Michini honored for optimized education

On April 29, 2026, Grainger Dean Devesh Ranjan hosted a celebration at which he recognized engineering faculty and staff for outstanding daily work that shapes the heart of our college.

Carla Michini, an assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering, received the Benjamin Smith Reynolds Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Michini brings clarity, rigor and approachability to two of the college’s most mathematically demanding optimization courses: Introduction to Combinatorial Optimization, and Linear Optimization. Both courses include undergraduate and graduate students. And even though they are among the most challenging courses in the ISyE curriculum, they’re also among the most popular, thanks to Michini’s approach.

Committed to continuously improving her teaching methods, she leads students toward deeper mathematical reasoning, walking them step by step through examples so they can see conceptual building blocks, learn how the logic unfolds, and understand the technical details in challenging proofs. She actively engages students through questions, short quizzes, discussions and structured pauses—creating a welcoming environment in which students are comfortable, eager contributors.

Her peers praise her pacing, interactive teaching style and ability to make challenging material feel accessible. And recent student comments have included statements like, “her approach to teaching concepts is brilliant,” “the most clear course I have ever taken,” and “best instructor I have had at UW-Madison.”