Mauro Caputi

Dr. Mauro Caputi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering at Hofstra University's School of Engineering and Applied Science. He is renowned for his innovative approach to engineering education, particularly through his course Designing the Human-Made World (ENGG 15), which blends entertainment with pedagogy to engage first-year students.

His research interests focus on engineering education and instructional innovation, emphasizing durable professional skills such as informed design, teamwork, and communication. By integrating TV-show-style formats, animations, and interactive labs, he fosters active learning and student retention in engineering.

Dr. Caputi has received multiple teaching awards throughout his career, including Hofstra’s Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award in 2014 and several honors from Virginia Tech for teaching excellence.

• Virginia Tech College of Engineering Sporn Award
• Virginia Tech Certificate of Teaching Excellence
• Virginia Tech Mortar Board National Senior Honor Society Polished Apple Award
• Hofstra University Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award (2014)

He has developed over fifteen engineering courses and authored eight course and laboratory manuals. His educational philosophy centers on personal interaction, performance-based instruction, and making learning enjoyable to promote student growth. There is no mention of formal research labs or teams, but his work has significantly shaped the freshman engineering experience at Hofstra.