First Year Engineering Faculty

  • Nicole Dufalla

    Senior Lecturer, First Year Engineering Center
    Nicole Dufalla headshot
  • Benjamin Goldschneider

    Assistant Professor, Academic General Faculty, Teaching Track, First Year Engineering Center
    Benjamin Goldschneider headshot
    Benjamin Goldschneider is an Assistant Professor and founding member of the First-Year Engineering Center. Through a combination of teaching, advising, curriculum development, and research, Benjamin seeks to foster students’ passions for engineering and help them navigate the…
  • William H. Guilford

    Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs, School of Engineering and Applied Science Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
    Will Guilford headshot

    My lab uses molecular biomechanics and engineering design to better understand movement of single cells and to improve the treatment of human disease. We also study human learning and use that knowledge to improve the delivery of core courses in biomedical engineering.

  • Anne McAlister

    Assistant Professor, Academic General Faculty, Teaching Track, First Year Engineering Center
    Anne McAlister Headshot

    My research centers on the intersection of engineering identity, social identity, and social justice for students in higher education.

  • Leyf Starling

    Lecturer, First Year Engineering Center
    Leyf Starling headshot
  • Esther Tian

    Associate Professor, Academic General Faculty, Teaching Track, First Year Engineering Center
    Esther Tian headshot

    Esther Tian is an associate professor of engineering. She also serves as the faculty advisor for the Engineers for Sustainable World at UVA club. Before joining the inaugural First Year Engineering Center, Esther helped establish the Engineering program at Eastern Mennonite University and led the program to attain the initial ABET accreditation.

  • Shaylin Williams

    Assistant Professor, First Year Engineering Center
    williams

    Shaylin Williams is invested in identifying ways to improve the engineering education experience for future generations of engineers.