Larry Heimann Receives William H. and Frances S. Ryan Award for Meritorious Teaching

Larry Heimann — “Prof H” to his students — has been an integral member of the Information Systems (IS) program’s faculty since its founding in 2000. He’s widely known for the personal connections he develops with his students.

“Larry’s ability to remember students’ names, even in large lectures, is impressive. He creates an environment where even the shyest are comfortable contributing, often punctuated with his trademark fist bumps for students who correctly solve problems,” wrote nominators Houda Bouamor, Gary DiLisio, Joseph Mertz and Jeria Quesenberry, faculty and staff from the IS program.

Heimann was honored with William H. and Frances S. Ryan Award for Meritorious Teaching at Carnegie Mellon University’s Celebration of Education on April 24. The award recognizes one faculty member annually “for sustained devotion to and effectiveness in teaching undergraduate or graduate students across one’s teaching career.” 

Students congratulate “Prof H” on winning the Ryan Award for Meritorious Teaching.

Heimann has taught nearly every core course in the IS curriculum, developed more than 11 popular electives and advised over 125 student projects. In addition, he’s taught at both the Pittsburgh and Qatar campuses.

“By walking us through code, writing it alongside us and using live examples to illustrate complex theories, he not only made challenging concepts easy to understand but also created an inclusive learning environment. This approach supported students of all skill levels, ensuring that everyone could follow along and participate actively,” said Fatou Gueye, a junior IS major at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. 

In Application Design and Development, one of the most challenging courses in the major, Heimann employs creative techniques like role-playing software components and using metaphors to demystify complex concepts. Students often cite these moments as transformative for understanding software engineering principles.

Heimann also breaks down semester-long projects into manageable phases, provides detailed feedback within 24 hours, and offers strategies to prevent challenges from snowballing.

“Larry’s open-door policy is no exaggeration; he consistently makes himself available to students and colleagues, often arriving early or staying late to accommodate their needs,” said Sara Moussawi, associate teaching professor in the Information Systems program.

Larry Heimann meets with students in his office.

Heimann continuously revises his courses so they are informed by industry trends and feedback from alumni. Collaborating with University Advancement, he creates a bridge between students and industry professionals, welcoming alumni back into the classroom as guest lecturers, panelists and project mentors.

Jonathan Lindstrom, a senior IS major, teaching assistant and member of the diving team, said Heimann also is the type of faculty member who deeply cares about his students’ lives.

“When I was experiencing an athletics injury and had to miss class for appointments, he didn’t express concern about me missing class but expressed concern for my health and asked if there was anything he could do to support me,” Lindstrom said. 

Heimann and his wife also open their home on Thanksgiving for students who might not have a place to celebrate. In addition, he makes a concerted effort to help students secure internships and jobs.

In addition to the Ryan Award, Heimann has received an Outstanding Professor Certificate from the CMU chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (2002), the Andrew Carnegie Society Award of Merit for Teaching (2006) and the Dietrich College’s Elliott Dunlap Smith Award for Distinguished Teaching and Educational Service (2007).