May 1, 2026
Patrick Park, a PhD candidate in Princeton University's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and a member of the Program on Science and Global Security (SGS), has been awarded a 2026 Teaching Award in recognition of his outstanding work as a preceptor for SPI/MAE 353, “Science and Global Security: From Nuclear Weapons to Artificial General Intelligence” in the fall of 2025. Teaching awards honor those graduate students who have made a significant and exceptional contribution to undergraduate teaching. Deans from the Graduate School and senior staff from the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning make up the selection committee.
In 2025, SPI/MAE 353 brought together 30 students from seven academic departments — including the School of Public and International Affairs, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Economics, History, Philosophy, Computer Science, and Politics.
Alex Glaser, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the School of Public and International Affairs, and Co-Director of the Program on Science and Global Security, noted: “I have taught this course for over a decade but, for the first time, something truly magical happened: as the semester progressed, I could witness how the entire class bonded, and I can say with complete confidence that this is thanks to Patrick’s role as the one who helped create this community, bringing the students together in precepts, in office hours, and in other interactions around Robertson Hall throughout the semester.”
The enthusiasm for Patrick’s effort was reflected in several testimonials submitted by students to support Patrick’s nomination. One student observed: “It is not lost on me how special he truly is. I have had over a dozen preceptors throughout my time at this university. Even at a place like Princeton where everyone is exceptional, Patrick stands out – and not just because he is brilliant, but because he is endlessly enthusiastic about learning, human-centric, empathetic, and kind while doing it. He challenged me to believe in myself where it mattered and taught me to gently approach concepts that otherwise would have done nothing but intimidated me, and I learned more from Science and Global Security than I ever would have thought possible.”
Another student simply noted: “I can say without hesitation that he is one of the most influential and impactful instructors I have had during my time at Princeton.”
Congratulations!