Andrew Bartolini, director of the First-Year Engineering Program and associate teaching professor in the College of Engineering, is the recipient of the 2026 College of Engineering Outstanding Mentoring Award.
This honor recognizes faculty members who extend their influence beyond academic instruction to foster the professional, personal, and holistic development of their students. Recipients are distinguished by their generous commitment of time and their dedication to ensuring the well-being and long-term success of the undergraduate community.
Nominations for the award are solicited each year from among all of the sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the College of Engineering. The nominations are then evaluated by a committee of ten undergraduate students—two from each of the five departments, and three faculty members.
Bartolini manages the largest course in the College of Engineering, the first-year sequence of Engineering Design and Engineering Computing. Praising his student-centric approach, one nominator wrote: “Professor Bartolini is there for students during one of the most stressful and vulnerable periods of their lives. That moment matters more than people realize, and he shows up for all his students.”
Students also noted his tireless dedication to improving his classes. “He is constantly refining his teaching and looking for ways to reach the students. He does everything in his power to ensure students have a seamless classroom learning experience.” Others noted that even after leaving his classroom, Bartolini made time to give advice or write letters of recommendation.
One student captured the collective sentiment of the nominators: “Notre Dame is incredibly lucky to have him in a role that is so critical to shaping the first-year experience.”
In addition to this honor, Bartolini is a recipient of the Madden Award for excellence in teaching first-year students. His leadership extends nationally through the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), where he serves as the Program Chair for the 2025-26 academic year and will transition to Division Chair for 2026-27.
—Karla Cruise, Notre Dame Engineering