KINGSTON, R.I. – June 30, 2026 – University of Rhode Island Engineering Professor Musa Jouaneh was named the recipient of the 2026 American Society for Engineering Education’s Ralph Coats Roe Award. The award recognizes a mechanical engineering educator who is an outstanding teacher and who has made notable professional contributions.
Ralph Coats Roe was an avid investigator of better methods. Nominees for this honor must exhibit outstanding performance in teaching for at least a decade to be considered. Jouaneh, of Wakefield, has been teaching for 36 years since starting at URI in 1990.
“I was drawn to teaching because I view it as an essential part of scholarship, providing a direct connection between a faculty member’s research, professional experience, and the education of future engineers,” said Jouaneh.
He has taught thousands of undergraduate students and hundreds of graduate students across more than 10 courses, as well as supervising more than 70 undergraduate students on independent study projects. He also advised 45 Masters of Science and Ph.D. students in that time.
“The opportunity to share knowledge, mentor students, and help prepare the next generation of engineers has always been a motivating aspect of my academic career. I take that role seriously and continually seek more effective ways to support student learning,” said Jouaneh.
Jouaneh obtained his master’s and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering from University of California at Berkeley and his bachelor’s from University of Louisiana, Lafayette. He specializes in mechatronics, and has experience in several research areas, including the development of various types of automated systems and devices, robotic assembly and disassembly operations, and the modeling and control of mechanical systems. He founded the Mechatronics Laboratory at URI and co-developed innovative tools for at-home lab experiments in mechatronics and related courses. He wrote three textbooks on mechatronics and authored and co-authored over 90 other publications. His passion for educating is evident in the praise he receives from his students and the success many of them have.
“What I enjoy most about teaching is seeing students become genuinely engaged with a subject and develop a deeper understanding of the material,” said Jouaneh. “I especially enjoy designing assignments, projects, and demonstrations that bring fundamental concepts to life and help students connect theory with practice. It is rewarding to see how these activities spark curiosity and build students’ confidence in applying what they have learned. Fortunately, the two core courses I teach, System Dynamics and Mechatronics, provide many opportunities for this kind of active learning while continually inspiring me to learn and improve as an educator.”
Jouaneh has distinguished scholarly and teaching recognitions that include the 2003 URI Foundation Teaching Excellence Award, which is awarded yearly to one faculty member at the University, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Region 1 Outstanding Teaching in an IEEE Area (University or College) Award in 2024, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Dynamic Systems and Control Division Yasundo Takahashi Education Award in 2025. He has also received three URI College of Engineering Faculty Excellence Awards, including the URI College of Engineering Frank White Teaching Award in 2023.
“This award is a wonderful recognition of my dedication to teaching. I am deeply honored to have been selected and sincerely grateful for this recognition. I would like to thank the faculty and students who nominated me, as well as my wife, whose unwavering support has been the foundation of my career,” said Jouaneh.
The award was bestowed at the ASEE Annual Conference on June 24.