Georgia Tech’s former president, Dr. Wayne Clough, has been elevated to National Honor Member status by Chi Epsilon, the organization that recognizes excellence in civil engineering. A 49-year member of Chi Epsilon who earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in civil engineering at Georgia Tech, Clough will officially accept this prestigious honor during induction ceremonies to be held Saturday, December 1 at the University of Maryland.
National Honor Members of Chi Epsilon are so-designated in recognition of their distinguished and pre-eminent accomplishments in the field of civil engineering. Elevation to the upper ranks of the 90-year-old Chi Epsilon happens just once every two years, and is open to just two inductees. Clough will join a rarified group of just 61 other Chi Epsilon members who have been elevated to National Honor status.
“We are proud that Wayne has been recognized by Chi Epsilon as a National Honor Member for his outstanding work in the field of civil engineering,” said Dr. Reginald DesRoches, the Karen and John Huff Chair of Georgia Tech’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “With this honor he assumes his rightful place as one of the greats in civil engineering research, education, and practice in the past century. He has been, and continues to be, an inspiriging example of what rigorous and visionary leadership can accomplish in the field of civil engineering. His legacy lives on at Georgia Tech.”
President of Georgia Tech from 1994 to 2008, Clough is the only alumnus of the Institute to serve as its president. During his tenure, he oversaw the doubling the Institute’s financial commitment to research, an increase in enrollment from 13,000 to 18,000, and a dramatic expansion of facilities to include a new health center, a computer building, and a nanotechnology research center. The Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons, opened in 2011, was named in his honor.
Clough left Georgia Tech in 2008 to serve as the Secretary of Washington’s Smithsonian Institution.