Al-Shebeeb receives prestigious award for dedication to student success

Omar Al-Shebeeb, teaching assistant professor in the Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering at West Virginia University’s Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, was named North Central Section 2025 Early Career Outstanding Educator by the American Society for Engineering Education. (WVU Photo)

Teaching assistant professor Omar Al-Shebeeb, from the Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering at West Virginia University’s Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, has been named the North Central Section 2025 Early Career Outstanding Educator by the American Society for Engineering Education.

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Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

This prestigious award, presented at the ASEE North Central Section Conference, celebrates early-career educators who are fostering a meaningful impact in the classroom and beyond. The conference was held March 28 – 29, 2025, at Marshall University’s College of Engineering and Computer Sciences.

ASEE, a national organization dedicated to advancing engineering education, selects just one awardee each year based on a competitive evaluation of teaching effectiveness, creative curriculum, and contributions to engineering education research. This year, Al-Shebeeb earned that top honor.

“Receiving this distinction from ASEE is both humbling and significant,” said Al-Shebeeb. “It recognizes my devotion and passion for engineering education and emphasizes the significance of innovative teaching and research in shaping our field's future direction. I'm grateful to my colleagues, mentors, and students for continuing to inspire me.”

Al-Shebeeb was recognized for not only his devotion to impactful engineering education but also for his research achievements. At the conference, he presented a study developed alongside industrial and management systems engineering graduate students Ahmed Shoyeb Raihan and Austin Harper. The group’s research explores how augmented reality can enhance welding training and digital production procedures, seeking to improve the education of future engineers.

“This award is a true testament to Al-Shebeeb’s dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to educating the next generation of engineering students,” said Ashish Nimbarte, professor and chair of the industrial and management systems engineering department.

Through research-driven teaching methods and a student-focused approach, Al-Shebeeb is just one of many educators exemplifying the Statler College’s mission to foster innovation in engineering education and prepare students to become the next generation of forward-thinking leaders.

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