Norfolk, VA—Rasha Morsi, associate professor of engineering at Norfolk State University, is a recipient of the 2012 Outstanding Faculty Award (OFA) presented by The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and Dominion Resources. Dr. Morsi is receiving the award for teaching and technology. Twelve faculty members from Virginia’s public and private colleges and universities have been selected as recipients of the award.

“This is a high honor for Dr. Morsi and for Norfolk State University. To be recognized by the body that is instrumental in setting higher education policy guidance for the Commonwealth is phenomenal,” said NSU President Tony Atwater. “With her extensive research experience in modeling, simulation, visualization and training technologies, Dr. Morsi has an amazing aptitude for developing and facilitating learning applications that are meaningful and successful for those who use them,” he said.

In addition to that project, Dr. Morsi is currently involved in several projects aimed at enhancing K-16 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. Since 2003, Dr. Morsi, has secured over $5.3 million in funding from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense, among other public and private funding agencies. She has led the development of numerous interactive web-based learning applications, mobile apps, and games for electrical and computer engineering as well as K-12 applications. Dr. Morsi is founding director of the Creative Gaming and Simulation (CGS) lab, a research lab with a mission of designing and developing sound educational models and frameworks for curriculum and assessment-based games, interactive e-tools, and training solutions. She is currently principal investigator on a $4.2M 3D training simulation for nurses (VNurse) project. This simulation is expected to help nurses train using curriculum-based content to help them better achieve on the national certification exam and prepare trainees for situations that are stressful, emotionally unsettling or that affect human life.

Dr. Morsi has received numerous accolades for her achievements during her tenure at Norfolk State University. She has been named the YWCA Woman of Distinction for the Science and Technology Category (2009) and Diverse: Issues in Higher Education’s Emerging Scholars – one of ten selected nationwide (2008). In 2007, she received the Norfolk State University ‘University Award of Excellence’ — an award given to a faculty member who has performed in a superior manner in teaching, scholarly activity, and service. This is one of the highest honors the University can bestow on one of its faculty. At the college level, she has been named Teacher of the Year, Top Engineering Faculty, and received the outstanding grantsmanship award every year since her tenure at NSU.

Dr. Morsi received a B.Eng. degree in Computer Systems and Electronics Engineering from King’s College, University of London, and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Old Dominion University.