UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Sarah Zappe, assistant dean for teaching and learning and director of the Leonhard Center in the Penn State College of Engineering, has been named a fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).
ASEE fellow status, which is one of the society’s highest honors, recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to engineering and engineering technology education through sustained leadership, scholarship, service and engagement with the society. Fellows are selected through a competitive nomination and review process that includes evaluation by the ASEE Fellow Member Committee.
"Receiving the ASEE fellow distinction is both humbling and deeply meaningful,” Zappe said. “Throughout my career, I have been passionate about helping faculty create learning experiences that support the whole student, and in recent years that work has expanded to explore the connections between engineering, creativity, wellbeing and the arts. This recognition provides an opportunity to continue building partnerships and advancing research that broadens how we think about engineering education and student success.”
Zappe’s selection reflects her longstanding contributions to engineering education research, assessment and student success initiatives, as well as her leadership within ASEE and the engineering education profession. Her work has focused on improving engineering teaching and learning, supporting evidence-based educational practices and enhancing the student experience in engineering programs.
Zappe will be recognized during the 2026 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, to be held June 21-24 in Charlotte, North Carolina.