Published on February 1, 2025

In January 2025, Dr. Allison Hutchison was awarded the 2024 Region 1 Outstanding Teaching in an IEEE Area (University or College) Award for exceptional contributions in the field of teaching, using innovative methods, dedication to student success, and unwavering commitment in advancing mentoring. Hutchison is currently an IEEE ProComm Board of Governors member and she is co-chairing the IEEE ProComm 2025 conference to be held in Denmark in July 2025.

Photo of Dr. Hutchison accepting the 2024 Region 1 Outstanding Teaching In an IEEE Area Award. She is shown with her husband, Steve Hutchison, on the right, and with Mike Joyner, IEEE Ithaca Section Chair.

Dr. Hutchison provided these gracious words via LinkedIn, sharing her thanks and acknowledging all those who support her work. (used with permission)

Every once in a while, my professional life comes full circle, and it’s in those moments that I feel most like my job isn’t just a job but a vocation. When I went on the academic job market, I had doubts about finding the right fit with an institution whose people valued pedagogy (or even knew what the word meant). Winning the 2024 IEEE Region 1 Outstanding Teacher in an IEEE Area meant to me that teaching communication to engineering students is where I belong.

The full circle moment was when Anuj Baskota, a Cornell Biological Engineering graduate, attended the IEEE Ithaca Holiday & Awards Party, who took my communication course partnered with the BEE computer-aided engineering course. If I can brag for a moment, Anuj’s colleague said that he was an excellent communicator and was glad Anuj had taken our courses in the Engineering Communications Program. Anuj is now back at Cornell pursuing a PhD in biomedical engineering!

Thank you to my colleague, Ram Bandaru, for nominating me for this award. Ram is the new chair of our IEEE Ithaca Section, and I can’t wait to see what he does next. Mike Joyner (pictured at left) has been a steadfast chair, and I’m appreciative of everything he has done for our section. That my loving husband, Steven Hutchison (pictured at right), could be there to see me receive this award also warmed my heart.

Photo of Hutchison's award plaque, which reads IEEE Region 1 Outstanding Teaching in an IEEE Area (University or College) Presented to Allison Hutchison for excptional contributions in the field of teaching, using innovative methods, dedication to student success, and unwavering commitment in advancing mentoring. Nov 2024.