• Home
  • News
  • Zeid Kootbally Three-Time Winner of MAGE...

News Story

Zeid Kootbally Three-Time Winner of MAGE Outstanding Teaching Award, Receives Honor for 2023-2024

news story image

Zeid Kootbally Receives the MAGE Outstanding Faculty Award from Assistant Dean for Continuing Education George Syrmos outsdie of J.M. Patterson

Maryland Applied Graduate Engineering is pleased to announce Zeid Kootbally as the recipient of the MAGE Outstanding Teaching Award for the Academic Year 2023-2024. He is the first three time winner of the award. 

Assistant Dean for Continuing Education George Syrmos presented the award to Kootbally on August 27, 2024 on the steps of the J.M. Patterson Building at the University of Maryland. In recognition of his contributions to MAGE students in the form of his exceptional teaching, Kootbally will also receive a cash prize.

"Receiving this award for the third time is truly an honor,” says Kootbally. “It reinforces my commitment to fostering a learning environment where students feel supported and can develop both the technical skills and confidence needed to thrive in robotics. Teaching has always been a passion of mine, and seeing my students succeed, both academically and professionally, is the most rewarding part of my role."

Kootbally received his Ph.D in Computer Science from the University of Burgundy, France, in 2008. Outside of his teaching duties at MAGE, Kootbally is a Computer Scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) where he leads the NIST Automated Vehicles project and co-leads the Agility Performance of Robotic Systems project.

Kootbally began teaching with MAGE in 2018 when he was invited to co-teach ENPM663: Building a Manufacturing Robotic Software System (formerly known as ENPM809B) by Craig Schlenoff, who is also working at NIST. Kootbally also teaches ENPM605 (formerly ENPM809E): Python Applications for Robotics and ENPM702 (formerly ENPM809Y): Introductory Robot Programming.

Dr. Kootbally is a fantastic professor who is deeply invested in us as students and future robotics engineers, always ensuring that we learn the required knowledge to be effective engineers and often spending extra time helping those who might be struggling.

Caleb Myers, M.Eng. in Robotics student

As the only three-time Outstanding Teaching Award winner, Kootbally shines brightly as a teacher much revered by his students.

"Dr. Kootbally's teaching style simplifies the complexities of robotics and programming. His well-structured, engaging methods set the blueprint for robotics education,” says Caitlin Conn, who will graduate with a M.Eng in Robotics in December 2024. “He genuinely cares about his students, linking lecture content with real-world applications and fostering internship and job opportunities through his network, supporting students in their professional endeavors."

“Dr. Kootbally is a fantastic professor who is deeply invested in us as students and future robotics engineers, always ensuring that we learn the required knowledge to be effective engineers and often spending extra time helping those who might be struggling,” says Caleb Myers, who will graduate with a M.Eng in Robotics in December 2024. “From staying after class to help students and making the best PowerPoint presentations anyone has ever seen, to informing us about potential job opportunities in the robotics industry during class, Dr. Kootbally is the outstanding professor everyone wants to have.”

“My impression from Dr. Kootbally’s course is that I feel that he focuses on making sure every student is understanding the material and gaining something from the course,” says Alex Hall, a first year student working towards the M.Eng in Robotics. “It is apparent that his goal is that every student is learning and he does not rush through material for the sake of covering it. I enjoy participating in his class as he creates a very positive learning environment. Taking Dr. Kootbally’s course has helped me to expand on my Engineering skill set. I will be looking to take more classes with him in the future.” 

"Professor Zeid Kootbally is incredibly kind and approachable, always ready to help students with their questions and challenges,” says Wei-Li Chen, a student working towards the M.Eng in Robotics who anticipates graduating in 2025. “His classes are engaging and easy to follow, making complex concepts in C++ accessible. His thorough teaching and detailed explanations have significantly expanded my knowledge and laid a solid foundation for my further studies."


Published October 15, 2024