Contact: Phil Hearn
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The new director of Mississippi State's Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems will be honored Friday [Sept. 2] as a 2005 Distinguished Alumnus by Ohio State University.
Randall M. German received a master's degree in metallurgical engineering from OSU in 1971. The alumnus award recognizes his distinguished achievement and eminent contributions to the advancement of his profession.
"This will be a special visit to the campus and a good chance to catch up with this exciting engineering program," German said of his upcoming recognition.
German was appointed to the MSU faculty on July 1 and will assume full-time duties as professor of mechanical engineering and director of CAVS at MSU in October of this year.
Before coming to MSU, German held many positions in the field of materials science and engineering. He served earlier in his career as the Robert Hunt Professor in Materials Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., and more recently as Brush Chair Professor in Materials in the department of engineering science and mechanics at Pennsylvania State University.
Throughout his career, German has received many awards and honors, including an honorary doctorate (doctor honoris causa) from the University Carlos III de Madrid. He also achieved the rank of fellow within two of his professional societies, the American Society for Materials International and American Powder Metallurgy Institute International.
As director of CAVS, German oversees research and educational activity that extends into three major thrust areas: alternative power systems, computational manufacturing and design, and human and systems engineering. He also is involved in development and outreach efforts for CAVS, and seeks funds for its many projects.
CAVS was created by the Legislature in 2001 to provide research and development of solutions for regional automotive manufacturers such as the Nissan Corp. in Canton, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula and Mueller Industries Inc., whose Mississippi operations are located in Fulton.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, contact Julie Lemons at (662) 325-8098 or jlemons@engr.msstate.edu.