Richard Felder
Encyclopedia
Richard M. Felder is the Hoechst Celanese Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering at North Carolina State University.
He is coauthor of Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes], a widely used text for the introductory chemical engineering course, and has authored or coauthored over 300 papers on chemical process engineering and engineering and science education. Felder is co-director of the American Society for Engineering Education
.
in 1962 and a PhD in chemical engineering from Princeton University
in 1966. He spent a year as a NATO Postdoctoral Fellow at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment
(Harwell, England) and then two years as a research engineer at Brookhaven National Laboratory
. In 1969 he joined the chemical engineering faculty at North Carolina State University
, and he retired to emeritus status in 1999. He spent sabbatical semesters at the University of Colorado (1982), Georgia Tech (1990), the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching (2003), and Smith College (2006).
He is coauthor of Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes], a widely used text for the introductory chemical engineering course, and has authored or coauthored over 300 papers on chemical process engineering and engineering and science education. Felder is co-director of the American Society for Engineering Education
American Society for Engineering Education
The American Society for Engineering Education is a non-profit member association, founded in 1893, dedicated to promoting and improving engineering and engineering technology education....
.
Education and Career History
Dr. Felder received a BChE degree from the City College of New YorkCity College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in 1962 and a PhD in chemical engineering from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1966. He spent a year as a NATO Postdoctoral Fellow at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment
Atomic Energy Research Establishment
The Atomic Energy Research Establishment near Harwell, Oxfordshire, was the main centre for atomic energy research and development in the United Kingdom from the 1940s to the 1990s.-Founding:...
(Harwell, England) and then two years as a research engineer at Brookhaven National Laboratory
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Brookhaven National Laboratory , is a United States national laboratory located in Upton, New York on Long Island, and was formally established in 1947 at the site of Camp Upton, a former U.S. Army base...
. In 1969 he joined the chemical engineering faculty at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
, and he retired to emeritus status in 1999. He spent sabbatical semesters at the University of Colorado (1982), Georgia Tech (1990), the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching (2003), and Smith College (2006).
Engineering Research
For roughly the first half of his career, Dr. Felder carried out research on a variety of topics, starting with his doctoral and postdoctoral research on energy distributions of energetic atoms in irradiated media, progressing through mathematical modeling of mixing and diffusion in chemical reactors, fluidized bed gasification of coal, and diffusion of gases and vapors in polymer membranes, and concluding with stochastic modeling of specialty chemicals manufacturing processes.Textbook
Dr. Felder coauthored a textbook with Ronald W. Rousseau, which first appeared in 1978 and became the standard text for the introductory chemical engineering course in the United States. It has been adopted by more than 90% of all chemical engineering departments in the United States and at many institutions abroad in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Korean editions.Research and Writing on Teaching and Learning
Beginning in the late 1980s, Dr. Felder shifted his career focus from disciplinary engineering research to educational scholarship. He has coauthored two book chapters and over 200 education related articles and Random Thoughts (columns in the quarterly journal Chemical Engineering Education). His research and publications deal with many aspects of teaching and learning, with his primary emphasis being on student-centered instructional methods including active learning (involving students in course-relevant activities during classes rather than relying entirely on lecturing as the medium of instruction) and cooperative learning (getting students to complete assignments and projects in teams under conditions that include holding all team members individually accountable for all of the work done).Faculty Development
Dr. Felder has given over 300 education-related seminars and—with his wife and colleague, Dr. Rebecca Brent, over 300 teaching workshops on campuses throughout the United States and abroad. In 1991, with James Stice of the University of Texas, he founded the National Effective Teaching Institute (NETI), a three-day teaching workshop given annually in conjunction with the Annual Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education. The NETI has been given every year since its inaugural offering, reaching close to 1000 participants from over 200 universities and colleges.Index of Learning Styles
Dr. Felder co-developed (with Barbara A. Soloman) and validated an on-line instrument called the Index of Learning Styles that assesses students' preferences on four dimensions of a model of Learning Styles that he had previously co-developed with Dr. Linda K. Silverman. The instrument is available online and is accessed by close to a million users every year.Honors
- Global Award for Excellence in Engineering Education (Intl. Federation of Engr. Education Societies, 2010, first recipient)
- Distinguished Service Award (ASEE Engineering Research and Methods Division, 2009)
- Doctor of Engineering Honoris Causa (University of Illinois, 2010)
- Doctor of Science Honoris Causa (State University of New York, 2008)
- One of "30 Authors of Groundbreaking Chemical Engineering Books" (AIChE, 2008)
- Joseph J. Martin Award for the Outstanding Paper at the ASEE Annual Meeting (ASEE ChE Division, 2007)
- Lifetime Achievement Award for Pedagogical Scholarship (ASEE ChE Division, 2003)
- Warren K. Lewis Award for Contributions to Chemical Engineering Education (AIChE, 2002)
- Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal of Excellence (N.C. State University, 1999)
- Chester F. Carlson Award for Innovation in Engineering Education (ASEE, 1998)
- Board of Governors Award for Teaching Excellence (University of North Carolina, 1997)
- Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE, 1996)
- William E. Wickenden Award for Outstanding Paper in the Journal of Engineering Education (ASEE, 2003, 1996, 1989, 1988)
- Outstanding Educator of the Century Award (1 of 5 designated) (Southeastern Section, ASEE, 1993)
- William H. Corcoran Award for Outstanding Paper in Chemical Engineering Education (ASEE, 1993, 1985)
- AIChE Institute Lectureship (AIChE, 1991)
- National Catalyst Award (Chemical Manufacturers Association, 1989)
- Benjamin J. Dasher Award for Outstanding Paper at the Frontiers in Education Conference (IEEE/ASEE, 1989)
- AT&T Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence (ASEE, 1985)
- Outstanding Teacher Award (N.C. State University, 1978, 1981)
- R.J. Reynolds Industries Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research, and Extension (NCSU, 1982)