May 19, 2026
Mizzou develops champions. Two such leaders were recently inducted into the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Hall of Fame.
EECS Chair Syed Kamrul Islam recently bestowed the honor upon Mohammad Shahidehpour, PhD ’81, and Jim Keller, PhD ’78, as a Distinguished Professor.
“Dr. Keller and Dr. Shahidehpour are internationally renowned scholars in their respective fields,” Islam said. “We welcome them into our hall of fame, with pride in their achievements and confidence that their accomplishments will inspire future generations of Mizzou Engineers.”
Keller is Curators’ Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. His research interests center on computational intelligence. His industrial and government funding sources include the National Science Foundation, the Administration on Aging, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.
Keller said he was grateful that the then-Department of Electrical Engineering had taken a chance to hire him as a young mathematician.
“The secret to success is that I had — and still have — great colleagues and excellent students,” Keller said. “That’s my best advice to students: Seek out faculty members and get involved in cutting edge research as early as possible.”
Shahidehpour is currently the Robert W. Galvin Electricity Innovation Endowed Chair, and director of the Robert W. Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Among his many contributions, he has played a leading role in advancing microgrid systems, including projects that transformed entire campuses into resilient, islandable energy systems. His work has also helped establish research centers focused on smart grid cybersecurity and the development of innovative solutions for reliable and sustainable electricity delivery.
Shahidehpour described the honor as both humbling and deeply meaningful.
“Columbia was my first stop after I arrived in the United States, and the University of Missouri became the place where my academic and professional journey truly began,” he said. “The academic rigor, the mentorship of outstanding faculty and the welcoming cultural environment I experienced at Mizzou created a foundation that I have carried with me throughout my life. It is an experience I will cherish forever.”
Students and faculty presented awards
The following students and faculty received awards May 5:
Outstanding undergraduate students
- Computer science seniors: Gabriella Ramirez, Jasper Holland
- Computer science juniors: Elijah Vandyne, Olivia Franken
- Electrical and computer engineering seniors: Ryan Malawy, Thao Nguyen
- Electrical and computer engineering juniors: Garrison Taylor, Akbarjon Kamoldinov
Outstanding graduate students
- Master’s degree student, computer science: Ping Liu
- Master’s degree student, electrical engineering: Davida Andriniaina
- Doctoral students, computer science: Rajan Gyawali, Akshata Hegde, Khurram Khalil, Kritika Prasai
- Doctoral students, electrical and computer engineering: Tasnim Zaman Adry, Shahrin Akter, Yanmei Chen, Showmik Singha,
Teaching assistants
- Electrical and computer engineering: Amjad Hasan, Showmik Singha, Ali Tousi
- Computer science: Ajay Kumar, Suthar Prasad, Sraboni Sarkar
Faculty awards
- Junior Faculty Research Award:Filiz Bunyak-Ersoy
- Senior Faculty Research Award: Jianlin (Jack) Cheng
- Junior Faculty Teaching Award: Qingyun Huang
- Senior Faculty Teaching Award: James Fischer
- Mentoring Award: Jim Ries
Great legacies start at Mizzou Engineering. Learn more about the accomplishments of our alumni.