Robert W. Hendricks honored with emeritus status
Robert W. Hendricks, professor of materials science and engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The emeritus title may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors, and administrative officers who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive an emeritus certificate from the university.
A member of the university community since 1986, Hendricks made significant contributions to the understanding of materials that aided other engineers in their work for design and analysis, especially as it related to electronics and corrosion.
His work was published widely, including 68 papers in archival literature, 59 papers in peer-reviewed conference proceedings, two books, and six book chapters on materials-related topics.
Hendricks is a Fellow in ASM International, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Institute of Physics, and is a senior member in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He also has been active in the Materials Research Society, the American Association for Engineering Education, and the American Foundry Society.
At Virginia Tech, Hendricks served as associate head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering from 2007 to 2018. He was instrumental in the creation of VT-FIRE, a high-tech teaching and research foundry established in 2011.
In the classroom, Hendricks contributed to the development and teaching of different engineering courses and several thousand students. He advised or co-advised 38 master’s degree and three Ph.D. students to completion in the fields of electrical engineering, materials engineering, and materials science.
He was honored by the College of Engineering with the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Public Services in 1996, 2001, and 2012 and the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Innovation in 2006.
Hendricks received his bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. from Cornell University and an MBA degree from the University of Tennessee.
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