Krishnan Ramu honored with emeritus status
Krishnan Ramu, professor of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the “professor emeritus” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The title of emeritus is conferred on retired full professors and associate professors, administrative officers, extra-collegiate faculty with continued appointment, and senior extension agents who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.
A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1985, Ramu served as director of the Center for Rapid Transit Systems. His research focused on electric machines, power electronics, motor drives, and motor drive controls. He authored or co-authored five textbooks and many technical journal and conference publications. He received a best book award, many prize paper awards, and a best presentation award. He secured approximately $3 million in external research funding.
As a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Ramu was cited for his contributions to the development of alternating current and switch reluctance motor drives. In addition, he held several offices within IEEE and won the Anthony J. Hornfeck Service Award in recognition of his outstanding and meritorious service to the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society.
Ramu taught a wide range of courses in the electrical and computer engineering program, from sophomore to advanced graduate level courses. He advised and counseled numerous undergraduate and graduate students during his career and served as graduate advisor for 29 master’s degree students and 17 doctoral students.
He received his Ph.D. from Concordia University (Canada).
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
