Contact: Phil Hearn
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A Mississippi State professor is a new Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, considered one of the profession's most esteemed honors.
James L. Martin, holder of the university's Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Chair (endowed professorship) in Civil Engineering and an MSU faculty member since 2001, becomes one of four faculty members from his department to achieve fellow status within their respective professional societies.
The achievement represents the highest number of fellows within any department, Bagley College of Engineering officials said.
"I am very pleased that Dr. Martin was selected as an ASCE Fellow," said college Dean Kirk Schulz. "Election to Fellow grade by an engineering society is the ultimate acknowledgement by peers of exceptional technical achievement."
Martin also will be inducted into the college's Academy of Fellows in February 2006. Martin's name and year of appointment as a fellow of his professional society will be recorded on a plaque located outside the dean's suite in McCain Hall.
The ASCE requires that nominees for the honor be legally registered civil engineers or land surveyors who have had responsibilities as members of the society for at least 10 years. A fellow must be qualified to direct, plan or design engineering works.
A member also may receive the top designation if he or she has had responsible charge of important industrial business, construction, educational, editorial, research, or engineering society activity that requires knowledge and background gained from extensive engineering training and experience.
"The work of these prominent civil engineers realizes a major goal of serving as stewards of the public infrastructure and guardians of public health and safety," said former ASCE president Delon Hampton.
An ASCE member since 1985, Martin received a bachelor's degree in wildlife science from Texas A&M University in 1970, a master's in biology/marine biology from Southwest Texas State University in 1976 and a bachelor's in civil engineering from Texas A&M in 1981. He earned a doctorate in civil/environmental engineering from TAMU in 1984.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, contact Julie Lemons at (662) 325-8098 or jlemons@engr.msstate.edu.