James “Russ” Alexander’s career and personal life have been characterized by service to his country, the U.S. Army, his family and his alma mater. For the latter, this means donating his finances, counsel and time to the University of Mississippi School of Engineering.

“As my career matured, the desire to give something back to those responsible for any professional successes that I may have enjoyed became compelling,” said Alexander, who earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1983. “I joined the Woods Society as a way to give back to the School of Engineering and also to stay in touch with its people.”

A native of Flowood, Alexander also has a master’s degree in business administration from Texas A&M University at Texarkana, another master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and a doctorate in operations research from the University of South Africa.

As an undergraduate, Alexander remembers walking by the plaques of Woods Order members on the walls of Carrier Hall and thinking that these were people who had made a difference.

“It was an honor to be asked to serve on the Engineering Advisory Board,” he said. “I felt that I was at a point in my career where I may have something useful to offer in the way of experience that may be of service to the school. It has also been a two-way street in that I feel I have benefitted much from being on the board and interacting with its members, faculty and students.”

A School of Engineering official praised Alexander’s philanthropy.

“Russ Alexander is a shining example of the kind of alumni produced by the Ole Miss School of Engineering,” said Kevin Gardner, development officer for the school. “His willingness to give back to the program and people that gave him his start makes him a vital member to our success for both present and future students.”

Alexander is chief of the Office of Research and Technology Applications at the Aviation & Missile Research Development & Engineering Center, which supports all the Army acquisition programs in missiles, aviation and unmanned systems.

“We are one of the larger RD&E centers in the Army, with about 2,500 scientists and engineers and an annual budget of about $2.5 billion,” Alexander said. “My role is to manage the technology transfer function for the center. This involves negotiating all noncontract type agreements between the center and any nonfederal organizations.”

Alexander is most involved in cooperative research and development agreements, patent-licensing agreements, test and engineering service agreements, and educational partnership agreements.

“It is interesting work because I get to be involved with state-of-the-art technologies and also get to work with the scientists and engineers from our center as well as outside organizations,” he said. “I also interact heavily with our intellectual property attorneys.”

Alexander and his wife, Minda, have an 11-year-old daughter, Riley Claire. His stepson, Bruce Connor Burley, is an Ole Miss senior majoring in Chinese through the Croft Institute for International Studies.

When he is not working, Alexander’s favorite pastimes usually involve anything outdoors.

“I live on a mountain in Huntsville, so I get to enjoy hiking and mountain biking,” he said. “I also like to sail, travel quite a bit and, of course, follow Ole Miss sports.”

Amrita Mishra’s research interest in computational materials science has made her an in-demand scholar in the field. The newest faculty member in the University of Mississippi’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, she’s helping produce future graduates who will one day have careers of their own.

“I was looking for an opportunity to utilize my teaching and research skills,” said Mishra, who joined the faculty as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering over the summer. “Having taught undergraduate and graduate students at UNR and ISU, I have a broad perspective of students and their individual needs.”

Courses Mishra teaches include Introduction to Materials Science, Properties and Selection of Materials and Materials lab. Her future course offerings are Electronic Properties of Materials, Ceramics, Nano-materials and Materials Thermodynamics.

Mishra came highly recommended and has already earned the respect of her UM colleagues.

“She has tremendous potential to collaborate with other researchers across the campus working on fundamental material science research area driven by the thermodynamics of the complex systems,” said A.M. Rajendran, chair and professor of mechanical engineering. “I see great opportunity for the department to expand in new research areas through Dr. Mishra.”

Before joining the faculty, Mishra was a graduate teaching assistant and postdoctoral scholar at the University of Nevada at Reno and at Iowa State University.

An accomplished scholar, she has co-authored more than a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles. She is also a reviewer of scientific journals such as ThermoChimica Acta, Acta Materials and Calphad. Her professional memberships include the Society of Women Engineers, the Materials Research Society, the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, and Women in Science and Engineering.

“In association with different student bodies and academic chapters, I want to encourage minorities and women in engineering,” Mishra said. “I want to advise them with grants, scholarships and other opportunities to improve their academic success.”

Mishra collaborates with her husband, Gautam Priyadarshan, who is a senior scientist at the university’s National Center for Physical Acoustics.

“Though we are both materials scientists, we complement each other and our work,” she said. “I can predict materials with my theoretical and computational approach, while he can confirm the predictions and models with his research and experimentations.”

Hobbies she enjoys include being outdoors, running trails in Oxford, reading and yoga.

“My husband and I were looking for programs which would allow us to grow in our careers and continue with our research ideas,” Mishra said. “Along with its academic ambience and preceding history, the University of Mississippi fit right into my aspirations and provided me with this exceptional opportunity.”

Since James S. Sullivan began working for the Mississippi Department of Transportation 11 years ago, the University of Mississippi civil engineering alumnus has continued to rise through the organization’s ranks. The state traffic engineer, he stays busy overseeing all aspects of the traffic engineering division.

“The Traffic Engineering Division is responsible for providing technical guidance on the use of traffic control devices – signs, signals and markings – on the state’s highways,” said Sullivan, who earned his bachelor’s degree in 1986. “The division is also responsible for administering the Highway Safety Program and the Intelligent Transportation Systems program, the latter of which focuses on strategies to improve operational efficiency and traveler information.”

Sullivan’s area manages the MDOTTraffic.com website, traffic alerts via email and social media, MDOTTraffic mobile apps, the 511 traveler information phone service and other ITS deployments. The division also manufactures highway signs, maintains the interstate highway signs and provides traffic signal maintenance for certain districts.

Sullivan said he enjoyed his days on campus.

“My most memorable civil engineering classes at Ole Miss were those with Dr. Stead, Dr. Abdulrahman, and Dr. DeLeeuw,” he said. “Each of these professors, in addition to providing instruction, challenged and encouraged me in their own unique ways – and at times entertained. Times of study with fellow students provided many fond memories as well.”

MDOT’s Traffic Engineering Division has been a leading supporter of the transportation engineering program within the Department of Civil Engineering. Several other alumni serve with Sullivan in the division, including Acey Roberts, Kevin McMillon, Celina Sumrall, Amrik Singh, Brian Hovanec, Eames Henley and Wes Dean, the deputy chief engineer in operations.

“My direct interaction with James was through the MDOT-funded Oxford roundabout project,” said Waheed Uddin, UM professor of civil engineering and CAIT director. “This project received the AASHTO “Sweet Sixteen” Award for MDOT, putting it among the nation’s top 16 state DOTs.”

Sullivan was the contract supervisor of this research project and Uddin was the project principal investigator from 2008 to 2010.

“I appreciate the timely feedback and continuous encouragement that James and other engineering alumni provide to enhance our academic program,” Uddin said. “They frequently lecture civil engineering students at ITE chapter meetings organized by the student chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers.”

Yacoub “Jacob” Najjar, chair and professor of civil engineering, agreed.

“James has had a great career since graduating from Ole Miss,” he said. “He is a great role model for our students and recent graduates.”

Among his stellar career, Sullivan consider finding MDOT employment to be among his greatest achievements.

“I was fortunate to have been able to work on a number of interesting and significant transportation projects throughout the state,” Sullivan said. “My time with the Mississippi Department of Transportation, all of which has been in Traffic Engineering Division, has proven both professionally and personally rewarding.”

The state of Mississippi adopted a new Strategic Highway Safety Plan earlier this year and along with it, its vision, “Toward Zero Deaths.”

