Evaluations*

Testimonials from my students

1. "Eren is the most devoted and patient teaching assistant I have had at the University of South Florida. Like many TA’s, Eren has designated office hours. Unlike many TA’s, Eren is easily reachable outside of his office hours and he strives to make himself available at all times of the day. He is quick to respond, responsible, and respected by his students. Eren is willing to patiently explain and re-explain topics that just don't initially click. Eren has great communication skills and he always comes up with innovative ways to expand on more challenging concepts. Eren is passionate about what he does and he aims to transfer that passion to his students. He is always prepared to answer any confusing questions that may arise and he is a well-organized leader. I know that so long as I am at USF, I have someone willing to help and support me."

2. "Eren has a clear vision of his goals and he is one of the most open-minded teaching assistants I have ever had! Eren always goes out of his way to ensure everyone in the class is following what is happening. He is easy to reach and he always opens up his availability for students who need his assistance. Eren is so devoted to his career and you can truly see that he loves what he does. Mr. Yuksel is kind to everyone he encounters and he is patient when he speaks. I believe that Eren is fair with grading. Eren is dedicated to solving problems that don't make sense, even if it requires him to do further research and get back to the student. It is great to know that my teaching assistant is willing to help me solve problems when I am stuck, look into problems that don't make sense and provide fair grading of my work."

3. "Eren was my teacher assistant (TA) for Transportation 1 during the 2018 Fall semester. It is my sincere evaluation of his teaching ability that he put a lot of time and consideration into the way he taught his class. The classes he taught were always thorough and made the material significantly easier to understand and digest. He would hand-write problems on the projector and would walk us through the exercises. Not only was it apparent to me throughout his class that he was very knowledgeable of the material, but it was also clear that he cared about his students and their success. He would always encourage us to attend his office hours if we felt confused about the subject matter. During my time at the University of South Florida (USF), I can honestly say that Eren has been one of the most helpful and dedicated teaching assistants I have had. He definitely put in the time to fully understand the subjects so that he could better guide those who needed help. It was a pleasure attending his classes and receiving his mentorship"

4. "Eren was my TA for Transportation Engineering I during my second semester at University of South Florida (USF) in Fall 2019. Though I hardly knew anyone, Eren’s positive attitude made me feel welcome and I felt safe to approach him with questions. Throughout the semester, I had various questions, and Eren was always available to help. I emailed him numerous times with homework questions, and he answered promptly. He went above and beyond to send me extra information and practice problems. Eren even followed up with me in the following classes to ensure I understood the material fully. I felt that he truly cared about his students and did all he could to help us succeed. Eren made himself available outside of his designated office hours and was willing to explain topics that didn’t initially click. There was one instance when an elaborate homework assignment deadline was approaching, and one of my classmates did not know how to solve some of the problems. Eren extended his office hours to walk her through the appropriate steps. The student told me afterward that Eren was very patient and that he helped her to understand the content. There were several in-class design problems that involved critical thinking. Whenever I was stuck, he was careful to steer me in the right direction to solve the problem without giving away the answers. By guiding me and not directly revealing the answers, Eren allowed me to think for myself and create unique solutions. When Eren held review sessions, he was perceptive to his students’ reactions and quickly adapted to address any questions or concerns. Additionally, Eren attended most classes which allowed him to be prepared to answer any questions following the lecture. He is passionate about what he does and strives to transfer his passion to his students. When I was curious about graduate school, Eren kindly answered my inquisitive questions and took the time to explain his experience as a graduate student."

5. "Eren has inspired me to further my education in transportation engineering. In everything he does, it is visible that he strives to inspire and help others accomplish their dreams. Seeing how passionate Eren is about transportation has made me want to go to graduate school. Inside the classroom, Eren makes himself a beacon of knowledge in what can be a challenging course. Whenever I had a question, he was always willing to put down anything else he was working on to help me. Additionally, out of class, Eren went above and beyond what was expected of him. Whenever I had a question or needed clarification, I knew he would be able to help even if it was outside of office hours. I was also fortunate enough to discuss the research that he does for his degree. Hearing about the process he went through to write his thesis on heavy vehicle classification was incredible and has made me want to peruse a master’s degree. Overall, Eren is the most passionate an inspiring teaching assistant at this University and I hope that other engineering students will have the opportunity to be his student."

6. "Eren was a great TA. He was patient and clear-spoken. I really enjoy teachers that use the board, and that write legibly. His lectures were easy to follow, but even if you couldn't he was happy to stop and listen to confused students or just to re-explain concepts. Outside of class, Eren is very friendly. I still like to stop in his office just to say 'hi,' because he has been a memorable character. In helping with my studies, he would expand ideas to show the why and how of some problems, guiding instead of leading. Again, I'm very grateful for his patience and full understanding of his topic of specialty, transportation."

Testimonials from my TA advisors

1. "Eren Yuksel has been working as the TA for Transportation Engineering 1, an undergraduate level course offered in the core curriculum for the Civil and Environmental Engineering Baccalaureate Degree at the University of South Florida, to which I am an instructor of in Spring 2020. Eren is hardworking and responsible, self-motivated and independent. He is responsible for conducting a help session every week to solve student’s questions and provide practice problems for the course as well as prepare students for quizzes and exams. He is also responsible in helping with the grading of homework and quizzes. He always checks with me on additional tasks and is available for any necessary work beyond his assigned duties."

-Dr. Achilleas Kourtellis (Traffic Operations and Safety Assistant Program Director,

Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR), University of South Florida)

2. "Eren has been my teaching assistant for Transportation II (TTE 4005) and has been an excellent resource for the students by exceeding in his duties as TA for the class. Mr. Yuksel is very organized and dedicated to his work. From the very outset, he was able to develop a strong rapport with students and assist them in their homework assignments, conduct office hours, welcoming guest lecturers for the class, and be the point of contact for assessments conducted as part of TTE 4005. I have personally found his dedication and reliability to be invaluable throughout the school year and would strongly recommend him for this award."

-Dr. Nikhil Menon (Postdoctoral Research Associate,

Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR), University of South Florida)