MONTREAL/October 2, 2003—
Tonight's second 2003 Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching is presented to Concordia Professor of Computer Engineering, Dr. Asim J. Al-Khalili.
Asim Al-Khalili was one of the founding members of Concordia's Computer Engineering program and has played a prominent role in developing the undergraduate and graduate curricula. In his 22 years at Concordia, he has distinguished himself as an outstanding teacher and researcher, and as someone glad to acknowledge the accomplishments and contributions of those around him.
Asim did his undergraduate studies in Iraq, and his graduate work in Glasgow, Scotland, where he earned a master's in systems engineering and PhD in electrical engineering. He taught at Baghdad University of Technology from 1975 to 1980, before landing at Concordia in 1981. As Asim puts it, he was blessed to be accompanied on this journey with his wife, Hanna, who left her country, family and career as a dentist to join him when fled the country. Together, they raised two daughters here, Aseel, who graduated from psychology at Concordia in 1999, and Shaima, who has just graduated from the JMSB's MIS program in 2003.
Along the way, Asim has fostered countless undergraduate and graduate students. Student evaluations of Professor Al-Khalili's courses are always good ó with the exception of the complaint that he should not be allowed to take sabbaticals! He is continually commended for his clear, thorough and stimulating presentation of course material. But perhaps what sets him apart is his graceful ability to adapt his lectures to be responsive to changing student needs, from class to class and year to year.
Professor Al-Khalili is also known for being specially dedicated to the students themselves. The chair of his department recounts how one Friday evening he was with Asim, who was getting ready to leave to join guests at home, when several students showed up with questions about a class project. A couple of hours later, he ran into Asim again, who was only then leaving. The students had needed his help and he couldn't leave. The project was not due for several weeks, but Professor Al-Khalili is clearly a devoted teacher ó who inspires devoted students. Many of his students come to think of him as a friend, and turn to him to discuss personal as well as academic challenges.
Over his years at Concordia, Asim has also held administrative positions, as Undergraduate Program Director, Computer Engineering Program Director and Graduate Program Director, and served on department, faculty and university committees. He was instrumental in the development of a number of Concordia's computer engineering labs. A Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, he was awarded the Concordia Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science Teaching Excellence Award in 1999.
Asim is also attentive to supporting new faculty members. In recent years, the department has hired 20 new faculty members and a number of these needed to be accommodated elsewhere, in the Guy Metro Building. Professor Al-Khalili volunteered to move his office there, because he did not want them to feel isolated. He has consequently become a valued mentor.
To his students, colleagues and all who know him, Asim Al-Khalili is, like the great Persian poets and masters he so takes pleasure in reading, a most inspiring teacher and beloved friend.
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