Noushin Ghaffari, Ph.D.
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (May 27, 2025) – As an educator, professor and engineer, Dr. Noushin Ghaffari is all about forward focus. She is a champion of transferring knowledge to the next generation – how can we improve this? What innovation can be harnessed or creativity tapped into?
In her classroom, a wall of sticky notes is dedicated to anonymous feedback shared between her and her students – the transfer of knowledge and productive feedback is what spurs growth. It’s also a tangible embodiment of Prairie View A&M University’s commitment to “Producing Productive People.”
It’s fitting, then, that Dr. Ghaffari was a recent “Rising Star” and “Outstanding Early Researcher” award recipient at PVAMU. These awards honor full-time PVAMU faculty members in the early stages of their academic careers for “demonstrating professional excellence and showcasing outstanding potential for future contributions.”
At PVAMU since January 2020, Ghaffari has been an Assistant Professor of Computer Science in the Department of Computer Science in the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering. She taught a variety of computer science courses, such as Data Structures, Introduction to Algorithms, Machine Learning, and Introduction to Data Science, which she developed. She also teaches Senior Design – a core two-semester course for senior students before graduation.
Before arriving at PVAMU, Ghaffari was a bioinformatics scientist for nearly ten years at Texas A&M AgriLife Genomics and Bioinformatics, part of The Texas A&M University System. She was also affiliated with Texas A&M High-Performance Computing as a research scientist.
She also teaches a senior design project course, a two-semester endeavor to help students focus their research and gain experience in the industry through collaboration and networking, as well as ethics in computing, and a master’s project and thesis.
“Even before applying for the Department of Computer Science, I was fond of PVAMU,” Dr. Ghaffari said. “It has a rich history of educating talented students, producing very successful minority students in different fields of engineering, and a significant record of engagement in research and collaborations with other institutions – not to mention the beautiful campus.”
However, her teaching philosophy made Dr. Ghaffari the best fit for the faculty and students at PVAMU, as evidenced by her generous offering of her experience and insight to her students. For her, education must be a combination of both knowledge and a willingness to dig deeper to find the why. She says it’s about igniting a passion for learning.
“I enjoy transferring my knowledge to the next generation the most. I have been given many opportunities in my life by my teachers and educators,” Dr. Ghaffari said. “I want to be able to do the same for my students. I like to get to know my students, help them feel empowered, and help them feel they belong in my classes. I want them to see the big picture and have a clear understanding of why education is important and why a particular class is needed in their degree.”
As a successful researcher and scientist in nuanced fields of study, Dr. Ghaffari emphasized that a successful career starts with higher education, but it doesn’t end there.
“I would like to help them transition from an academic setting to the real-world job market,” Dr. Ghaffari said. “I also want them to practice professionalism, hard work, ethical conduct and team-based projects in my classes.”
It is very important to her that her students feel seen and known, not just as another name in her class, but as a collaborative partner. Her sticky note method is just one small way of expressing that to students. Although teaching was not always part of her job description when she previously worked at Texas A&M University, she took any opportunity to teach if she could.
“I organized workshops, seminars and individual teaching sessions to make sure others knew how to analyze their data and made meaningful discoveries,” Dr. Ghaffari said. “Working with the students and helping them to discover their potential and build self-confidence, teaching them ethics and professionalism and, of course, keeping in touch with them to witness their success are all part of what I love about teaching. It makes me feel so proud and happy when I receive their appreciative emails or updates on their career or personal milestones.”
This 1:1 mindset she has adopted in teaching stems in part from her real-world experience. Transparency and robust discourse are also vital elements to success inside and outside the classroom, she said.
“As a software carpentry instructor, I know the importance of feedback,” Dr. Ghaffari said. “I also work with industry partners to bring professionally defined projects and mentors to my senior design classes. I invite speakers, provide online resources and have extended office hours online.”
Basically, if a student needs her, she is there for them. It’s not always easy for a professor to be that accessible, but the investment pays off as she gets to witness their growth and success. She asks a lot of students, in return, to give their all.
“I want all my students to learn, feel that they are respected and belong to my classes and improve their soft skills too,” Dr. Ghaffari said. “I also introduce them to the research opportunities and talk about the importance of going for master’s and Ph.D. degrees. I assign them a homework assignment in the spring semester, which requires attending R&I Research Week at PVAMU and talking to the researchers. My goal is to broaden their view and point out opportunities that they may not have thought about before.”
By Meredith Mohr
-PVAMU-