ECE’s Arvelo selected for Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award

Eduardo Romero Arvelo, assistant teaching professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), has been chosen to receive the prestigious 2025 Alliant Energy James R. Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award. Presented to just two instructors from UW–Madison and two from UW–Platteville each year, the Alliant Energy Foundation, Inc. and the Universities of Wisconsin bestow this honor upon faculty who demonstrate exceptional dedication to student learning and instructional innovation.

Through this recognition, Arvelo joins a distinguished group of educators who exemplify what it means to inspire, challenge, and support students in meaningful and lasting ways. Recipients of the Underkofler Award are honored for their deep commitment to teaching, innovative methods, and mentorship that fosters rigorous, inclusive learning environments. By thoughtfully engaging with students’ varied backgrounds and experiences, they help cultivate curiosity, confidence, and lasting academic success.

ECE Department Chair Susan Hagness shared this about Arvelo: “In just five years since joining our department, Prof. Arvelo has transformed our undergraduate educational landscape, combining exceptional classroom instruction with initiatives that elevate teaching excellence across our college. His impact on our students and educational mission has been remarkable.”

Arvelo’s unique blend of inclusive teaching and academic excellence has earned repeated recognition, including the 2024 James G. Woodburn Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, an honor granted to just one instructor each year across the UW–Madison College of Engineering. He also received the 2022 Gerald Holdridge Faculty Teaching Excellence Award from the ECE Department, which recognizes excellent teaching and instruction, the application of creativity such as developing or adapting innovative teaching methods or techniques, and contributions to the improvement of teaching by others.

Recent graduate Gavin Kenush (BSEE’25) reflected on Arvelo’s impact on his academic path: “Professor Arvelo has been a pivotal mentor in my journey as an educator. Our conversations opened my eyes to the possibility of pursuing a joint career in research and education. In no small part due to his influence, I have committed to applying to PhD programs with the intention of becoming an educator.”

Arvelo will receive the award during a ceremony on the UW–Madison campus on October 30, 2025.

Top photo credit: Todd Brown, UW–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health