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Tech Professor Ismail Fidan wins rare 'triple crown' of university awards
Professor Ismail Fidan
Tennessee Tech University recognizes its outstanding faculty each year by presenting
awards in research, service and teaching – and a professor of manufacturing and engineering
technology has now earned the distinction of being recognized in all three categories.
Ismail Fidan is the recipient of the university’s 2024 Outstanding Faculty Award for
Teaching, after winning the 2020 Caplenor Research Award and the 2012 Distinguished
Professional Service Award, which is now called the Outstanding Faculty Award in Professional
Service.
“Each of those is the highest award bestowed to faculty each year at the University-level
for their contributions in teaching, research and service. It is a rare occurrence
for one faculty member to receive all three prestigious awards during the span of
a career,” said Bedelia Russell, associate provost and director of Tech’s Center for
Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFÉ).
Fidan, however, maintains his appreciation for the honor through humility and gratitude.
“I love Tech. I love my students. I love my job teaching 3D printing innovation. I
love making an impact on students, in my field, at my university and in my community,”
Fidan said. “Overall, when you love what you do, the products of your work are always
fruitful.”
Fidan knows the value of hard work from having grown up in a rural Turkish town. Although
his family did not attend college, they understood the importance of an education
and encouraged Fidan to pursue higher learning.
“My grandfather used to tell me: ‘If you see a newspaper lying along the road, pick
it up and read it.’ My father used to tell me: ‘Get educated as much as you can, and
I will do all that I can to see you educated,’” he said.
Fidan was fortunate to also have teachers who encouraged his education and supported
him to be the best he could be.
“My teachers told me: ‘Be the change you wish to see. Serve today, and you will shape
the tomorrows.’ I followed their directions and encouragements, and I wish they could
see me following their advice right now. I’ve grown with these values,” he said.
Fidan left the small community where he grew up only after graduating from high school.
He learned English when he was 23 and beginning courses for his master’s degree.
Since then, he has gone on to have more than 220 peer-reviewed articles published,
received more than 3,000 citations for those publications and held editorial positions
on several major professional and academic journals. Fidan has received more than
10 National Science Foundation grants totaling several million dollars and received
numerous awards from both Tech and other organizations. 
Professor Ismail Fidan speaks with a student in the iMakerSpace of Tech's Volpe Library.
Fidan said his greatest challenge, however, is meeting the needs of all students,
who are each different and have different learning styles and personal challenges.
“All I can do is try to do my best in delivering the course outcomes to students in
an innovative way so that each one can successfully attain them for their future,”
he said.
“Seeing students learn material and get your message brings a great satisfaction to
any educator,” he continued.
Fidan's former students are scattered professionally from Alaska to the Ivory Coast
and from the Middle East to Europe. A former doctoral student has even earned faculty
and administrative appointments at Harvard University.
A former international student who returned to China to work, get married and start
a family recently contacted Fidan. The student told his former professor that he is
calling his infant son Ismail.
“Knowing I have made that kind of impact on my students and knowing that I have helped
them succeed in their own careers is as meaningful to me, or more, than my awards,”
he said.
For his own success, Fidan credits the positive environment on campus.
“Tennessee Tech has given me so much,” he said. “This school embodies the indomitable
spirit of success at its core. It is not just a university; it is a catalyst for success.
Here, students thrive, and faculty excel, each contributing to a culture of achievement.
The evidence of this transformative environment is undeniable."
Other recipients of the Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching this year include Sherrie
Cannon and Susan Wells, both from the College of Business, and Laura Smith, of the
history department.
The Outstanding Faculty Award for Professional Service was presented to Troy Smith,
of the history department, and the Caplenor Faculty Research Award was presented to
Ada Haynes, of the sociology and political science department.
Other Office of Research Awards for this year include:
- Centennial Scholar-Mentor Award – Brian Williams, English department
- Scholastic Research Award – Michael Gunter, sociology and political science, and Mostafa
Rahnama, biology
Academic Affairs Awards presented this year include:
- General Education Award for Outstanding Teaching – Laura Smith, history, and Gourab Bhattacharya, earth sciences
- Faculty Excellence in Online Teaching Award – Scott Christen, communication
- Faculty Excellence in Course Designs Award – Michael Olsen, foreign languages
- Commission on the Status of Women Excellence Award – Ashely Akenson, College of Education
- Tech Togetherness Awards – Sherrie Cannon, College of Business; Carlos Galindo, STEM Center coordinator; Carol Holley, provost’s office; and Tammy Keylon, College of Interdisciplinary Studies
