A gift from Kirby Gray, a 1945 electrical engineering bachelor’s degree graduate, established both the Kirby Gray Chair in Engineering and John Ryder Professorship in Engineering in 2009.
The John Ryder Professorship in Engineering honors John D. “Jack” Ryder (PhDEE ’44), a former electrical engineering faculty member who was influential in Gray’s life. Ryder, along with former department chair Warren B. Boast, constructed the AC network analyzer in 1949 that power utilities used to simulate entire transmission and generating systems. Ryder also was instrumental in helping to design the Electrical Engineering Building (now called Coover Hall) in 1942. The professorship will be awarded to a faculty member in electrical, computer, or industrial engineering.
PROFESSORSHIP RECIPIENTS:
- Gary Mirka (2009-present)