University recognizes Hall Tharp as top undergraduate instructor
Professor Hal Tharp receives the Gerald J. Swanson Prize for Teaching Excellence.
Hal Tharp, associate professor and associate department head of electrical and computer engineering.
Associate professor and associate department head of ECE Hal Tharp received the Gerald J. Swanson Prize for Teaching Excellence from the University of Arizona, celebrating him for excellence in undergraduate teaching.
Nominators called Tharp a “consistent and significant leader in ECE academic programs,” often teaching courses for other professors who are on emergency leave, showing other faculty how to use technology and creating effective teaching materials. ECE alum Cinthya Tang, who contributed to Tharp's nomination, credited Tharp for engaging with his students to develop their skills outside of engineering.
“Beyond the confines of the classroom, professor Tharp has been instrumental in shaping my leadership skills,” said Tang, who graduated in 2017 and is a software project engineer at Honeywell. “His ability to remember intricate details about his students, coupled with his thoughtful and engaging teaching style, left an indelible mark on me.”
“I am honored to receive this award, but mostly I feel a sense of gratitude – gratitude toward those who nominated me, those who I have learned from, and the students who have helped me learn how to improve as an instructor,” Tharp said.
Read more about Tharp's award and teaching career here.