Vicki V. May

Professor of Engineering

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education

Research Interests

Engineering education; inquiry-based learning; student-centered learning; K-12 and outreach activities; creativity; seismic engineering

Education

  • BS, Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities 1991
  • MS, Civil/Structural Engineering, Stanford University 1992
  • PhD, Civil/Structural Engineering, Stanford University 1996

Awards

  • New Hampshire Professor of the Year, 2013
  • Jerome Goldstein Award for Distinguished Teaching, Dartmouth College, 2012
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth, 2012
  • Teacher of the Year Award, College of Architecture, California Polytechnic State University, 2002
  • Nominated twice for the Most Supportive Professor Award, College of Architecture, California Polytechnic State University, 2000 & 2002

Professional Activities

  • Registered Professional Engineer, State of New Hampshire
  • Registered Professional Engineer, State of California

Research Projects

  • AAU STEM Project on Teaching Evaluation

    AAU STEM Project on Teaching Evaluation

    With support from the Association of American Universities (AAU), we are creating a system for teaching evaluation that integrates evidence-based evaluation data from three sources: student course assessments, peer observation, and self-reflection. Existing student course assessments are being augmented to focus on observable best practices, rather than students' intuitive impression of the instructor. Peer observations are conducted in accordance with a consistent protocol, which includes guided pre-briefing and debrief sessions between the observer and observee. Self-reflection allows each instructor to note and report on their progress toward the implementation of best teaching practices. The system is currently being piloted and assessed en route to broader implementation. Learn more

Selected Publications

  • May, Vicki. Lecture Capture at Dartmouth. Available at: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~dcal. June, 2008
  • May, Vicki V., Luxon, Thomas H., Weaver, Kathy S, and Esselstein, Rachel. "Development of Case Stories by Interviewing Students about their Critical Moments in Science, Math, and Engineering Classes." Numeracy, Volume 1, Issue 1, Article 5. January, 2008
  • May, Vicki. "Student Development of Class Notes using a Wiki as an Alternative to a Single Course Textbook." Proceedings for the 2008 ASEE Zone 1 Conference. West Point, NY. March, 2008
  • Hansen, Eric, Stein, Ellen, and May, Vicki. "Work in Progress: Building Community among First-Year Engineering Students." Frontiers in Education Conference. Saratoga Springs, NY. October, 2008
  • May, Vicki. Clickers at Dartmouth. Available at: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~dcal. September, 2007
  • May, Vicki, and Brady, Pamalee, "Lessons Learned Teaching Engineering Online to Architecture and Construction Management Students," ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference. Boulder, CO, November, 2003

Courses

  • ENGS 21: Introduction to Engineering
  • ENGS 71: Structural Analysis
  • ENGS 15: Undergraduate Investigations in Engineering
  • ENGS 84: Reading Course

Videos

Building a Tiny House

edX: The Engineering of Structures Around Us

Seminar: To MOOC Or Not To MOOC?

The New Face of Engineering

Summer Engineering Workshop: Part One

Summer Engineering Workshop: Part Two

Summer Engineering Workshop: Part Three

$300 House

Integrated Design: Engineering, Architecture, and Building Technology at Dartmouth

Structural Analysis Class at Dartmouth: Treehouse

Solid Mechanics Bridge Competition at Dartmouth 2011

News

$300 House Update!
Jun 04, 2013

In the News

The Christian Science Monitor
Comics Are For Kids? This Vermont College Begs to Differ
Apr 02, 2020
Nature Materials
Material witness: A symphony of materials
Sep 05, 2017
The Huffington Post
Engineers Are Not 'Smart'
Jul 23, 2014
The Washington Times
Teens attend engineering camp at Dartmouth
Jul 21, 2014
The Huffington Post
Are Women Too Empathetic to Be Engineers?
Jun 26, 2014
The Huffington Post
Broadening the Path to Engineering
Mar 12, 2014
NH Union Leader
Dartmouth professor named teacher of the year
Nov 25, 2013
Mediaplanet
Who should run the world? Girls!
Jun 10, 2013
The Dartmouth
$300 House Project targets Haiti
Jan 27, 2012