Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.—A faculty member in Mississippi State’s building construction science program is receiving a major recognition for helping develop and advance construction education.
Assistant professor Thomas M. “Tom” Leathem is the Associated Schools of Construction’s 2016 selection for the Excellence in Teaching Award.
Representing more than 100 member schools spread among seven U.S. and two international regions, the Colorado-based organization works to advance efforts of academic and industry professionals in institutional construction education. For more, visit www.ascweb.org.
Building construction science is a major academic offering of MSU’s College of Architecture, Art and Design. It also is one of only two such studio-based programs in the U.S.
Leathem is an industrial technology/construction management graduate of Western Illinois University who worked for more than a decade in Chicago construction management positions. He came to MSU in 2012.
In addition to a master’s degree in design/build from Auburn University—where he was an adjunct professor—Leathem holds certified professional constructor designation from the American Institute of Constructors. For more biographical information, visit www.caad.msstate.edu/bcs/bcsdirectory.php.
“It was especially humbling to be recognized for my teaching efforts because the Associated Schools of Construction is the preeminent association for construction management education,” he said.
“I am grateful that I was able to represent the building construction science program, College of Architecture, Art and Design and Mississippi State University in such a positive way to ASC and my peers in construction education around the world,” he added.
Craig D. Capano, the college’s Roy Anderson Endowed Professor, directs the building construction science program. Leathem’s award is among the most coveted recognitions for higher education faculty members in the field, he said.
“We are honored and proud that one of our Mississippi State building construction science faculty members received this award,” Capano added. “Tom truly is deserving, and we are glad to see him rewarded for his efforts to be a great construction educator.”
Learn more about the program and the college at www.caad.msstate.edu, facebook.com/CAADatMSU, twitter.com/CAADatMSU and http://tinyurl.com/CAADatMSUYouTube. Also, see facebook.com/MississippiStateBuildingConstructionScience.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.