“It’s rewarding to team with a staff dedicated to work daily with the goal in mind to implement highway traffic safety countermeasures, traffic control devices and ITS strategies in an ongoing effort to reduce the number of highway related fatalities and crashes until the ultimate goal of zero is reached,” Sullivan said.

He was thrilled to have been recognized as part of a team that won the Best of ITS Award presented by ITS America for Best New Innovative Practice for Partnership Deployment for the Mississippi River Bridges: Incident Management, Freight Movement and Security ITS Project. The project involved adding multiple ITS deployments at each of the four Mississippi River crossings in Mississippi, using ITS strategies that improve operations at the Mississippi River Bridges through traffic cameras and other sensors and dynamic message boards and other means to convey traveler information.

“This project required close coordination with each of the border states with which Mississippi shares river crossings,” Sullivan said. “The project also includes a traffic incident management component whereby the states build local coalitions designed to improve traffic incident response and clearance times in an effort to minimize congestion related to traffic incidents at each of the river crossings.”

Sullivan serves on a technical committee of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which serves to provide input to the Federal Highway Administration related to the content of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. He is also on the Traffic Control Devices Committee of the Transportation Research Board.

Sullivan and his wife, Suzanne, enjoy being involved with their church, playing golf, fly fishing, photography and following Ole Miss sports.

OXFORD, Miss. – Perhaps the only thing as impressive as having three NASA officials speak Friday (Oct. 31) at the University of Mississippi was the 30-foot inflatable replica of the Space Launch System they brought with them.

During a daylong “show-and-tell” presentation themed “NASA/SLS Day at Ole Miss,” Todd May, who manages the agency’s Space Launch System program, visited campus to share with UM students advancements being made toward deep-space travel. Three other NASA officials, two of whom are UM alumni, accompanied him.

“NASA is building the capability to put humans back into deep space,” said May, who spoke at the Overby Center. “Our road to Mars goes through Mississippi. As the human race, we still want to explore and are working hard to make this thing happen.”

During his presentation, May spoke about how recent achievements are bringing deep-space travel closer than ever.

“The United States has been to Mars with land rovers several times and has left lots of things on its surface,” he said. “We’re learning a lot about Mars and how to live there once we get there.”

A “really big rocket” with next-generation technology is needed to accomplish NASA’s goal of interplanetary human traffic, May said.

“Actually, we already have a lot of the pieces already designed,” he said. “We’re halfway through a 17-point check system that began in 2012 and will, hopefully, culminate in a successful launch by 2017.”

Because Mars is 30 million miles from Earth, scientists predict it will take two to three years to get there and back, Mays said. Returning to the moon would be the necessary first phase.

After last Tuesday’s unmanned supply mission to the International Space Station ended in a much-publicized explosion, May’s timely words are helping restore confidence in the agency’s abilities.

“I love NASA and definitely want to work for them someday,” said Nicole Hughes, a general engineering and accountancy major from Tallahassee, Florida. “When I saw the inflatable rocket on campus, I was drawn to come hear this presentation. I’d love to participate in the space program in the future.”

Dudley Moore, a mechanical engineering major from Goodman, said he was impressed with May’s presentation and demeanor. “He is a very accomplished, but also a very humble individual,” Moore said. “Hearing him made me want to be a part of something big, like NASA’s deep-space program.”

The rocket replica, which was alternately displayed in front of Farley and Brevard Halls, made an even stronger impression.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” said Lila Agner, a mechanical engineering major from Jackson. “It definitely gets people’s attention. Lots of photos have been taken of it while it is here.”

NASA/Space Launch System Day activities were sponsored by the School of Engineering with support from the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the Trent Lott Institute for Leadership and Public Policy. Other guest lecturers included David Hitt, senior writer-editor, and Markeeva Morgan, avionics hardware subsystem manager. Both UM alumni spoke at the Meek School of Journalism and New Media and at the engineering school’s Brevard Hall, respectively.

“My talk to the Intro to Mass Communications students outlined how a newspaper journalism education from Ole Miss has served as a foundation for a career both in newspaper and beyond,” said Hitt, who discussed “Ole Miss Journalism: Launching the Write Stuff.” “As someone who has seen substantial change in the journalism industry over the course of my career, I discussed how elements of my journalism education prepared me in unexpected ways for a dynamic job market.”

Morgan, who also serves on the UM Engineering Advisory Board, said he always enjoys returning to campus.

“I’ve learned lessons that I believe could benefit the students if they pay attention to them now,” said Morgan, who spoke about “Real Talk: Life Lessons in Self Leadership.” “Hopefully, I encouraged them to be deliberate in their lives.”

Twila Schneider, NASA communications coordinator, also gave a guest lecture to Oxford Intermediate School students. Her topic focused on NASA’s journey to Mars and how students can be a part of that experience.

All the NASA officials had lunch with Honors College and engineering students in Brevard Hall. They later toured the university’s Haley Barbour Center for Manufacturing Excellence.

The entire weekend was a huge success, said Ryan Upshaw, assistant engineering dean for student services.

“We were thrilled when Markeeva reached out to the School of Engineering with the opportunity to bring Mr. May to campus,” Upshaw said. “We know that his expertise will have an impact on everyone that has the chance to meet him while he is on campus.”

NASA’s Todd May, the program manager for the Space Launch System, recently sat down with Ole Miss engineering students to talk about missions to Mars and interstellar travel.

OXFORD, Miss. – A University of Mississippi civil engineering alumnus Thursday (Oct. 30) shared details of an internationally recognized intelligent transportation system he helped design with others in the traffic control industry.

Acey Roberts, intelligent transportation systems engineer with the Mississippi Department of Transportation, moderated and presented during the daylong active traffic management workshop at the Inn at Ole Miss.

MDOT, in conjunction with the states of Arkansas and Louisiana, designed an ITS system on four shared Mississippi River bridge crossings. The project received the Best New Innovative Practice – Partnership Deployment award at the Intelligent Transportation Systems World Congress last month in Detroit.

“We installed traffic sensors, cameras and message boards to communicate with surface roadway traffic and river traffic to communicate any potential impacts to travelers,” said Roberts, president of the Gulf Region Intelligent Transportation Society. “This project won the international award for the Americas in 2014. It was a great opportunity to represent our state on the same stage as other international traffic systems winners London, England, and New Zealand.”

The award goes to the organization with projects that can demonstrate specific and measurable outcomes and show innovation by establishing a “new dimension” of performance.

Roberts, who also earned graduate hours at Mississippi State University and Northwestern University, has been with MDOT since 2008. His group plans and implements roadway sensors and computer networks to help make the interstates safer and reduce traffic congestion.

“Our website, MDOTTraffic.com, highlights the video and communication systems we have in the state to allow the traveling public to make better decisions on traveling around and through construction zones, traffic accidents scenes or other incidents they may encounter,” he said. “All of this work is focused on reducing accidents and injuries and improving your travel times on the state highways and interstates.”

About 40 people representing public and private sectors of the transportation systems industry attended the workshop. Participants praised Roberts’ leadership of and service to the organization.

“Acey was part of the steering committee, served as treasurer and ascended through the ranks by volunteering his personal and professional time,” said Chris Hilyer, ALDOT operations manager and immediate past president of GRITS. “This organization wouldn’t be where it is without his contributions.”

