George Filz honored with emeritus status
George Filz, Charles E. Via Jr. Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of Charles E. Via Jr. Professor Emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1992, Filz has conducted research and scholarship contributing greatly to knowledge of geotechnical engineering, including significant advancements and contributions in methods to stabilize hurricane protection systems, dams, and other applications.
His research and scholarly excellence are highlighted by his receipt of several major professional awards, including the Thomas A. Middlebrooks Award, the J. James R. Croes Medal, and the Wallace Hayward Baker Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Filz was also named a Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was also honored by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies with the 2014 Best Paper Award from the Soil Mechanics Section and the 2015 Best Practice-Ready Paper Award from the Design and Construction Group.
In addition, Filz was active in the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
In the classroom, Filz taught thousands of civil engineering students in many areas of geotechnical engineering and advised numerous graduate students through their master’s degree and Ph.D. research work. His excellence as an instructor at Virginia Tech was acknowledged by his receipt of three Certificates of Teaching Excellence, an Alumni Teaching Award, a Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, and a W.E. Wine Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Filz also served as director of Virginia Tech's Center for Geotechnical Practice and Research and as assistant department head in the Charles E. Via Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Filz received his bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon, a second bachelor's degree and master's degree from Oregon State University, and a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.
