December 13, 2023
By Chloe Arrington

Aldo A. Ferri, director of assessment and student success and professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, has been awarded the Sandi Bramblett Instructor of Excellence Award. Ferri was presented with the award last month at the Office of Undergraduate Education's annual awards dinner.

The award, which recognizes instructional and mentoring efforts within the Georgia Tech 1000 & 2000 programs, was named after its inaugural recipient Sandi Bramblett who has been teaching the courses since 2002.

Ferri began as an assistant professor at Georgia Tech in 1985 and has thoroughly enjoyed being part of the community since that time. He served as the associate chair for undergraduate studies in the Woodruff School from 2010 to 2022.

He has always had a passion for teaching and has instructed classes at the undergraduate and graduate levels for 38 years. In 2010, he received the Zeigler Outstanding Educator Award from the Woodruff School, and in 2016 he received the Class of 1940 W. Howard Ector Outstanding Teacher Award, which is one of the top teaching awards at the Institute.

He began teaching GT 1000 in 2019 and has since taught a section for first-year mechanical engineering students every fall. “GT1000 is an incredible experience because it gives the instructor a chance to work with a small number of students and really get to know them,” says Ferri. “The overarching objective of the class is to get students off on the right foot, to motivate them to the pursuit of their careers, and to help them be successful.”

Ferri states that GT 1000 was a refreshing and welcome change in perspective from his previous teaching experiences. “While most mechanical engineering classes are unavoidably centered around tests, exams, assignments, and grades, GT 1000 is much more supportive of the student’s development. For example, the first assignment in the class is writing a resume.”

Ferri sees this foundational support necessary for a student’s long-term and career success. He enjoys being able to tailor his advice and conversations to each student, their interests, and their needs.

Ferri will be teaching a GT 2000 class starting next spring. He will be working directly with transfer students entering the College of Engineering, a transition that can be a very challenging experience for students. Ferri plans to help these students quickly develop a sense of belonging on campus and build friendships with other transfer students and with students who started as first-years in the College.

Ferri also encourages his colleagues to consider teaching a section of GT 1000 or GT 2000. He has found it to be incredibly rewarding and hopes both faculty and students get the opportunity and experience these courses provide.