Michelle Soledad

Michelle Soledad is a Collegiate Assistant Professor in Virginia Tech's Department of Engineering Education within the College of Engineering. Her research focuses on improving undergraduate learning experiences in foundational engineering courses, faculty development, and leveraging institutional data for reflective teaching practices. She has held academic roles at institutions including Minnesota State University, Mankato, and The Ohio State University, in addition to professional experience as a software engineer at Accenture.

Education: Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Virginia Tech (2019), M.Eng. and B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Ateneo de Davao University (2013, 2000). She has taught courses such as Foundations of Engineering, AC Circuits, and Computer Systems across multiple universities.

Research Interests: Prioritizing student success in challenging foundational courses (e.g., calculus, statics), faculty motivation, inter-departmental curriculum planning, and integrating student feedback through data-driven methods. Her work addresses systemic challenges in engineering education, including gender equity and stress culture.

Notable Achievements: Recipient of the 2020-21 Outstanding Service to Undergraduate Students award from The Ohio State University. She has secured grants like the S-STEM Iron Range Engineering Scholarship for cooperative education programs. Her publications span educational assessment, inclusive teaching strategies, and faculty retention.

Grants & Professional Contributions: Active in professional societies including IEEE Education Society and Society of Women Engineers. Her research grants support initiatives like bridging transfer student gaps and developing global competency programs. She has pioneered formative feedback systems using generative AI and exit surveys to enhance teaching quality.