Presidential awards spotlight innovation, advising and expanded pathways in engineering education
Four faculty members from Cal Poly’s College of Engineering were honored at 2025 Fall Convocation with presidential awards, the university’s highest recognition for teaching, scholarship and mentorship. Their fields range from orbital mechanics to biomedical innovation, yet all share a common purpose: shaping students’ lives and opening new possibilities.
The awards underscore excellence across the university’s faculty and staff. Honorees are nominated by their peers, and in some cases, students also play a role in the selection.
Categories include Distinguished Teaching, honoring classroom impact; Distinguished Scholarship, recognizing research that advances knowledge and engages students; the Provost’s Leadership Award for Partnership in Philanthropy, celebrating campus and industry collaboration; and the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award, highlighting faculty who guide students through academic and personal challenges.
This year’s recipients include three current faculty and one recently retired professor whose legacy continues to inspire the next generation.
Distinguished Teaching Award: Kira Abercromby, Aerospace Engineering
For Kira Abercromby, orbital mechanics and spacecraft are not abstract topics. They are her passion. Before joining Cal Poly in 2008, she spent eight years with NASA, studying how the harsh environment of space affects satellites and other materials.
At Cal Poly, she has earned a reputation for setting a high bar while giving students the tools to reach it. Her classes challenge them to master difficult material, but also to see how it connects to real-world aerospace problems and careers.
“She’s known for presenting some of the most complex material in a way her students can understand,” said Provost and Executive Vice President Al Liddicoat. “Students appreciate her humor and her wicked smarts.”
Distinguished Scholarship Award: Kristen O’Halloran Cardinal, Biomedical Engineering
A Cal Poly alumna who went on to earn her Ph.D. at the University of Arizona, Kristen O’Halloran Cardinal has built a research program that puts students at the center of cutting-edge biomedical engineering. Her lab develops tissue-engineered blood vessels to improve medical device testing, work that provides more accurate data while reducing the need for animal studies.
As department chair, she has also strengthened the program’s curriculum and research profile, ensuring that biomedical engineering at Cal Poly continues to equip graduates to thrive in a rapidly evolving field.
“Importantly, she involves students in her research, shapes the curriculum for biomedical engineering, and matches students with opportunities in the biomedical devices industry,” Liddicoat said.
Provost’s Leadership Award for Partnership in Philanthropy: Liz Thompson, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Before her retirement this year, Liz Thompson left an enduring mark on the College of Engineering through her ability to connect people, ideas and resources. A professor in industrial and manufacturing engineering and director of the General Engineering program, she guided both students and colleagues while championing efforts that broadened participation in engineering.
She worked tirelessly to secure grant funding and promote diversity and inclusion within engineering education. A mentor to countless students, she helped bring nearly $10 million in National Science Foundation grants to Cal Poly, fueling new initiatives in engineering education.
Outstanding Faculty Advisor: Jennifer Mott, Mechanical Engineering
Jennifer Mott, professor of mechanical engineering, was recognized with the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award for her dedication to guiding students through academic and personal milestones. She has developed tools and guidance to help students and colleagues navigate Cal Poly’s upcoming semester conversion, ensuring that advising remains focused on helping students reach their goals.
Known for her humor and warmth, she has built a reputation as a trusted mentor who helps students thrive.
“This professor has created extensive materials for both students and faculty to advise on the semester conversion and support student success and completion rates,” said Terrance Harris, vice president for strategic enrollment management and student affairs.
Together, this year’s honorees reflect the breadth of engineering at Cal Poly and the lasting impact of faculty who teach, mentor and inspire.
