a mentor is her genuine investment in her students’ success,” said Bassam Jehangir ’26 (Mechanical Engineering). “She goes beyond traditional teaching methods, ensuring that each student gains a comprehensive understanding of the material while also developing the confidence to apply their knowledge in real-world situations. Whether through one-on-one mentoring, collaborative research opportunities, or professional development advice, she consistently prioritizes her students’ growth. Her commitment to excellence is evident in her meticulous approach to coursework, her openness to innovative teaching strategies, and her ability to foster an inclusive and supportive learning environment.”

Dr. Peters’ journey into engineering education began unexpectedly. After working in industry, she accepted an invitation to teach a community college course as an adjunct professor. That experience sparked a passion for teaching, leading her to pursue a Ph.D. and transition into academia full-time. Today, she brings real-world applications into the classroom, often integrating lessons from her professional experience and her students' Co-op work.​

“ɫ����Ƶ’s industry-driven approach makes it easy to connect coursework to real life,” she explained. “Just recently, I was teaching about vibrations, and students shared firsthand examples from their Co-op experiences. That’s what makes this environment so unique — we’re not just teaching theories; we’re equipping students to apply them.”

Beyond technical knowledge, Dr. Peters hopes her students develop engineering judgment, problem-solving creativity, and the ability to think critically about challenges — skills that prepare them for leadership roles in industry. She has also pioneered new teaching strategies, such as step-by-step solution walkthroughs, which provide structured guidance while encouraging independent problem-solving.​

As engineering education continues to evolve, Dr. Peters is particularly focused on the role of generative AI, hybrid learning models, and university-industry partnerships in shaping the future. She is also actively involved in ongoing curriculum enhancements within ɫ����Ƶ’s Mechanical Engineering program and is exploring new course development and research opportunities.​

“There’s always something new on the horizon,” she said.