By Wendy Bernshausen
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

University of Houston-Clear Lake has selected Thomas Harman, professor and chair of computer engineering, as this year's nominee for the Piper teaching award.

The Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation honors 10 professors during each academic year for their dedication to teaching and scholarly achievement. The winners will be announced May 1.

At participating colleges, candidates are nominated and compete against each other to win their college's nomination. Once a single candidate has been selected from each college, the nominee competes against other finalists statewide for the Piper Professor of Texas Award. The winner of this award receives a $5,000 cash prize.

Harman competed against six finalists at UH-Clear Lake for this distinguished honor.

"His success is an inspiration to all who have the privilege of knowing and working with him," said Charles W. McKay, dean of the School of Science and Computer Engineering.

Harman's list of credentials include a notable number of other awards and professional achievements within the field of engineering technology. He has also written numerous textbooks related to his field.

After receiving his doctorate from Rice University in 1971, Harman pursued many avenues in the teaching field. Harman began his career at UH-Clear Lake in 1979.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Harman has expanded his expertise into technology that everyone can use. Harman acted as a consultant for Microtherm Inc. to obtain a patent for a tankless water heating system.

The tankless water heating system can be found in the UH-Clear Lake Robotics and Computer Control Sytems Lab. Harman also installed this patented product in Marlon Brando's home in California.

From top to bottom: Thomas Harman, profesor of computer engineering, works in the Robotics and Computer Control Systems Lab; Marlon Brando and Thomas Harman.
photos by Natalie Seifert and courtesy of Thomas Harman

Harman has many interests outside the academic and professional realm including his weekly pool tournaments and sail-boating trips.

"To summarize my ideas about teaching, let me say that teaching and learning is not only rewarding, it is fun," Harman said. "I hope that each class as well as the individual students that I teach will find my joy in the learning process contagious."

"Dr. Harman is undoubtedly one of the best professors that I have had in all of my collegiate studies," said Lale C. Capps, a former graduate student of UH-Clear Lake who studied under Harman. "If anyone deserves a teaching award, it would be someone who loves to teach, as he does."

Harman has also conducted research and taught at Rice University as an adjunct professor since 1974. Harman has had the opportunity to work with Frank Tittle, his mentor and fellow associate at Rice University, on a $40,000 grant that was received to conduct research on a device that monitors pollution with a laser-based censor.

"Among all of my professors at both UH-Clear Lake and Rice, I have encountered no others that match Dr. Harman's combination of enthusiasm, technical excellence and teaching talent," said James B. Dabney, a former graduate student of Harman's. "He is truly a unique asset to this university. His collaboration with Rice in teaching and research has strengthened both UH-Clear Lake and Rice."

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