Dr. Benjamin C. Flores, professor of electrical and computer engineering at University of Texas El Paso, yesterday received the 2010 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (STEM) during a reception at the White House. President Barack Obama honored educators from across the country at his second "Educate to Innovate" Campaign event for excellence in STEM education.
Flores was among 22 mentors and more than eighty educators nationwide recognized for their efforts to mentor minorities studying science and engineering. He was selected for the time, encouragement and expertise he has offered to thousands of students throughout the University of Texas System since joining the UTEP staff in 1990. Flores leads several university and statewide programs that promote increasing minorities in the workforce workplace with the hope that the next generation of scientists and engineers will better reflect the nation's diversity.
Dr. Flores earned a PhD in electrical engineering from Arizona State University in 1990. Since then, he has held several administrative positions including associate dean for Graduate Studies for the College of Engineering, chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, and interim chair of the Computer Science Department. He is an expert in retention strategies for undergraduate and graduate students in the STEM disciplines, and he has been principal investigator on National Science Foundation grants and cooperative agreements.
Currently he is director of the University of Texas System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation and director of the STEM Talent Expansion Program. He has conducted multiple presentations and seminars in the US, Mexico and South America addressing institutional models for student access and success in higher education. Dr. Flores is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education, the American Society for the Advancement of Science, and the International Society of Optical Engineering.
His honors include the ABET President's Diversity Award (2006), Excelencia in Edication Award (2006), Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Star Award (2005), IEEE Millennium Medal for outstanding contributions in engineering education and membership to the Electrical Engineering Honor Society (Eta Kappa Nu) and the Engineering Honor Society (Tau Beta Pi).
