Shanna Daly

Shanna Daly is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan. A Miller Faculty Scholar and National Science Foundation CAREER Award recipient, her research focuses on front-end design processes, engineering creativity, and socio-technical skillsets in design education. She leads the Daly Design and Engineering Education Research Group, addressing challenges in divergent thinking, problem-framing, and integrating social-cultural contexts into engineering decision-making.

• Ph.D. in Engineering Education and Chemistry (Purdue University, 2008)
• M.S. in Chemistry (Purdue University, 2006)
• B.E. in Chemical Engineering (University of Dayton, 2003)

Her work emphasizes curriculum innovation to foster inclusivity and belonging among engineering students, particularly those who seek creative, human-centered approaches to complex challenges. She has received multiple accolades for teaching excellence, including the ASME Ruth and Joel Spira Outstanding Design Educator Award (2024) and the U-M Henry Russell Award (2021).

Key awards and grants include:

• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2019)
• Miller Faculty Scholar (2020)
• ASEE Best Paper Awards (2010–2021)