The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) named two Michigan professors as the recipients of its national 2026 William E. Tarrants Outstanding Safety Educator Award: Ahmed Al-Bayati, PhD, PE, Associate DBIA™, and Tara Diesbourg, PhD, CPE. Both long-time ASSP members are recognized for outstanding achievement in teaching within environmental health and safety (EHS).   

Dr. Al-Bayati is an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan, and founding director of the Construction Safety Research Center (CSRC). His research focuses on construction safety, with an emphasis on safety climate and safety culture, underground ground utilities, and prevention through design (PtD). He brings EHS concepts to life for his students through real-world scenarios, practical challenges and current industry practices. Beyond the classroom, he has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and actively serves on national committees with ASSP, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Dr. Diesbourg is an associate professor in the Department of Public and Environmental Wellness at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. An expert in occupational biomechanics, she collaborates with local businesses on applied ergonomics research. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes preparing students in safety fields to excel through professional skills development, critical thinking and problem-solving. She designs courses to bridge theory and practice, often using simulations to reinforce real-world applications.

“I thank Drs. Al-Bayati and Diesbourg for their many contributions to shaping the next generation of safety professionals,” says Linda Tapp, CSP, ALCM, CPTD, president, ASSP. “Their students are highly engaged and benefit from a range of teaching methods, including hands-on activities, case studies and site visits. They exemplify the powerful connection between academic learning and practical, field-based experience. As active ASSP members, they each have served on numerous committees and shared their expertise across multiple practice specialties to advance the EHS profession.”

Named after Dr. William E. Tarrants, a pioneer in safety education, this annual award recognizes educators who demonstrate the highest level of achievement in EHS teaching, scholarship and professional service.

Drs. Al-Bayati and Diesbourg will be recognized at ASSP’s Safety 2026 conference on June 14 in Anaheim, California.

For more information, visit https://www.assp.org/.