Provost’s Award for an Exemplary Director of Graduate Studies

The Provost’s Award for an Exemplary Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) honors a full-time faculty member assigned with advising graduate students about program requirements, career prospects, funding possibilities, and other matters pertinent to graduate education; this award honors exemplary work done by directors of graduate studies as advisors and administrators.  Such work includes mastery of the program’s disciplinary and professional regulations, advocacy on behalf of students, development of curricular innovations designed to improve retention and degree completion, as well as enhancement of student academic and professional development initiatives, and commitment to strategic advising.

Patricia Soucy, PhD joined the Bioengineering Department at the University of Louisville in 2010 as a Postdoctoral Associate and then joined the department as faculty in 2012. Her current responsibilities include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in the Bioengineering Department, where she also serves as Director of Graduate Studies. She manages and assists the Bioengineering Department’s four current graduate programs (MEng in Bioengineering, MS in Bioengineering, MS in Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, and PhD in Translational Bioengineering).. Prior to her arrival at UofL, Patricia earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Saint Louis University and her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

Her chair notes that “one of Dr. Soucy’s  most significant contributions has been the design and approval of the translational Bioengineering (TBE) Ph.D. program; the effort involved a comprehensive market and academic demand analysis, development of an interdisciplinary curriculum with three specialized tracks, detailed budget and funding proposals, and a rigorous review process through university committees and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.”   She also played an important role in the development of the MS in Artificial Intelligence in Medicine.

She also introduced student-centered initiatives to foster students’ academic and professional success, such as a structured advising system, group mentorship meetings for doctoral students, a TEAMS communication hub for streamlined access to announcements, professional development opportunities, program forums, and dissertation and thesis guidelines.  In conjunction with the Graduate School’s Graduate Student Appreciation Week, Dr. Soucy also organized a Graduate Student Appreciation Luncheon for Bioengineering Students. 

Numerous students wrote attesting to Dr. Soucy’s impact on the program and their careers as graduate students in the department.  Dr. Soucy “has guided me in developing essential teaching skills, from designing instructional materials to effectively communicating complex ideas. She actively supports students professional development by encouraging them to pursue research opportunities, attend conferences, and engage in interdisciplinary projects.”  Another writes about Dr. Soucy’s “ability to keep students informed and involved in department decisions, which makes us feel heard and valued.”  Further, Dr. Soucy “has consistently demonstrated a dedication to strategic advising, helping students identify their interests and connect with appropriate opportunities and mentors.”