-= NMSU PANORAMA - Summer 2006 =- Around Aggieland: High honor bestowed upon NMSU professor

Around Aggieland

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› Remodeled Pan Am Center scheduled to open in November
› New regent brings legislative, business, ag background
› Martin honored by MSU, Mankato
› Myrna's Children's Village dedicated
› Honoring outstanding students
› Aggie Day
› Horseshoe Tales
› NMSU awards honorary doctorates
› Gutierrez, Catlett selected for key posts
› GM supports NMSU Engineering
› High honor bestowed upon NMSU professor

High honor bestowed upon NMSU professor

John Hernandez, a professor emeritus with New Mexico State University, has been named an honorary member of the oldest national engineering society in the U.S., the American Society of Civil Engineering, or ASCE.

Honorary membership is the organization’s highest accolade. Only 183 of the society’s 137,000 members worldwide have been awarded this honor.

Hernandez was honored for his efforts in improving water quality as well as his accomplishments and efforts in consulting, academia and public office in the areas of water resources and water quality.

“It is very appropriate that Professor Hernandez be recognized by his peers with this prestigious honor,” said Steven Castillo, dean of the College of Engineering. “The contributions he has made to his profession and society as a whole are enormous.”

Hernandez began his career with NMSU as an associate professor in 1965. For the next 16 years, he served as dean of the College of Engineering, co-creator of the New Mexico Environmental Institute, co-director of the Southwest Center for Women and Minorities in Engineering and director of the Environmental Health Engineering Program.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan named Hernandez deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Also that year, Hernandez retired as a captain from the Navy Civil Engineering Corps Reserve.

Two years later, he became the EPA’s acting administrator. In 1984, Hernandez returned to NMSU after a brief post with the U.S. Department of Energy.

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