Dr. J.N. Reddy, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University, was recently honored by friends, family and colleagues for life-time professional achievements and induction into National Academy of Engineering (NAE).
Reddy, who is a Distinguished Professor, Regents Professor and Oscar S. Wyatt Endowed Chair, was recognized by the NAE for his contributions to composite structures and engineering education. Election to the Academy is one of the highest professional honors accorded to an engineer. Members have distinguished themselves in business and academic management, in technical positions, as university faculty and as leaders in government and private organizations.
Reddy has published 19 books, 530 journal papers and has received professional awards including the Mindlin Medal and Distinguished Visiting Professor recognitions from universities in Finland, Brazil, Spain, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and China.
Reddy believes learning is a self-driven process, and a teacher’s role involves more than just imparting knowledge to the students.
A teacher should provide motivation to the students to learn and help in organizing their thought process to understand and develop skills necessary to be successful in professional and personal life.
Dwight Look College of Engineering Executive Associate Dean Dr. N.K. Anand commended Reddy for his dedication to education.
“He is an educator par excellence,” Anand said. “Those of us who have interacted with J.N. know that his passion for education is unparalleled.”
During Reddy’s teaching career he has advised over 60 doctoral students and taught 155 post-doctoral fellows and graduate students. He firmly believes the hallmarks of a successful engineer are a strong grasp of fundamental concepts and a creative-thinking capability to apply the fundamental concepts of the profession or discipline to solve real-life problems.
“Dr. Reddy has shown dedication to the profession like no one else I have seen and he is still going very strong,” said Dr. Andreas Polycarpou, head of mechanical engineering. “More importantly I find him to be a great colleague that is very generous with his time and I enjoy my interactions with him.”