MTU’s Johnson named Distinguished Professor of the Year | News, Sports, Jobs

Jaclyn Johnson

LANSING — Jaclyn Johnson, teaching professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Michigan Technological University, is one of three recipients of the 2025 Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award. The awards are presented annually by the Michigan Association of State Universities (MASU) to recognize outstanding contributions and dedication to the education of undergraduate students exhibited by the faculty from Michigan’s 15 public universities.

“Dr. Johnson’s dedication is not simply to teaching, but to inspiring those she teaches, and this is the hallmark of an educator that is dedicated to fostering growth – educationally, professionally and personally,” said Andrew J. Storer, Tech’s Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Her drive to inspire and foster growth across all aspects of her many and varied educational activities makes her ideally suited for this prestigious award.”

Johnson received a bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and both master’s and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering from MTU. An exceptional educator who has taught thousands of engineers the art and joy of mechanical engineering, she has developed and implemented dynamic and interactive learning tools and approaches in her classes, the institution and greater MTU community.

According to a SASU press release, Johnson delivers excellence in undergraduate education in both quantity and quality. She teaches a remarkably diverse range of courses (twenty unique courses over the last ten years), developing and implementing courses across the entire curriculum. This depth of knowledge provides discipline and curricular insight that is rare, and she brings this insight and context to every course she teaches. She capitalizes on her broad yet deep understanding of her discipline to design learning activities and equipment that foster hands-on intellectual inquiry.

For example, in a practice-based learning course for second year mechanical engineering students, she developed a dynamic Ferris Wheel. This tool allows students to understand real-time system behavior and controller requirements under various loads, with both experimental hardware and simulation. In another project for this course, students adapt an air handling unit to precisely deliver air to a neonatal intensive care unit. Facilitating learning by linking hands-on observations to engineering theory, while solving real-world engineering design problems, is an effective and innovative learning approach that Dr. Johnson has mastered and published on.

Johnson has been recognized by a range of teaching awards at MTU, including Mechanical Engineering Teacher of the Year and selection to the MTU Deans Teaching Showcase. She is frequently recognized by the Provost for being in the top 10% of student evaluations of faculty.

Johnson seeks to educate and inspire the next generation of engineers as part of her teaching philosophy, which is achieved in her extensive contributions training students outside the classroom and in the community. As Faculty Advisor for the Michigan Tech Engineering Ambassadors program, she has grown the program from four ambassadors to a dedicated team of 30 who regularly reach over 1,000 K-12 students per semester. She also serves as Faculty Advisor to the Society of Women Engineers, where she facilitates students’ professional development, and leads their Campus & Community Committee facilitating K-12 outreach. She uses her leadership roles in these organizations to amplify the number and breadth of students at local and regional schools that participate in hands-on activities, exciting and educating them about engineering. Most notably, she spearheaded K-5 Engineering Day events which bring hands-on engineering to three local schools and upwards of 600 students per year.

“The recipients of this year’s Distinguished Professor of the Year Award exemplify the unwavering dedication to undergraduate education that defines Michigan’s public universities,” said MASU Chief Executive Officer Daniel Hurley. “Their innovative teaching methods, commitment to student success, and contributions to both their disciplines and communities set them apart as true leaders in higher education. These professors not only shape minds in the classroom but also inspire personal and professional growth that extends far beyond campus.”

The two other 2025 recipients include Adrienne Wallace of Grand Valley State University and Natalie Sampson of the University of Michigan – Dearborn.