The Alumni Association at the University of Kentucky named six educators at UK for the 2018 Great Teachers Award, which included Dr. Gabriel "Gabe" Dadi who is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering and an alum of the UK MBA program. The Great Teacher Award, which started in 1961, is the longest-running University of Kentucky award recognizing teaching.
To receive the award, educators must first be nominated by a student. The UK Alumni Association Great Teacher Award Committee, in cooperation with the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa, then makes the final selections. Eligible candidates must hold the rank of full-time lecturer or above and have been a member of the UK faculty for the past three years, demonstrated superior knowledge of their subject matter, have original and innovative classroom presentation, and showcase concern for students, both inside and outside the University setting.
Dr. Dadi said, “Receiving this award from the UK Alumni Association is up near the top of the list of any recognition in this University. It is an honor and reflects positively on the excellent teachers that I have had in my life, beginning with my parents and culminating with many of the UK faculty, including the MBA program. The skills required to effectively manage an engineering/construction project are not that different than what’s required to effectively manage a classroom. There is a contract/syllabus, deadlines, deliverables, feedback loops, interpersonal relationships, conflicts, and morale issues that all need to be understood and managed. Few of these are technical issues that are taught through an engineering degree, but many are more management and business-related skills. Knowing that disconnect is was what initially made me interested in earning an MBA. The curriculum in the MBA program at UK allowed me to learn and practice those skills, which contributed to my development as a professional and ultimately as a teacher.”
Dr. Dadi teaches several undergraduate and graduate courses, including introduction to construction engineering, construction methodology, and Building Information Modeling/Civil Integrated Management (BIM/CIM). Prior to academia, he worked as a project engineer for a commercial contractor. He holds a BS and a PhD in Civil Engineering and a Master of Business Administration.