Dr. Ravi Thambusamy, associate professor of information technology and cybersecurity (ITC) at Missouri State University, has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to technology education.
In a prestigious moment at the 2024 Springfield Tech Council’s Excellence in Technology Annual Awards Gala on Sept. 27, Dr. Ravi was honored as the Technology Educator of the Year. This accolade highlights his exceptional commitment to shaping the next generation of IT professionals. It showcases not only his academic leadership, but also his impact on the local and the broader technology communities.
This award recognizes exceptional educators who have made significant contributions to the field of technology education. It celebrates individuals who go beyond the traditional classroom experience to inspire future technology professionals.
“First and foremost, being nominated for this award by a former student of mine is incredibly meaningful to me,” Dr. Ravi said.
About the award
The Technology Educator of the Year category highlights educators in K-12 and higher education who demonstrate excellence in teaching, innovation in the use of technology in the classroom and the ability to inspire students to explore technology-related fields. The criteria for winning the award include:
- Demonstrating excellence in teaching technology subjects through innovative philosophies and instructional techniques.
- Incorporating innovative uses of technology tools and methods to enhance student learning.
- Inspiring and motivating students to excel in tech-related disciplines.
- Contributing to technology education beyond the classroom through curriculum development, professional outreach and community engagement.
There were over 150 nominations for the 15 2024 Excellence in Technology Awards categories. The other finalists in the Technology Educator of the Year category included technology educators from Drury University and Ozarks Technical Community College.
“One of the criteria for this award is that the educator must teach technology in their courses. While at MSU, I’ve taught several technical courses in the areas of Android app development, computer programming and cybersecurity at both the undergraduate and graduate levels,” Dr. Ravi said.
He uses a unique teaching philosophy based on constructivism (gaining knowledge by doing). He uses innovative teaching methods in his courses and has spent over 700 hours developing custom teaching materials over the past six years.
He has demonstrated excellence in the field of technology education both inside and outside the classroom by receiving high teaching evaluation scores, publishing research on technology education and mentoring his students, who have excelled in national-level technology competitions.
Academic career and contributions
Dr. Ravi has a diverse academic background.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from India and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Oklahoma State University. In addition, he earned a Master of Science in Information and Technology Management and a PhD in Information Systems from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
“I enjoy teaching because it allows me to make a meaningful impact on my students’ lives, equipping them with the skills needed to secure high-paying jobs,” Dr. Ravi said. “By creating custom teaching materials and lab environments, I not only save them money, but also have the freedom to innovate and experiment using open-source technologies. Crafting personalized assignments, hands-on activities and assessments fuels my creativity while fostering a deeper understanding of technology among my students,” he added.
A deserving recognition
The Technology Educator of the Year award is an industry award, making it even more meaningful to Dr. Ravi. The Springfield Tech Council’s members include senior technology executives from major local organizations like Bass Pro Shops, Jack Henry and City Utilities of Springfield.
“For these IT leaders to recognize what I do in my classroom as award-worthy is incredibly gratifying. It is external validation that I’m going above and beyond what a typical technology educator might do in their classes,” Dr. Ravi said.
According to Dr. Xiang Guo, head of the ITC department at MSU, this is a great recognition from the Springfield Tech community.
“I’m glad to see Dr. Ravi representing us in the awards and showcasing our excellence in IT education,” Guo said.