Caroline Cvetkovic Selected to Receive Mara H. Wasburn Grant

Bioengineering professor Caroline Cvetkovic is the 2025 recipient of the Mara H. Wasburn Early Engineering Educator Grant. Each year, the Women in Engineering Division (WIED) of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) presents the award  “to recognize and support women at the entry/launch point of their engineering education career who [have] a demonstrated commitment to innovation in teaching and/or potential for substantial contributions to the field.” The award honors the legacy of Dr. Mara H. Wasburn (1941–2011), a professor in the Department of Organizational Leadership and Supervision at Purdue University, whose work on mentoring is renowned worldwide. Cvetkovic was presented with the award at the 2025 ASEE Annual Conference in Montreal, Canada.

“Being recognized for my preliminary work as an engineering educator by the WIED and education community is a great honor, and I am very humbled to receive this award,” said Cvetkovic. “Though this is still the entry point of my journey, I’m excited to continue building on the projects that I have developed with my students.”

Though women have traditionally been underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), Bioengineering at Illinois has achieved gender parity among undergraduates. This is in large part due to the efforts of dedicated faculty who have shown a commitment to making the department a welcoming space for all. “I think bioengineering can be made accessible to so many audiences, beyond what we traditionally imagine,” said Cvetkovic. “Being creative about how we share innovations in the field can help students of all ages, especially young women, envision their own success in STEM.”

Since joining the department in 2021, Cvetkovic’s research has focused on integrating science communication into bioengineering lab courses, innovations in teaching neural engineering, and feedback mechanisms for course improvement. Earlier this year, she also received the Amy L. Devine Award from the Theta chapter of Alpha Omega Epsilon, a professional organization for women in science and engineering, for her “dedication to helping students through difficult academic times.” 

Cvetkovic joins Holly Golecki as the second bioengineering professor to win the Mara H. Wasburn Early Educator Grant. Professor Golecki received the award in 2022.