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October 6, 2008
Professor William Carpenter, Chair
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of South Florida
4202 E. Fowler Ave, ENB 118
Tampa, FL 33620
Dear Sir:
As requested, I am pleased to provide input for the consideration of Dr. Mahmood Nachabe's promotion to full professor in your department. My comments will address the following three areas: (1) teaching effectiveness, (2) professional growth, and (3) service to the University and community.
Teaching effectiveness
Dr. Nachabe has taught three undergraduate courses and six graduate courses at USF, a substantial teaching involvement by most standards. The student comments regarding Dr. Nachabe's teaching effectiveness are very complimentary. Many students judge him to be an excellent teacher. His skill at communicating the subject matter in a clear and concise manner is particularly mentioned in the evaluations. Moreover, while remaining strict and fair, he is very well liked by his students. My overall evaluation, based on the information presented to me, is that Dr. Nachabe is an excellent instructor.
Professional Growth
Dr. Nachabe's expertise is in hydrology and water resources. He is very well published. Since 1992, he has published 24 papers in recognized journals. His last paper (2008) appears in the ASCE Journal of Irrigation and Drainage, a reputable journal with wide readership. His 2007 paper in Ground Water, with N. Shah and M Ross, is judged to be very good. Moreover, he remains very active professionally, as evidenced by his three manuscripts in line for publication. He is directing or has directed several students (19) in their M.S. and/or Ph.D. studies over the past seven years, a very productive record by any standard. His research funding is substantial and closely tied to his area of expertise. His current research work with the South Florida Water Management District is worthy of mention. My overall evaluation is that Dr. Nachabe is an excellent researcher.
Service to the University and Community
Dr. Nachabe's service to the University and community is substantial and meaningful. He has been very active as a reviewer for several well recognized journals, including those from ASCE and AGU. This is proof that his peers have a high regard for his knowledge of the field. His participation on several NSF panels is highly commendable. His overall record of service is very good. My overall evaluation is that Dr. Nachabe is a very good to excellent contributor to the university and community.
Sincerely yours,
Victor M. Ponce
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
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