Dr. Helen Reed, professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University, has been named a Regents Professor by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.
Dr. Reed joined the Texas A&M faculty in 2004 and served as department head for four years before returning to teaching and research on a full-time basis. Widely regarded as an expert in hypersonics, energy efficient aircraft and small satellite design, Reed has led research projects totaling millions of dollars and is a member of the National Research Council’s Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board. She has received numerous professional awards and honors, including being a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA), the American Physical Society, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. She received the Atwood Award from American Society for Engineering Education and AIAA, and she was inducted into Academy of Engineering Excellence at Virginia Tech (her alma mater). At Texas A&M, she has been named a 2013 Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence.
With teaching and mentoring students as top priorities, Reed has directed 17 doctoral students, 32 master’s degree students and more than 1,000 undergraduate students during her career.
Over her career, Reed has been lead computationalist in various NASA and Air Force flight and wind-tunnel programs, with applications to high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles, transports, and hypersonic trans-atmospheric vehicles.
Reed also directs the AggieSat Lab Satellite Program, a student satellite program housed within the Department of Aerospace Engineering. The goal of the Lab is to develop and demonstrate modern technologies by using a small-satellite platform, while educating students and enriching the undergraduate experience. The program is a partnership with NASA Johnson Space Center and the University of Texas to promote space engineering education and develop new technologies used in space exploration. Through this program, her students designed, launched and operated Texas A&M’s first satellite in 2009, with another mission planned for this year.
Reed earned an A.B. degree in mathematics from Goucher College, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in engineering mechanics from Virginia Tech.
The Board established the Regents Professor Award Program in 1996 to recognize employees who have made exemplary contributions to their university or agency and to the Residents of Texas. “The Regents Awards allow us to show our outstanding faculty and researchers that we value their contribution to the A&M System,” said Board Chairman Phil Adams. “It is their commitment to excellence that makes the A&M System one of America’s very best.” To date, 179 A&M System faculty members have been recognized with the Regents Professor Award.