Souheil Zekri, an associate professor of instruction and director of senior capstone courses in the University of South Florida's Medical Engineering Department, has been honored with the 2023-2024 USF Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award.
Associate Professor Zekri prioritizes the student experience, acknowledging that individuals come from diverse backgrounds and possess varying learning styles and challenges. He adapts his teaching methods to meet these needs, fostering trust and open communication to create an inclusive learning environment where students feel supported, empowered to succeed, and part of a community.
The goal of the USF Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award program is to encourage excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level. The University intends to ensure that the foundation courses of the undergraduate curriculum receive the proper emphasis in preparing students for work in the major, as well as providing the proper foundation in critical thinking, problem-solving, and written and oral communication skills.
Zekri's teaching philosophy is rooted in an ethical framework of care, empathy, and inclusivity. He prioritizes student experiences, recognizing the diverse backgrounds, learning styles, and challenges each individual brings to the classroom. To meet these varying needs, he adapts his teaching methods and fosters an environment of trust and open communication, where students feel supported, empowered, and part of a community.
In his courses, students engage in teamwork to support one another while tackling the rigorous curriculum. Zekri’s accessibility reinforces his genuine investment in their success, and his approach has yielded remarkable results. Many of the devices his students have developed have earned awards, gained national recognition, and attracted interest from corporate partners for further development. For example, the Eucovent device has drawn significant attention.
Committed to continuous improvement, Zekri integrates research-based best practices into his courses to stay current with pedagogical advancements.