Mohsen Mosleh

Howard University | Washington, DC | 2021

Mohsen Mosleh Portrait Photo

To have my work recognized with this Presidential Award is an extraordinary honor. This award affirms that the work to which I have dedicated my professional life—that is, the growth, development, and success of my mentees, primarily from underrepresented populations in STEM—is of national importance. Iconic mentors, inspiring students, supportive colleagues, and an environment serving minority students all comprise the mentoring ecosystem in which I support and guide my mentees.

The official biography below was current at the time of the award. Awardees may choose to provide their latest biographical information on their profile page.

Mohsen Mosleh has been a professor of mechanical engineering at Howard University since 1996. He has served as acting Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education in the College of Engineering and Architecture and as Graduate Program Director in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Over the course of his tenure, he has mentored or directed the mentorship of over 120 students, primarily Blacks/African Americans and women, populations underrepresented in STEM. He has advised 35 postdoctoral, doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate students in research and directed the mentorship of 87 undergraduate students through the Industry-Research Inclusion in STEM Education (I-RISE) program, the initiative he established in 2019 and currently directs. The I-RISE program extends to freshmen and sophomores with GPAs below 3.0 opportunities for paid research experience, networking with industry partners, and inroads to professional work. Mohsen incorporates the learning-by-doing methodology in his teaching and mentoring, helping mentees develop technical skills and proficiency as well as mastery in disciplinary research techniques. As mentees gain self-efficacy through mastery experiences, their trust in themselves grows as does their sense of belonging in the STEM world. Mohsen has a B.S. and an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His honors include Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; Outstanding Teaching award from the American Society for Engineering Education; Eminent Engineer from Tau Beta PI Honor Society; the Faculty Exemplar Medal from the Graduate School at Howard University; and the Rabinowicz Tribology award from MIT.