Roberts acknowledged Waheed Uddin, UM professor of civil engineering and director of the Center for Advanced Infrastructure Technology, as playing a pivotal role in his career trajectory and success.

“Dr. Uddin was one of the professors I worked with the most, and I still work with him today,” he said. “He allowed me to work for him in research and in the classroom, so I got a little taste of what engineers did for a living.”

Uddin remembers Roberts as one of the top students in his transportation course who was destined to excel in his profession.

“Early on, he was willing to take challenging assignments,” Uddin said. “He demonstrated this when he worked on my NASA/Mississippi DOT-funded project in his senior year to evaluate airborne laser terrain survey technology for highway design. He worked with professional survey teams who collected topographic survey data that I later used for ‘ground truthing.'”

The UM School of Engineering is also indebted to Roberts, Dean Alex Cheng said.

“He has been instrumental in bringing MDOT equipment that includes a high-speed fiber optic line, a TV wall and other equipment into Dr. Uddin’s transportation lab that allows the real-time monitoring of traffic throughout the state wherever there is a traffic camera,” Cheng said. “The facility can be used not only for Dr. Uddin’s research, but by the university to monitor game day traffic around Oxford.”

Roberts said he is grateful for all his UM engineering education has helped him achieve.

“I really believe in the benefits of ITS systems and it was very fulfilling to get recognition for the work we do in Mississippi,” Roberts said. “Even though Mississippi doesn’t have the largest population and the worst traffic problems, we provide a big safety benefit to our commercial and local commuters in the region, not to mention it is a very cost effective solution to traffic problems.”

For a view of the MDOT project, go to http://www.msrits.com

As a solid infrastructure is essential for a populated area’s establishment, growth and survival, so was Charles E. Williams Jr.’s education at the University of Mississippi School of Engineering vital to his successful academic endeavors and professional career.

“I appreciate Dr. (Waheed) Uddin giving me the foundation during my understudies at UM that has helped me be successful both professionally and academically,” Williams said. A 1996 civil engineering graduate, he is the acting managing engineer of public works with the city of Jackson. Before, he worked in the Materials Division of the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

“Charles is an exceptionally talented graduate,” said Uddin, civil engineering professor and founder-director of the UM’s Center for Advanced Infrastructure Technology. “You will not find such positions commonly filled by a graduate degree holder.”

Williams completed his doctorate in civil engineering at the University of Alabama. He also earned a master’s degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University and an MBA from Belhaven College.

“Again, he is one of the few CE alums who have achieved these significant academic milestones at such a relatively young age,” Uddin said.

Williams said he enjoyed all of his professors within the Department of Civil Engineering.

“The classes were very challenging,” he said. “My education from Ole Miss has provided me with a foundation built on solid fundamental engineering principles to exceed higher than I personally ever expected to achieve.”

In his position, Williams is responsible for the oversight and management of six divisions comprising 500 employees and an annual budget of $398 million. He also implements and manages a $400 million sewer consent decree.

Williams grew up in west Jackson but his family moved to Clinton, where he graduated from Clinton High School. Though he originally planned to attend engineering school and play football at Mississippi State, he decided to play football at Hinds Community College in Raymond. After one year, Williams transferred to Ole Miss to play for the Rebels.

“My football career ended early due to multiple injuries, but I am glad my pathway led to Ole Miss,” he said. “I enjoyed my time attending the university, and met a lot of great people.”

A licensed professional civil engineer in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, Williams holds memberships in the American Public Works Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers/Mississippi Engineering Society and Chi Epsilon Engineering Honor Society. He considers being named the 2012 City of Jackson Public Works Department Engineer of the Year to be his most meaningful professional honor/achievement.

“It felt good to be recognized by my work peers who respect my work ethic and leadership,” said Williams, who is also a 2013 graduate of Leadership Greater Jackson.

Being inducted into Chi Epsilon at the University of Alabama was also a great accomplishment, he said. “Knowing that my name will always be displayed on a plaque honoring my academic achievement is most rewarding.”

Williams and his wife, the former Alix Davis, have two sons: Cameron, 9, and Graham Warren, 5. He enjoys spending time with his sons, who are completing football and soccer seasons. Williams also participates in various programs at Wells United Methodist Church that provide community service to low income residents living within the Jackson Metro area.

Williams is scheduled to return to UM next spring as a guest lecturer for a graduate seminar class and a transportation class. He finds it a pleasure to share his experiences with present engineering students.

“You have to give back by mentoring,” Williams said. “I was able to tutor my senior year through a partnership with NSPE Mathcounts and the Clarksdale Public School District. I drove over to Clarksdale once a week to help mentor elementary school kids struggling in math. The mentoring experience in college allowed me to continue to mentor over years through various programs at work that outreached to local high schools and colleges within the Jackson metro area.”

Andrew “Andy” O’Reilly may not have attended the University of Mississippi, but the new assistant professor of geology and geological engineering is more than pleased to be part of the UM faculty.

“Ole Miss has a growing, respected ABET-accredited program in geological engineering that allows me to combine my broad engineering/design skills from my civil engineering background and my expertise in the hydrological and geological sciences developed at the U.S. Geological Survey,” said O’Reilly, a product of Auburn University and the University of Central Florida. “Additionally, the collegiality and breadth of expertise of the faculty in the department and the emphasis on student engagement, both in teaching and research, were very attractive.”

O’Reilly taught ENG 645 (Contaminant Transport) this fall. In the spring, he will teach GE 503 (Environmental Geochemistry) and assist in teaching GE 421 (Geological Engineering Design). Previously, he was a teaching assistant at Auburn and a USGS hydrologist for 21 years before entering academia.

“While at the U.S. Geological Survey and as a Ph.D. candidate at UCF, I was closely involved in the development of a new storm water best management practice,” O’Reilly said. “The new BMP utilizes an innovative storm water infiltration basin and biosorption activated media, a functionalized soil amendment to reduce inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus to groundwater.”

The jointly funded, collaborative effort combined the unique expertise and contributions of academia with those of federal, state and local science and resource management agencies. The new BMP is continuing to effectively reduce nutrient loading to groundwater and has served as a model for additional applications of similar nutrient reduction technology.

“The study was particularly meaningful to me because it linked research and application, culminating in the design and construction of a functioning facility,” O’Reilly said.

O’Reilly is a welcome addition to the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, colleagues said.

“He brings two decades of experience with the U.S. Geological Survey out of Florida, where he worked with regional groundwater models and efforts to protect the state’s water resources,” said Gregg Davidson, chair and professor of geology and geological engineering. “The addition of Dr. O’Reilly strengthens our areas of expertise in hydrogeology and engineering.”

O’Reilly said his professional goals include continuing his geoenvironmental subfield research, focusing on processes in shallow, heterogeneous geologic environments in Earth’s critical zone that govern aquifer recharge and groundwater quality.

“I endeavor to use knowledge gained from my research to develop and implement engineering solutions for maintaining and enhancing groundwater quantity and quality while fostering sustainable development within a wide range of geoenvironmental challenges facing society,” he said.

O’Reilly and his wife, Kelli, have a daughter, Felicity. He enjoys bonsai and amateur astronomy.

He summed up his ultimate goal for his UM tenure as follows:

“I want to provide opportunities for young engineers and scientists to achieve their full potential by passing along what I have learned in my experiences within and outside academia in an effort to always link research and application via teaching and societal engagement.”

