Annual university faculty and staff awards winner biography
2017–2020 Presidential Teaching Professor
Marc Zupan, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director, Mechanical Engineering
Marc Zupan joined the UMBC faculty in 2003. His career at UMBC has been marked with high praise for his excellence as a teacher, advisor, and mentor. By infusing real-world applications with innovative instruction, he prepares students for meaningful careers and personal and civic lives.
Zupan is deeply invested in helping students excel. He believes in a complete and fully developed engineering education by challenging students to not only master the fundamental and advanced technical skills of the discipline, but also to become expert in communication, teamwork, and cultural awareness. His global engineering program exemplifies this approach through a creative curriculum that balances technical proficiency with cultural and communication skills to prepare students for successful careers in the global arena. Zupan’s bold vision for collaboration, paired with a steadfast commitment to his students, has strengthened the department and inspired more global programs across campus.
Many alumni credit their successful careers to Zupan’s teaching and mentorship, which has resulted in top job placements for graduates of his program and acceptance into some of the most prestigious engineering doctoral programs in the country. Past and present students often remark on the valuable experience gained from his course projects, internship opportunities, and international exchanges. Zupan’s blend of industry experience and commitment to lifelong learning has given his students an excellent head start in developing critical career-building skills in global engineering, and has offered concrete tools and pathways for achieving success.
He received his B.S. from University of Dayton and his M.S. and Ph.D. from The Johns Hopkins University.