Mechanical engineering grad student named ASME Graduate Teaching Fellow
June 27, 2025
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Samantha Splendido, a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering at Penn State, has been named an American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Graduate Teaching Fellow for the 2025-26 academic year by ASME Engineering Education.
The fellowship includes an annual stipend of $5,000 to be used in conjunction with a full teaching assistantship awarded by the Penn State Department of Mechanical Engineering. Designed to encourage talented graduate students to consider academic careers, the fellowship provides professional development opportunities and teaching experience that strengthen instructional skills and deepen engagement with engineering education.
As a fellow, Splendido will engage in teaching, curriculum development and education-focused research aligned with ASME’s mission to foster excellence in engineering education. Her involvement reflects a broader commitment to preparing the next generation of engineers through innovative, student-centered teaching practices.
Splendido’s award is part of the ASME Graduate Teaching Fellowship Program, which supports graduate students and early-career educators in their pursuit of academic excellence and pedagogical innovation in mechanical engineering. Fellows are selected based on demonstrated teaching ability, commitment to engineering education and scholarly achievement.
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Samantha Splendido, a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering at Penn State, poses for a headshot. Credit: Provided by Samantha Splendido.