Over the past five years, the University of Mississippi School of Engineering‘s undergraduate population has doubled from roughly 700 to more than 1,400 students. While a significant number of those come from Mississippi, many others come from long distances to pursue engineering education here.

Two such students are David Thomas of Brooklyn, New York, and Richard Jaramillo of San Diego. Thomas, who was accepted into the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering and hopes to become a student in the Center for Manufacturing Excellence to earn an emphasis in manufacturing. A graduate of LaGuardia High School, he was drawn to Oxford and the university because of personal connections to the region as well as the academic programs available.

“I have always liked the South and have been visiting my entire life,” Thomas said. “I have family nearby who really encouraged me to consider Ole Miss. I was definitely drawn in because of the combination of the School of Engineering and the Honors College along with the strong athletics and social scene. My official campus visit helped seal the deal!”

Although Thomas was a member of the Brooklyn Youth Chorus and participated in theater productions in high school, the AP Scholar and Eagle Scout found that engineering was a great match for his interests.

“I’ve always loved solving problems and thinking of better ways to do things,” he said. “That’s exactly what an engineer does.” His favorite courses this semester are calculus and psychology.

So far, he has had a positive transition to the university because faculty and staff have been very supportive. He has decided to become a member of a Greek organization and has joined the Ultimate Frisbee team. He hopes to get involved with Engineers Without Borders.

Jaramillo, a member of the Provost Scholars program, has also enjoyed his first few months on campus. Although he admits to missing family and the weather back home in California, he has found the adjustment to Ole Miss easy.

“People are really nice, and it has been easy to make new friends here,” Jaramillo said. “Also, the staff at the Center for Manufacturing Excellence are willing to help you in any way that they can. The CME provides a one-on-one experience stronger than any of my other classes.”

He has started discussing cooperative education program opportunities (co-ops) for a future semester.

A graduate of Scripps Ranch High School, Jaramillo visited campus before a home football game and was introduced to the CME by a current engineering student. He believes the emphasis in manufacturing will allow him to engage in his areas of interest, since he has always considered a career in engineering.

“From a young age, I liked to fix things,” he said. “I have rewired rotary phones and worked on classic cars. I love to make things work, better them or create something new.”

Jaramillo’s favorite course this semester is Manufacturing 250, which involves Creo 3D modeling. He has become involved in a Greek organization and spends free time playing intramural sports. Jaramillo hopes to become involved with the internal combustion industry.

Both Thomas and Jaramillo encourage any high school students who are considering engineering to take time to visit the university.

OXFORD, Miss. – The founder and director of the Center for Advanced Infrastructure Technology at the University of Mississippi has been presented his alma mater’s highest honor.

Waheed Uddin, UM professor of civil engineering, is among 11 new inductees into the University of Texas at Austin’s Academy of Distinguished Alumni. The award cites “recognition of a distinguished professional career and lifelong dedication to the support and advancement of engineering education.” The UT Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering has inducted fewer than 125 members from its 10,000-plus living alumni.

“This award has been the highest honor of my professional/academic life,” said Uddin, noting that UT-Austin comes in No. 30 in the 2014 U.S. News and World Report rankings. Its CAEE department ranks third for its graduate program and sixth for undergraduate education in the same publication.

“To be elected a distinguished alum and recognized by one of the top-ranked universities in the U.S. and the world is truly gratifying.”

The department established the academy to acknowledge the professional achievements and contributions of its graduates. Twenty-seven charter members were inducted into the academy in 2003, and 84 additional members have been selected since.

UM School of Engineering administrators and faculty expressed pride in their colleague’s recognition.

“For many years, Dr. Uddin’s research, teaching and service have brought honor to the University of Mississippi School of Engineering,” Dean Alex Cheng said. “It is certainly most fitting that his alma mater recognize his achievements by inducting him into their Academy of Distinguished Alumni.”

Yacoub Jacob Najjar, UM chair and professor of civil engineering, said he has great respect for Uddin as an energetic teacher, researcher, adviser and leader.

“Considering his educational records, achievements and impact, I can truthfully attest that Waheed’s activities continue to yield great benefits to the state of Mississippi, University of Mississippi and the School of Engineering,” Najjar said. “It was very logical to see him inducted into the University of Texas at Austin’s Academy of Distinguished Alumni. This notable honor adds greatly to the national and international reputation of our department, school and university.”

Uddin, who earned his doctorate from UT-Austin in 1984, has more than 35 years of professional and research experience in highways, airports, air quality, traffic management, infrastructure and environmental sustainability. He is a pioneer in evaluating laser remote sensing terrain-scanning technology and geospatial analysis for infrastructure development and environmental applications.

Uddin’s innovative transportation and flood inundation mapping products were used for Hurricane Katrina impact assessment on Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2005, post-2010 floods in Pakistan and 2011 floods in Thailand. He has also received grants totaling more than $16 million as principal investigator and collaborator, including a $4.6 million software gift from the geospatial industry.

He developed several new engineering labs at UM that focus on asphalt testing, remote sensing-geospatial data analysis and modeling-visualization. He is studying intermodal integration and infrastructure disaster protection to assess disaster risk vulnerabilities and enhance the global supply chain.

Also a graduate of the Asian Institute of Technology and the University of Karachi, Uddin has worked, lectured and made presentations in 28 countries. He has published more than 220 papers, discussions and technical reports, including four books, two book chapters and 109 peer-reviewed papers in refereed journals and conference books.

Uddin said he is “very proud” that his wife, Rukhsana, and their three sons were all educated at UM during the last 22 years.

“My wife, who earned her M.S. in family counseling and Ph.D. in education from here, is a faculty and researcher in the UM teacher education program,” Uddin said. “Our oldest son, Omar, got most of his engineering education at Ole Miss before he decided to become a high-tech business entrepreneur in northern Virginia.

“Usman, our middle son, earned his BBA degree in business MIS at Ole Miss and his MBA from George Mason University. The youngest, Asad, is a junior in the Trent Lott Public Policy Leadership program.”

Uddin’s hobbies include reading, traveling, photography, tweeting and blogging.

“I’m also a fan of both the Ole Miss Rebels and the University of Texas Longhorns,” he said.

For more on the UM Department of Civil Engineering, visit http://engineering.olemiss.edu/civil/. For more on the Center for Advanced Infrastructure Technology, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/projects/cait/home/index.php.

Managing huge amounts of data can be a challenge for even the most savvy computer scientist. So when University of Mississippi students, faculty and staff got an opportunity to learn more skills from a talented alumnus who is enjoying a successful professional career, they took advantage of it.

Arun Burduri, a 2000 UM alumnus who works as a venture accelerator, conducted the Big Data Hadoop MapReduce Workshop in mid-November. Some 50 undergraduate and graduate students from the Department of Computer and Information Science joined faculty and UM Information Technology staff for the daylong event.

“The workshop’s purpose was to learn the fundamentals of distributed computing hands-on by getting into the internals of one of most popular, open-source ‘Big Data’ tools, Apache Hadoop,” said Byunghyun Jang, assistant professor of computer and information science and co-coordinator of the workshop. “Topics included fundamentals of HDFS-distributed file system, fundamentals of Hadoop, internals of MapReduce, how MapReduce works and the components of the system.”

The training also covered writing and running a basic MapReduce job (in Java), creating a cluster of laptops to run a job in true distributed mode, processing 1 billion rows of data using just laptop(s), tweaking the cluster config parameters to understand its effect on the performance and Google Cloud, said Dawn Wilkins, professor of computer and information science and workshop co-coordinator.

