Gerald Luttrell honored with emeritus status

21 Dec 2020

Gerald Luttrell, Massey Professor of Mining and Minerals 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 in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1986, Luttrell’s externally sponsored research in extractive metallurgy and particulate engineering has contributed to the development of patented technologies for processing primary and secondary materials.

Throughout his career, Luttrell has written nearly two dozen books and book chapters, more than 350 peer-reviewed publications and conference proceedings, and more than 500 trade journal articles and technical reports. He has served as a reviewer for several professional publications over the past 30 years, including a term as editor for the International Journal of Coal Preparation and Utilization.

"Dr. Luttrell's contributions to scholarly work and industrial practice around the efficient recovery of minerals worldwide are enormous, and he is well recognized as a leading expert,” said Kray Luxbacher, C.T. Holland Professor and head of the Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering. “His work has substantial applications for energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling, and sourcing of critical and rare minerals. The most striking thing about Dr. Luttrell is that his students and colleagues recognize him as an outstanding teacher and mentor, a great friend, and a humble man. He is so deserving of this honorific, and after contributing to our success for over 35 years, I'm so proud to call him an emeritus professor in our department."

Luttrell has received numerous major professional honors and awards from the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, including the Antoine Gaudin Award in 2017, the Stefanko Best Paper Award in 2014, an SME Distinguished Member in 2014, the Robert H. Richards Award in 2012, his naming as a Henry Krumb Lecturer and 2000, the Frank F. Aplan Award in 2007, the Percy Nicholls Award in 2005, and the Stephen McCann Educational Excellence Award in 1995.

In 2013, Luttrell was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering, a distinction currently held by only nine other Virginia Tech faculty.

Luttrell’s unwavering enthusiasm in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses was recognized through his receipt of Virginia Tech’s Certificate of Teaching Excellence on five occasions and his department’s Outstanding Faculty Award 10 times. In addition, he has initiated several extension activities and outreach programs, including more than 200 external short courses and workshops, which were recognized via the College of Engineering’s Dean’s Award for Outreach Excellence in 2011 and Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service in 1998.

Luttrell received his bachelor's degree, master’s degree, and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.

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