New faculty member wants every student to fit in and succeed
1
Salvador Echeveste received the Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award in 2023. Now, he’s bringing his teaching skills to MIE as a clinical assistant professor.
“That award means a lot to me, because making sure every student has a fair shot at succeeding is a big part of how I approach the classroom,” he said. “I want students to leave my classes ready for what engineering actually looks like out there: problems without one right answer, teammates who think differently, and technology that changes faster than any textbook can keep up with.”
Echeveste wants every student to feel like they belong in engineering, because he believes people learn best when they’re not worried about whether they fit in. He will be doing this while teaching classes at all levels, taking on Introduction to Engineering Design and Graphics, senior design, and other design courses.
“Design classes are my favorite because it’s where students stop solving textbook problems and start solving real ones, with all the ambiguity, teamwork, and last-minute redesigns that come with it. Down the road, I would really enjoy teaching robotics as well,” Echeveste said.
He describes himself as a lifelong learner and believes that is what makes him a better teacher. He earned his PhD in 2025 and remembers what it feels like to be totally lost in a class. He wants students to know they have a lot of support and to make the most of it.
“I don’t expect anyone to have it all figured out. I try to be intentional about how I design my courses, so nothing feels like busywork. And please come to office hours, whether it’s about homework, careers, or just talking robots,” he said. “My biggest piece of advice for students is to be an active advocate for your education. Ask questions, speak up about your ideas, and take ownership of your work. Your professors are one of the best resources you have, and we want you to use us, whether that’s in office hours, for feedback on a project, or for advice on internships, research, or grad school.”
Outside of the classroom, he plans to keep working on robot learning and optimization. He’s interested in what happens when you design the body and brain of robots together, letting an algorithm determine the best shape and gait simultaneously.
“I won’t have a dedicated lab, but that doesn’t mean I’m not around for projects. I’m happy to work with students on independent studies, design projects, or robotics ideas, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with colleagues in the department,” Echeveste said.