Buduri, who has worked for Nortel Networks, Microsoft, Ingersoll Rand and other companies, helps accelerate early-stage startups in taking their product or business to market. The workshop was received very well, he said.

“I have been conducting these Big Data Hadoop hands-on workshops in the U.S. and India and plan to conduct in Singapore and other countries early 2015,” Buduri said. “The workshop ends with an introduction to Hadoop on Google Cloud platform so the attendees can learn and build bigger solutions on the cloud.”

Buduri said he would definitely enjoy returning to his alma mater to conduct more workshops in the future.

“Depending on the students’ availability and free time for a similar full-day workshop, I’d love to bring them up to speed on some of the latest cloud techniques,” he said. “Google is working with me on my workshops by sponsoring a $500 Google Cloud credit to anyone who attends.”

While such hands-on workshops typically cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per person elsewhere, Buduri conducts these via a Meetup group free of charge.

“My main goal is to share my Big Data experience and knowledge with the academia and the general public whenever I have spare time,” Buduri said.

For more information, visit http://www.meetup.com/FREE-Big-Data-Hands-On-Workshops/.

Growing up in the Mississippi Delta, W.R. “Bob” Reed’s two great loves were working in the family-owned lumberyard and watching University of Mississippi sporting events.

“My father was in the construction business, so I had construction in my blood,” the Cleveland native said. “Civil engineering was suggested to me by Dad. I chose Ole Miss because I had always been an Ole Miss sports fan.”

Reed, who earned his bachelor’s degree in 1981, is president and general manager at the Mid-South division of Cives Steel Co. in Rosedale. The company is a structural steel fabricator with expertise in connection design and project management.

Asked which professional and personal achievements he finds most fulfilling, Reed quickly responds.

“I’m proud to be a registered PE in Mississippi,” he said. “I’m equally proud to be an Eagle Scout as a youth and recipient of Scouting’s Silver Beaver Award as an adult after serving 23 years as a scoutmaster.”

Reed finds working with young people other than his own children to be very rewarding.

“Scouting is a long-term program allowing you to work with a boy from 11 to 17 and really be a part of his growing-up process,” he said.

Since graduation, Reed has remained connected to the UM Department of Civil Engineering.

“Dr. Sam DeLeeuw, Dr. Abduhlrahman, Dr. Mullen and Dean Alex Cheng have allowed me to speak with students about issues they will encounter when they hit the working world,” Reed said. “Subjects have included steel construction, scheduling, contract issues and shop tours at our plant.”

Engineering school faculty members said Reed is a welcome addition in their classrooms.

“Bob has been a good friend to me as well as a mentor and role model for scores of civil engineering students in Steel Design and senior capstone design classes I’ve taught,” said Christopher Mullen, professor of civil engineering. “Most memorable are invaluable field trips he hosted at his fabrication yard in which he arranged guided tours of the Rosedale plant’s offices and welding operations for literally busloads of our seniors. Catfish lunches he sponsored at a nearby state park were enjoyed by all.”

Reed also recently joined the School of Engineering advisory board.

“His company faithfully comes to our annual Engineering Career Fair to recruit every year,” Cheng said. “Bob has visited the civil engineering department multiple times to give lectures on steel connection to Dr. Mullen’s civil engineering design class.”

Reed and his wife, Teresa, have two sons, Will and Caleb.

“Both are married and have given us two great daughters-in-law and three lovely granddaughters,” Reed said.

His hobbies include hunting, fishing and working out.

Reed credits Ole Miss engineering with laying the foundation for his successful career.

“My Ole Miss engineering education allowed me to learn how to perform complex connection design,” he said. “It also allowed me to effectively communicate with our customers’ engineers.”

Like modern-day explorers out to discover the New World, four engineering students recently traveled to Washington, D.C., in search of the next big thing. For these freshmen in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, the answer is the resurgence of NASA’s aerospace program.

Through the Honors College’s annual Freshman Ventures program, the students were among several teams. Each team tackled the question by setting up interviews with a variety of individuals and groups that could help them find deeper answers. The students organized everything from travel and lodging to contacting individuals with whom they interviewed.

After seeing a presentation of previous Ventures trips, Dillon Hall of Saltillo became interested in using this opportunity to explore his interests in pursuing a career in the aerospace industry. The mechanical engineering major formed a group with Reid Barber of Tupelo, Raymond Brown of Houston, Texas, and Seth Gray of Jonesboro, Arkansas.

The foursome met with both NASA representatives and individuals that held opposing views in an effort to have a more well-rounded research project.

“We had the opportunity to interview Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Directorate at NASA Headquarters, and Phil McAlister, director of commercial spaceflight development,” Hall said. “We realize that the opportunity to interact with people like this as first-year students is almost unheard of at other universities.”

Each Ventures group is also required to prepare a visual presentation of their interviews and findings to show during a retreat later in the spring where all groups discuss their travel experiences. Each team’s presentation will be judged by Honors faculty and staff. The group with the best overall presentation is awarded a trip to New York City.

Before they were allowed to travel, the students were required to develop a plan for their time in Washington and what they hoped to achieve through their experience with the NASA representatives.
“The goal of our Ventures project was to learn about what NASA has planned for the immediate and long-term future in regards to technological development and space exploration,” said Barber, a computer science major. “We also wanted to learn more about NASA’s funding and special procedures, being part of the federal administration.”

Barber also expressed the group’s interest in learning about NASA’s relationship with other private companies, such as SpaceX, and how or if they collaborate. The experience allowed the students to gain skills that they believe will benefit them beyond graduation whether or not they choose a career in the aerospace field.

“I learned that the future of space exploration strongly depends on future engineers,” said Gray, a chemical engineering major. “Even though NASA has a stronghold on the space industry, it will be necessary for more companies to develop new ideas.”

Gray, who served as the group’s financial planner, said the opportunity to visit NASA allowed him to get a sense of potential career opportunities for engineers with the organization.

Brown, who was responsible for documenting the group’s activities in the nation’s capital, said the experience helped him better identify his future goals in the business world.

“While I am not planning to pursue a job in the space industry, I feel like the Ventures trip opened my eyes to the diversity of jobs in our economy,” the mechanical engineering major said. “My horizons are broadened about what entrepreneurs can do if they work hard enough. All in all, I was able to get a better sense of where private industry is headed in the next few decades.”

The Honors College strives to develop citizen scholars who are fired by the life of the mind. Giving students new to a university campus the chance to embark on a nontraditional learning experience allows them to do just that.

The post Four Find Freshmen Ventures Fantastic appeared first on Ole Miss News.

NEW ORLEANS, La. (WVUE) – A University of Mississippi engineering major hopes to be the next American Idol, and Michael Simeon knows it’s not just about the song.

“Each performance has to have a moment,” Simeon said. “You have to have a moment that is going to be remembered by the people watching, and if you don’t have that, you’re just another OK singer.”

Simeon hopes his dance with Jennifer Lopez will be the first of many moments on his journey to becoming the next American Idol. The 21-year old from Lumberton, Mississippi, has traveled this road before, making it to the top 48 last season.

Click here to read the full story.

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A year ago, Tejas Pandya was in search of a great opportunity to pursue research and teaching. He stumbled upon a notice about a faculty position in the University of Mississippi School of Engineering and applied. The rest, as they say, is history.

