David Richter named ND Engineering’s 2021 Outstanding Teacher

David Richter

David Richter, associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences (CEEES), is the recipient of the Notre Dame College of Engineering 2021 Outstanding Teacher Award.

The annual award honors an engineering faculty member, selected by engineering undergraduates, for excellence in teaching.

Students commented that Richter “takes steps to ensure students excel in every aspect of life at Notre Dame.” According to students, Richter “tailors his efforts toward each student’s goals” and “recognizes that the classroom is not where education begins or ends.” They also noted his “energy and enthusiasm about his work that motivates students to push beyond their comfort levels.”

David Richter in front of chalkboard in classroom

Richter joined the CEEES faculty in 2013. He also holds a concurrent appointment in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.

His research focuses on computational techniques such as direct numerical simulation and large eddy simulation for studying turbulence in the atmosphere and ocean. He is a member of the American Geophysical Union, American Meteorological Society, and American Physical Society. He also serves as chair of the AMS Air-Sea Interaction Committee.

This is Richter’s second award for teaching. In 2020 he received Notre Dame’s Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. The Joyce Award honors faculty members who have had a profound influence on the undergraduate learning experience at the University.

— Nina Welding, College of Engineering