Professor Chris Fidkowski has been named the new Associate Department Chair for Teaching and Curriculum Initiatives at the University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering Department. In his new role, Professor Fidkowski will work closely with faculty, staff, students and the Richard A. Auhll Department Chair of Aerospace Engineering, Carlos Cesnik, to develop and implement initiatives that…
Professor Chris Fidkowski has been named the new Associate Department Chair for Teaching and Curriculum Initiatives at the University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering Department. In his new role, Professor Fidkowski will work closely with faculty, staff, students and the Richard A. Auhll Department Chair of Aerospace Engineering, Carlos Cesnik, to develop and implement initiatives that foster a dynamic and engaging learning environment.
“Chris has been an integral part of our department for many years and has significantly contributed to both our academic and research missions. His extensive experience and dedication to our students make him exceptionally well-suited for this position,” stated Cesnik in an announcement.
As Associate Department Chair, Fidkowski’s responsibilities will include overseeing curriculum development and review processes to guarantee they meet the evolving needs of students and industry. Additionally, he will be taking the lead in developing strategic initiatives to flexibilize the curriculum, an endeavor that will provide students with more adaptable and relevant learning pathways. This new role within the department will be the focal point for coordination of the teaching and curriculum activities, ensuring that educational initiatives are cohesive and well-aligned with departmental goals.
“I’m honored to be selected for this position, and eager to take on the responsibilities. Teaching and curriculum development are vital and defining activities in our department, and ones that I’ve been passionate about for many years,” commented Fidkowski on the new position. “Continued success in these activities depends on our ability to respond to evolving needs of our students and the direction of the aerospace industry. I therefore look forward to working closely with our faculty and various committees to oversee teaching and curriculum initiatives, and to help ensure that our department remains at the global forefront of aerospace education.”
Fidkowski has been a Professor of Aerospace Engineering at U-M since 2008. His primary research field is in algorithmic development for computational fluid dynamics, specifically in the use of adjoint methods for numerical error estimation, mesh adaptation, and uncertainty quantification. As Fidkowski begins his new position within the department, he will also retain his role as Undergraduate Program Advisor.