“I was expecting a dynamic environment for conducting research with good labs and collaborating with accomplished senior faculty,” said the new assistant professor of mechanical engineering. “My experience has been very good. I find the faculty and administration is very supportive.”

Pandya teaches Introduction to Mechanical Design, Computer Aided Design and Structures and Dynamics Lab. He plans to offer a course on renewable energy systems.

“The Blast and Impact Dynamics lab is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment,” he said. “My research interests are in area of mechanical design, sustainable technologies with low carbon footprint and renewable energy systems.”

A member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Pandya enjoys reading, hiking, outdoors and photography, watching college football and tailgating. He and his wife, Monika, have a daughter, Vijaya, 2.

The Pandyas find Oxford is a vibrant town and an ideal place to work and live.

“My wife is an experienced fashion merchandiser and a field hockey player,” Pandya said. “We would love to see Vijaya play for the Ole Miss soccer team. She has already started kicking the soccer ball.”

Arunachalam Rajendran, chair and professor of mechanical engineering, said Pandya is a welcome addition to the department.

“Dr. Pandya brings exceptional multi-national industrial experience that would be an asset for the Mechanical Engineering department,” Rajendran said. “Our students will greatly benefit through his teaching, which incorporates design methodology and tools that would bridge the gap between the classroom and industry.”

The post Tejas Pandya Joins Mechanical Engineering appeared first on Ole Miss News.

Jeremy Rice has lots to smile about these days.

Enjoying his 15th year in the U.S. Army, the University of Mississippi civil engineering alumnus leads the Mechanics Group within the Army Propulsion Lab, a branch of the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center at the Redstone Arsenal. He also recently finished his doctorate in mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where he and his family reside.

“It was a good situation,” said the Paris, Tennessee, native. “I was able to perform my doctoral research at the Army Propulsion Laboratories as a part of my official work duties. I completed my dissertation and degree in the spring of 2014.”

Rice came to Ole Miss after his high school chamber singers’ director recommended that he consider enrolling here. During a visit to campus in the spring of his senior year, he was absolutely blown away.

“I attended Ole Miss on an academic scholarship for tuition and books, and performed in the university’s Concert Singers and the Opera Theatre in order to pay my out-of-state tuition,” Rice said. “I completed my B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1997 and my M.S. in Engineering Science in 1999.”

Before going to work for the military, Rice was a graduate assistant in the Department of Civil Engineering. While he has many great memories from his years in the School of Engineering, Rice said four professors had a huge impact upon him.

“Dr. M.S. Abdulrahman had a particular way of making subjects like structural analysis and steel design interesting and entertaining,” Rice said. “When I think of my undergraduate years, he really stands out in my memory.”

Rice worked with Waheed Uddin as a teaching assistant for computer-aided design, and as a side project performed his very first material constitutive modeling work on an early pavement model of Uddin’s.

“I was slacking a little bit, and Dr. Uddin called me into his office after class and really called me out on my level of effort,” he said. “Looking back, he did that exactly at the right time, and it had a big effect on me and my future academic career.”

An “a-ha moment” came for Rice during an afternoon laboratory session with a new professor.

“Dr. Chris Mullen came in and demonstrated to us how you could predict stress fields using a technique called finite elements,” he said. “I had never heard of finite elements before that time, but left class that afternoon with a certainty that I wanted to learn that technique.”

Rice worked with Mullen as a research assistant throughout his tenure as a graduate student. Mullen had a large FEMA grant to evaluate the effects of a large earthquake upon campus buildings. Rice was one of several graduate students who worked with him on the project.

“I was able to develop valuable modeling and simulation skills, and got to see a lot more of the buildings on campus than most students,” Rice said. “I think I took every class that Dr. Mullen offered in those days, and still use that material every day in my professional career.”

The faculty member whom Rice credits with having the most lasting impact was Robert Hackett.

“Dr. Hackett helped me get my foot in the door in Huntsville by helping me to secure my first interview,” he said. “Several years later, we crossed paths again and had the opportunity to collaborate on some material modeling efforts of composite materials. This work led to my Ph.D. research, during which Dr. Hackett was a most valuable resource. I can definitely say that my collaborations with Dr. Hackett have been some of the most important throughout my professional career.”

The most fulfilling aspect of Rice’s work is seeing a project, to which he has made some contribution, transition into active service and help protect the young men and women serving in the Army.

“The greatest professional honors for me all seem to deal with some sort of writings,” he said. “I was awfully excited to get my first professional journal publication in the Journal of Applied Physics. Several years later, I was very excited to get my first publication outside of my primary field of expertise in the Journal of Combustion and Flame.”

Rice was asked to author several NATO mechanical property test standards, which are used in laboratories around the world. Recently, he was recruited to contribute a book chapter into an AIAA textbook on rocket motor mechanical design.

“A couple of times I have been asked to serve as the chairman for the Joint Army, Navy, NASA, Air Force Joint Propulsion Meeting, most recently in Washington D.C.,” Rice said. “This is a big annual technical meeting of rocket propulsion experts from the joint services, NASA, industry and academia, and is a big honor in our field.”

Rice married his college sweetheart, Jennifer, who also graduated from Ole Miss in 1997 with a degree in English. The couple has three sons: Elijah, 14, William, 12, and Joshua, 9; and a daughter, Ansley, 7. All four children are big Rebels and plan to attend Ole Miss.

A self-proclaimed outdoorsman, Rice and all of his children are very much into Scouting programs.

“We do a lot of camping, hiking, canoeing/kayaking and fishing as a family,” he said. “It also seems like I spend a lot of time on bleachers lately watching youth sports.”

Rice’s former professors said they are proud of his achievements and look forward to his returning to campus to share his experiences with their students.

“Most people here (other than Dr. Uddin) don’t know Jeremy was in the first class I taught for CE511 Structural Dynamics and was his M.S. adviser on earthquake response modeling of the Twin Towers,” said Mullen, professor of civil engineering. “The simulation of the towers shaking during an M8 event is probably the most-viewed animation of any model created here.”

The post Jeremy Rice Enjoying Career of Dreams appeared first on Ole Miss News.

Four University of Mississippi seniors have been named recipients of the 2014-2015 Outstanding Senior Leadership Award in the School of Engineering.

This year’s recipients are Samuel Bowie of Stafford, Texas, John Clark of Daphne, Alabama, Erin Dyer of Oxford, and Caleb Robinson of Canton. Each was selected through a nomination process in their respective departments based on their records of academic achievement, leadership, professional development and community service. Nominees also delivered a presentation to the selection committee about their undergraduate experiences while pursuing their engineering degrees.

“As in the past, this year’s competition has brought forward a group of outstanding seniors, who not only excelled academically but also demonstrated strong leadership qualities,” Dean Alex Cheng said. “We congratulate all the students who participated in the competition.”

Bowie, a double major in mechanical engineering and computer science, is the 2013 recipient of the John A. Fox Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Student Award. Listed on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, he also received a Taylor Medal in 2014 as well as the Distinguished Senior Scholarship. He has earned membership in Phi Kappa Phi honor society, Tau Beta Phi engineering honor society and Upsilon Pi Upsilon computer science honor society.

During the summer of 2012, Bowie held a software engineering internship with Idera software company, working with a multidisciplinary team to solve issues with the internal software creation process. Additionally, he holds memberships in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Association for Computing Machinery.

