Mark Stehlik, assistant dean of undergraduate education in the School of Computer Science, is the recipient of this year's Doherty Award for Sustained Contributions to Excellence in Education.

"The operative word 'sustained' certainly applies here," said Randal E. Bryant, SCS dean. "Mark started his teaching career here as a lecturer in 1982 and became assistant dean in 1988. He, in many ways, has been the key to the growth and success of our undergraduate program."

The honor comes at a pivotal time for Stehlik, who this summer will begin a five-year stint as associate dean of education at Carnegie Mellon Qatar. He taught computer science at the Doha campus during stints in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011 and organized its first annual high school programming contest.

Stehlik has long been a national leader in computer science education. He was involved in the Advanced Placement Computer Science course from its inception in 1984, organized numerous training workshops for high school teachers and co-authored "Running on Empty," a 2010 study of the nation's neglect of computer science education. In 1997, he won SCS's Herbert A. Simon Award for Teaching Excellence in Computer Science.

As assistant dean, he is known for setting high educational standards, but also for making a personal connection with each student.

Henry DeYoung, who earned his bachelor's degree in 2008, noted Stehlik's office is famously crammed full of books. Yet, "Mark always has room for everyone," DeYoung said. "Even though only the front half of my wheelchair could barely squeeze between the stacks of books, Mark always had room for me, too."

DeYoung, now a PhD student, said Stehlik's knowledge of computer science and his insight into students make him an invaluable mentor. "Mark had the uncanny ability to guide my course selections toward the area of computer science in which I would eventually become interested," he recalled, "even before I could recognize that interest myself."

"Mark's gift is understanding people who love computer science," said Ian Ernest Voysey, an SCS grad who is now a staff teaching assistant. "He keeps the students roughly on their paths towards maturation, and he keeps the faculty united and roughly on their paths towards maturation. He does it all at high speed, with a grin on his face, and an open office door."