Yogendra (Yogen) Panta, Ph.D., P.E., PMP, CPEM
Yogendra (Yogen) Panta, Ph.D., P.E., PMP, CPEM, was born and raised in Nepal. He
earned bachelor's degrees in physical sciences and mechanical engineering from Tribhuvan
University Institute of Engineering at Pulchowk Campus, Nepal. Before earning his
engineering degree, he taught science and math at multiple high schools. After graduating
with his engineering degree, he taught a wide range of engineering subjects for two
years at various engineering colleges in Nepal. Panta came to the United States in
2002 as a graduate student at Youngstown State University, Ohio, where he graduated
with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2004. He received his doctorate
degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2008 from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
Panta began his teaching career at WVU Tech in 2013 as an Assistant Professor after serving as a mechanical engineering faculty for five years at Youngstown State University. He has spent the last ten years at WVU Tech teaching and mentoring students in the classroom, research/senior design, student organizations and career advising. He is a co-investigator in SUCCESS (Supporting Undergraduate Cohorts of Career-Ready Engineering and Science Scholars) program, a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded project that provides scholarships and full academic support to low-income, high-achieving students of West Virginia pursuing degrees in computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering or information systems at WVU Tech. He has served as a faculty associate leader with TLC Affiliate for three years at the Beckley campus, and has keen interests in faculty development, mentoring, promoting effective teaching practices and active learning, innovative teaching tools and techniques, and experiential learning/entrepreneurial embedded course design. Panta’s other research interests include thermal fluid systems, energy, aerodynamics, biomimicry and engineering education. Dr. Panta is a strong believer in lifelong learning. He has earned professional leadership and management certifications from Harvard University, MIT, UC Berkeley, and NASA. He also has over seventy professional publications in different forms and received nearly $2 million in financial assistance as a primary investigator or a co-primary investigator for his research in mechanical engineering and engineering education.
Panta was awarded tenure in 2019 with a promotion to associate professor and received a promotion to full professor in 2022. He is a Professional Engineer (PE) registered in the state of West Virginia, a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified Professional in Engineering Management (CPEM). He was awarded the WVU Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award in 2021 and was twice voted the Professor of the Year by the WVU Tech Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honor Society. Panta has been twice awarded as a NASA summer fellow and recently returned from Nepal after completing a project awarded by the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship Program of the US Department of State. He is always sharing effective educational practices with his academic community and educational communities across the globe.
Panta lives in Beckley with his wife Manju, who also works at WVU Tech as a library associate, and his two children Maya and Yashmit. He enjoys exploring nature, listening to music, playing sports and spending time with his family in his free time.
Panta began his teaching career at WVU Tech in 2013 as an Assistant Professor after serving as a mechanical engineering faculty for five years at Youngstown State University. He has spent the last ten years at WVU Tech teaching and mentoring students in the classroom, research/senior design, student organizations and career advising. He is a co-investigator in SUCCESS (Supporting Undergraduate Cohorts of Career-Ready Engineering and Science Scholars) program, a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded project that provides scholarships and full academic support to low-income, high-achieving students of West Virginia pursuing degrees in computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering or information systems at WVU Tech. He has served as a faculty associate leader with TLC Affiliate for three years at the Beckley campus, and has keen interests in faculty development, mentoring, promoting effective teaching practices and active learning, innovative teaching tools and techniques, and experiential learning/entrepreneurial embedded course design. Panta’s other research interests include thermal fluid systems, energy, aerodynamics, biomimicry and engineering education. Dr. Panta is a strong believer in lifelong learning. He has earned professional leadership and management certifications from Harvard University, MIT, UC Berkeley, and NASA. He also has over seventy professional publications in different forms and received nearly $2 million in financial assistance as a primary investigator or a co-primary investigator for his research in mechanical engineering and engineering education.
Panta was awarded tenure in 2019 with a promotion to associate professor and received a promotion to full professor in 2022. He is a Professional Engineer (PE) registered in the state of West Virginia, a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified Professional in Engineering Management (CPEM). He was awarded the WVU Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award in 2021 and was twice voted the Professor of the Year by the WVU Tech Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honor Society. Panta has been twice awarded as a NASA summer fellow and recently returned from Nepal after completing a project awarded by the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship Program of the US Department of State. He is always sharing effective educational practices with his academic community and educational communities across the globe.
Panta lives in Beckley with his wife Manju, who also works at WVU Tech as a library associate, and his two children Maya and Yashmit. He enjoys exploring nature, listening to music, playing sports and spending time with his family in his free time.