Bowie was also named the university’s student representative to the Mississippi Engineering Society‘s Outstanding Senior program. He will travel to Jackson to be recognized with the other MES Outstanding Seniors from across the state.

“I am surprised to receive this award with all the stellar engineers that are graduating this year,” Bowie said. “I appreciate both the mechanical engineering and computer science departments for making me the engineer I am today. I would also like to thank the Mississippi Engineering Society for pushing engineering students to strive for excellence. I hope to represent the Ole Miss engineering school well.”

Bowie is considering graduate school admission offers from Georgia Tech, MIT and Stanford.

Clark, a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, is also pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in manufacturing through the Center for Manufacturing Excellence. He has earned membership in Tau Beta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi, as well as a Taylor Medal. He also served as treasurer of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and volunteered with the Big Event. Clark has also held internships with Airbus Americas Engineering in Mobile, Alabama, and BBB Industries in Reynosa, Mexico.

Fluent in Spanish, he was able to conduct presentations and participate in meetings in Spanish while at BBB. Through his participation in the Summer Manufacturing Outreach Program, he designed modifications at Viking Range that resulted in a 40 percent improvement in their machine cycle time. Clark is seeking employment in the automotive or aerospace industry.

Dyer, a double major in chemical engineering and Chinese, is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the Chinese Language Flagship Program. She holds memberships in Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi and Tau Beta Pi and was the recipient of a Taylor Medal. She also holds a Barksdale Honors Scholarship from the Honors College. She has studied abroad in China during the summers of 2011, 2012 and 2014 and served as a research assistant at Shanghai University’s School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering. On campus, she has served as president of the Chinese Flagship Ambassadors, represented the School of Engineering at various recruiting events and is a member of the Society of Women Engineers and the Ole Miss Club Tennis Team.

Dyer has also participated in the Honors College’s sophomore service trip in 2012 and was selected as the UM representative to the 2014 Language Flagship National Student Meeting. She is deciding between pursuing a career in engineering and seeking admission to medical school.

Robinson is pursuing a degree in computer science and is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. He received the Outstanding Computer Science Student Award during his freshman year and has served as president of the student chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery, as well as vice president of Upsilon Pi Upsilon. Robinson has competed in regional programming competitions through ACM since 2011 and has presented undergraduate research at the 2014 ACM Southeastern regional conference. He also holds membership in Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Robinson has also completed software development internships with C Spire in Jackson and FNC Inc. in Oxford. Additionally, he has two publications to his credit with a former computer science faculty member dealing with his interest in facial recognition.

Robinson plans to marry his fiancé this summer. He is considering offers of admission from Georgia Tech, University of Virginia and University of Florida, where he would pursue a Ph.D. in computer science.

The post Four Named Outstanding Seniors in Engineering appeared first on Ole Miss News.

From 1975 to 2004, Charles E. Smith Sr. devoted his life to the advancement of the electrical engineering program at the University of Mississippi. Years later, the late chair and professor emeritus’ legacy is being maintained by the benevolence of his two sons, Chuck and Steve.

Both Smith brothers earned electrical engineering degrees from the university. Each attributes his career success to their father’s wise suggestions, patient guidance and gentle influence.

“I was all over the map on what I wanted to major in,” said Chuck Smith, president of Guardian Manufacturing Inc. and CEO of Pinnacle Ozone Solutions LLC. “My dad offered some good advice that has served me well to this day. He told me to start off in electrical engineering. I ended up sticking with electrical engineering throughout my college and professional career.”

Steve Smith recalled how his father gave him one of the first Radio Shack computers that began his trip down geek lane.

“However, his greatest influence in all my decisions derived from his character and values that over time built the foundation I stand on today,” he said.

By summer of 2004, Charles Sr. was nearing retirement from Ole Miss. The brothers wanted to do something special that would recognize his accomplishments, dedication and tenure. Chuck thought about naming one of the engineering buildings in honor of their dad’s career through financial support of the engineering school.

“I approached Dean Lee and Tom Black about my idea,” he said. “They came back with a proposal to rename the Engineering Science Building to the Charles E. Smith Engineering Science Building. We loved the idea because this was a building that Dad spent a lot of time in with students and performing research.”

After agreeing to the terms of the support, Black pressed to get the dedication ceremony done on the Friday before the Ole Miss-Auburn football game. Charles Sr. was an Auburn University alumnus.

“I remember the day Steve and I called Dad to tell him about what we had done,” Chuck said. “He was truly touched by our actions in a way that I will never forget. The building dedicated in his name proved to be the perfect way to honor his service and provide financial support for Ole Miss engineering at the same time.”

Steve Smith said philanthropy is in the family’s “DNA.” His father was a member of the Woods Order Society, the School of Engineering’s largest financial supporter.

“Growing up walking through the doors of Carrier Hall, I always looked for the new donor’s bronze plaques that adorned the entrance, the members of the Woods Order Society,” Smith said. “Many I knew as my father’s colleagues and neighbors. This instilled in me a vision of one day being a member and having the ability to give back.”

Over time, members of the Smith family have participated in supporting many initiatives through the UM Foundation for the School of Engineering. They also give as much time as they can through participation with the Engineering Advisory Board, the Vision Council, guest speaking and sending company employees to UM for consulting.

“I joined the Woods Order Society years ago and am still a proud member today,” Steve said. “I strongly encourage all alumni to join, as it provides direct funding to the dean for student activities where you see an immediate return on your investment through the student projects you support.”

In his dual roles, Chuck’s time is divided between managing two growing companies and product development for industrial applications. Steve became a part owner of GMI in 1999. Together, the Smiths have grown into C&S Consolidated that holds GMI, Pinnacle Ozone Solutions LLC, Guardian Creative Integration LLC and several other entities, all with a foundation based on Control System Integration and delivering ozone generation systems and products worldwide.

“We serve a vast array of industries, including aerospace, entertainment, municipal, agricultural, material handling, housing, oil and gas, solar energy and others,” Steve said. “In doing so, and being a small business, I wear many hats, including vice president, CFO, abnormal physiologist and, at times, janitor.”

The brothers have many fond memories of Ole Miss and their father.

“As a child, I remember going to work with Dad to see all of the things they were making in the fab shop. It was fascinating,” Chuck Smith said. “I remember guys like Ken Pruitt and Ray Cronin that would show me how to use the equipment and make things. I remember selling programs and Cokes at all of the Ole Miss football games.”

As a student, Chuck remembers the nights studying with others in the basement of Carrier Hall.

“Dad would stop by around 9 or so and see what problems we were having,” he said. “He’d never tell us the answer, but would give us just enough hints to figure it out on our own. I will always treasure the memory of having my Dad as a professor. He had a way with students that was genuine and caring. It didn’t matter who you were or where you were from. He would spend the time with you to ensure you got it.”

Steve also vividly recalls the long hours beating his head against the wall studying.

“But when our heads were bruised from the wall, Dad was among the professors who would stop in and lend a hand – many times extremely late at night,” he said. “Many of the professors are still teaching today and through the EAB meetings I have with them, I still see the same passion for the students.”

Chuck is most proud of his achievements as an entrepreneur.

“Starting, developing and running a multimillion dollar organization from the ground up has been a rewarding experience that I feel truly blessed to be a part of,” he said. “This March, our first company, Guardian Manufacturing, celebrates its 22nd year in business. By surrounding myself with a very talented group of engineers and technicians, our companies have been successful in many areas of business.”

