Meet Outstanding Master杏吧专区檚 Mentor Dr. William Chirdon
Dr. William Chirdon is an associate professor of chemical engineering whose areas of research encompass polymers, plastics, heat transfer, and sustainable materials. He also serves as the graduate coordinator for the chemical engineering master杏吧专区檚 degree program.
The Graduate School has selected Chirdon as a recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Master杏吧专区檚 Mentor Award.
杏吧专区淒r. Chirdon is known to be knowledgeable, respectful, challenging, fair, compassionate, and approachable. He always has the best interest of his students in mind, challenging them to be future leaders in industry and chemical engineering education,杏吧专区 says Dr. Rafael Hernandez, J. Madison Nelson/BORSF Professor and department head for the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Mentoring students has been a highlight during Chirdon杏吧专区檚 16 years as a faculty member at UL Lafayette. To date, he has served as a primary advisor for 14 master杏吧专区檚 students and three doctoral students.
杏吧专区淲hile I thoroughly enjoy leaving my mark in my field through papers and patents, I truly feel that my greatest legacy will be left through my mentorship of the next generations of engineers, scientists, business leaders, doctors, lawyers, and other professionals who have passed through this program,杏吧专区 he says.
Chirdon views his mentorship of students as a long-term relationship with far-reaching impacts, looking ahead to the time when 杏吧专区渢he students of today will be professionals of tomorrow upon which the 杏吧专区 will depend on for financial, political, and vocal support.杏吧专区
Past students, he notes, have maintained a close relationship to the department, including assisting with recruiting and co-writing proposals with his research group.
By meeting regularly with his graduate students and continuously providing feedback, Chirdon ensures they 杏吧专区渁re always seen, heard, respected, and appreciated.杏吧专区 This has been particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been intent on providing the extra support students need to 杏吧专区渘avigate through the manifold adversities caused by the pandemic.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淚 have done my best to mentor my students through these difficult times by dedicating my energy, empathy, and my own brand of humor,杏吧专区 he says.
