Written By: Catharine June
April 28, 2025
Khan has made an indelible mark as EER graduate coordinator with her exceptional care for the students in the program and her administrative creativity.
Fatima Khan, Graduate Coordinator for the Engineering Education Research (EER) program, received a 2025 Staff Excellence Award from the College of Engineering.
“I cannot imagine running the EER program without Fatima’s expert assistance,” said Cindy Finelli, the David C. Munson, Jr. Collegiate Professor of Engineering, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Director of the EER Program. “She is so totally committed to building a strong sense of community for all students, staff, and faculty in the EER program. She gives extra effort to all she does and is always mindful of the students’ experiences.”
First and foremost, Khan is an advocate for the students. When EER students expressed difficulty enrolling in courses in the School of Education, Khan worked with staff to help formalize a process for EER students to obtain overrides. When she noticed that students and faculty were losing track of the many awards available through the university, she suggested a new process for drafting nomination materials that has streamlined the process for everyone.
One student in the program stated of Khan, “She has built deep, lasting relationships with both current and prospective students, actively seeking ways to support their academic and personal journeys. She takes the time to meet with former students to understand their career trajectories, translating that knowledge into valuable resources for current students.”
EER is a program that is highly interdisciplinary. To help students, staff, and faculty build community and to increase awareness of relevant seminars happening across the entire university, Khan launched a biweekly EER digest. The electronic newsletter includes a “feel good” section with kudos and community updates as well as a summary of relevant seminars and events. This newsletter also includes job announcements, fellowship opportunities, and social events.
She has also proactively learned new skills to contribute to the overall success of the program. For example, she learned WordPress in order to improve the website, completed a 10-week Accessibility Challenge to ensure an accessible website, and has even suggested helpful improvements in course offerings.
The EER program includes students from around the world, and Khan understands their particular needs. One EER student said, “Fatima has supported me in navigating my unique needs as an international student by connecting me with the appropriate people and resources on campus to learn more about graduation, immigration, and work permit requirements.”
Faculty in the EER program have also recognized Khan’s unique contributions.
“All the EER faculty I have spoken with always praise Fatima’s efforts and the positive impact she has had on our graduate program and the broader EER community at the University of Michigan,” said Karin Jensen, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering.
Aaron Johnson, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering, added, “EER students are physically located across campus in multiple different buildings. For this reason, we have experienced a number of challenges in building a strong EER community. Fatima’s dedicated, empathetic, and kind approach to her job has greatly facilitated the growth of community.”
Khan will be honored at a special awards ceremony Wednesday, May 21, 2025.