Another Smith brother, Gary, leads the company’s information technology department. Steve’s son, Brad, works as a software developer.

“It’s great to have family at your side that you admire and trust,” Chuck said.

Steve feels “blessed” to be a part of an organization that continually provides a means to achieve more on the next project.

“It never ceases to amaze me the opportunities that come our way,” he said. “Being a control system integrator is awesome, but my highest achievement is learning a balanced life with God as my focus helping me lead my family and enjoying and helping others.”

Chuck and his wife, Tami, a 1987 UM education graduate, have three children. Hannah is studying accounting at the University of Central Florida. Sarah is a pathology major at Adventist University of Health Science. Kyle is in 11th grade and plans to be the couple’s first child to attend Ole Miss is 2016. When not working, Chuck enjoys flying, golf and fishing.

Steve and his wife, Karen, married while he attended UM. Brad, and his wife, Michelle, have two children, Wyatt and Levi. The grandparents love travel and spending time with their grandchildren.

A graduate of Auburn University, Charles E. Smith Sr. joined the UM faculty in 1975. His research interests were microwave circuits, antennas, measurements, RF systems, and digital and analog electronics and computer-aided design. Smith’s professional memberships included the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Senior Member, IEEE Microwave Theory and Technique Society, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society, IEEE Education Society, Mississippi Academy of Science, American Society for Engineering Education and Order of the Engineer.

The post Smith Brothers Help Maintain Father’s Legacy at UM appeared first on Ole Miss News.

The ladder of success is one John R. Cleveland has been climbing steadily for a long time. The University of Mississippi civil engineering alumnus has worked with oil and gas conglomerate ExxonMobil for more than 26 years. During his tenure, Cleveland has emerged a proven leader who has delivered significant results in each of the 16 assignments held.

“We love Ole Miss and Oxford and have built a house just off the Square so we can return and enjoy the ambiance of the Square and Ole Miss,” Cleveland said. “We fully subscribe to the writing of Frank E. Everett Jr. and his words hang on our wall, wherever we live that states ‘one never graduates from Ole Miss.'”

Cleveland’s leadership abilities were validated early on. The Fulton native became an Eagle Scout at age 15 and was a three-year starting point guard in varsity basketball at Itawamba Agricultural High School. Named Mr. IAHS as a senior, that experience brought him an athletic scholarship to Itawamba Community College, which he attended before entering UM.

“While at Ole Miss, I was a member of the ASCE, Chi Epsilon and VP of the Engineering Student Body,” said Cleveland, who graduated cum laude in 1988. “Since then, I’ve become a Life Member of the Alumni Association, Woods Order, Woods Society, Ole Miss Fund, Education 111 Initiative and Ole Miss Athletics Foundation.”

As the Americas Heavy Fuel Oil Commercial Trader for ExxonMobil, Cleveland has exercised his international business knowledge and adept commercial negotiating skills honed through interactions with major global corporations. His sales savvy, business acumen, vision and leadership enable him to manage large portfolios, in excess of $4 billion.

“I’m a strategic marketer with the ability to manage high-profile brands as in a previous role as marketing manager for Mobil 1, including Mobil 1 Racing,” he said. “I have both organizational design and start-up experience. Being technically astute in critical thinking and strategic analysis has given me the ability to motivate and develop people to achieve a common cause. I also have developed keen expense and capital budget management skills.”

An Ole Miss campus recruiter for ExxonMobil, Cleveland regularly returns to his alma mater and meets with engineering students and faculty. He’s served on the Engineering Advisory Board and is a UM Lacrosse Club sponsor and team booster.

Cleveland has lived in multiple cities with ExxonMobil, including Kingwood, Texas, Bridgewater, New Jersey, Nashville and, presently, in Centreville, Virginia. He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Beth, for 29 years. The couple has three daughters: Megan, Courtney and Kellie.

“A 2013 cum laude graduate of Harding University, Megan is a second-year occupational therapy President’s List student at the University of Mississippi Medical Center,” Cleveland said. “Courtney is a junior in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College at Ole Miss double-majoring in banking and managerial finance. Kellie is a junior at Westfield High School, where she is an honor student and Virginia state champion field hockey and lacrosse player. She plans to attend Ole Miss in 2016.”

The Clevelands are members of Manassas Church of Christ. His hobbies include golf, whitetail deer and upland game hunting, snow skiing and running. Cleveland has been SYA girls travel basketball coach for six years and AAU girls basketball coach for Western Fairfax Mustangs for one year. Other involvements include Rainbow Christian Services (Prince William County Foster Children’s Home), Rainbow Golf Classic co-chair raising $35,000 for foster children, young family ministries leader and vision, mission and values leader at Fairfax Church of Christ and youth and young professionals Bible school teacher at Manassas Church of Christ.

As president of the Westfield Athletic Booster Club, Cleveland oversaw a $2 million capital improvements campaign. The effort produced a turf athletic field in the main stadium, comfort station expansion, lacrosse wall, accessibility paving upgrade and an additional $500,000 to WHS athletic operations. He championed the selection and giving of more than $125,000 in scholarships to deserving WHS athletes to continue their education in college.

The post John Cleveland Recalls Climb to Success appeared first on Ole Miss News.

Even before Hakan Yasarer joined the University of Mississippi faculty last fall, the civil engineering instructor already felt that he would enjoy working here.

“I was impressed by the history of the university and I enjoyed the campus atmosphere,” Yasarer said. “Most importantly, I found a work environment as I had always imagined. An environment with respectful people, who are willing to help and share, who are passionate about their work and have a high degree of professionalism.”

Yasarer teaches ENGR 309, Statics, CE 207, Surveying, and three civil engineering laboratories. His research interests include developing prediction models using the Artificial Neural Network approach in CE applications and decision-making in engineering prediction systems.

“I have the opportunity to work with faculty who are scholarly recognized, and at the same time friendly and accommodating,” he said. “Seeing the faculty and staff’s effort to improve the quality of engineering education and to help students develop their careers and be successful after finishing their degree is what I like most about my job and my department.”

Yasarer has gained the respect of his new UM colleagues.

“Hakan is a fantastic and much-needed addition to the civil engineering family,” said Yacoub “Jacob” Najjar, chair and professor of civil engineering. “Hakan, since joining our department, has successfully taught an array of CE and engineering courses. Our students will surely enjoy his teaching style and benefit greatly from his devotion to teaching.”

Yasarer received his bachelor’s degree at Mustafa Kemal University in Turkey, and his master’s and doctoral degrees at Kansas State University. Before coming to UM, he was employed at KSU as a graduate teaching and research assistant for six years.

“During my graduate studies, I received the Transportation Center “Ph.D. Student of the Year” award and scholarship,” Yasarer said. “But my most fulfilling achievement was receiving excellent teaching evaluations over the six years as a graduate teaching assistant.”

Yasarer and his wife, Lindsey, live in Oxford. His hobbies include music and photography.

“I play jazz, classical and flamenco guitar, the ney (a Turkish folk flute), the Western flute and several other traditional flutes,” he said. “I also compose music and I’ve played jazz guitar with the K-State big band and jazz combos.”

In photography, Yasarer uses both film and digital cameras. He had two photo exhibitions of his collected work in Kansas.

“I’m looking forward to exploring Mississippi with my camera,” Yasarer said. “So far, my experience here has been wonderful.”

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