Information Systems professor receives fellowship to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion
Mohammad Aazam, assistant teaching professor of information systems, received a Provost’s Inclusive Teaching Fellowship to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion in the introductory networks and telecommunications course at CMU-Q.
Sponsored by the Carnegie Mellon provost and administered by the Eberly Center, the fellowship encourages faculty members to reimagine a course to incorporate the principles of diverse representation, inclusive teaching, and students’ sense of community and belonging.
Acknowledging the underrepresentation of women in network-related fields and the need for diverse teaching methods, Aazam is redesigning the course to create an engaging and inclusive learning environment. “Women are underrepresented in network-related fields, so I felt this was a course where I could make a big impact,” said Aazam. “At the same time, I believe that catering to diverse learning styles—through programming, analytical tasks, design activities, real device configuration, and practical labs—can inspire a wider range of students to explore the potential of networking.”
The course combines technical knowledge with practical, hands-on experiences, offering students a comprehensive introduction to networking. It incorporates a balanced mix of programming tasks where required, hands-on labs to design and configure actual devices, and site visits to observe real-world networking infrastructure and understand its technical details. Students will also engage in interactive in-class activities and discussions, ensuring that the course caters to diverse learning styles and interests.
“I want to integrate real-world activities that blend programming with practical design and configuration tasks,” Aazam explained. “This approach ensures the course is not solely about coding but provides a holistic learning experience. My hope is that students not only deepen their understanding of networking but also feel encouraged to consider careers in this essential and evolving field.”
The networking and telecommunications course falls within the information security and privacy concentration for information systems majors.
The Provost’s Inclusive Teaching Fellowship was first introduced in 2020. Aazam is the sixth fellow from the Qatar campus.