“I prefer a “jazz” style classroom that is very discussion-based, with a call and response. I like a room that is slightly chaotic. I want students to feel a little bit of tension, but to become comfortable in that tension and learn how to still ask questions and approach problems in that tension." 

 

Shayla Sawyer, Professor of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering, and Director of the Mercer XLab at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is recognized for her transformative contributions to inclusive, student-centered, and socio-environmentally engaged engineering education.

 

Dr. Sawyer is driven by curiosity, a fascination with systems, and a passion for rethinking processes. Her classrooms and labs embody what she calls the “jazz of engineering”—a space of improvisation, empowered risk-taking, and collaborative creation. Here, students learn to navigate uncertainty, embrace failure, and experiment boldly, developing both technical mastery and confident decision making.

 

Through the Mercer XLab, Dr. Sawyer has created a unique ecosystem for the next generation of engineers. Students are empowered to work together to investigate, design, and generate knowledge, producing educational modules, integrating electronics into art and performance, and developing projects with palpable impact. Peer-to-peer teaching, mentorship, and collaborative problem-solving flourish under her guidance, cultivating spaces where learning is holistic, dynamic, and student-driven.

 

Her research embodies the same systems-oriented, boundary-crossing philosophy. Dr. Sawyer has pioneered bacteria-based biosensors that detect nitrogen in water and arsenic in soil, designing “microbial machines” that link biological and electronic systems, creating dynamic tools for tackling environmental challenges. She integrates social science perspectives and community feedback to ensure her innovations respond to societal needs, demonstrating that engineering is not just a technical endeavor, but a tool for social and environmental stewardship.

 

Dr. Sawyer has helped students reimagine what it means to succeed in engineering. Through Omega Design Labs, flipped and blended classrooms, and mentorship programs connecting RPI with HBCUs and MSIs, she has built pathways for students from diverse backgrounds to engage in hands-on, socially conscious engineering. Her guidance cultivates risk-taking, experimentation, and a spirit of communal competition, preparing students not only to excel in their fields but to lead with creativity, ethics, and vision.

 

As the first Black woman to earn the rank of Full Professor in RPI’s School of Engineering, Dr. Sawyer’s career is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship, curiosity, and collaborative ingenuity. She is elevating a new generation of engineers to engage boldly with the world to create a more just and sustainable future.
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Note: The words of Abby Kinchy, Dylan Rees, Lauren Kelly, and Bucky Stanton, who nominated Shayla Sawyer for the Constellation Prize, have been integrated into this write-up.