Aerospace associate engineering professor earns international acclaim
January 23, 2009
Starkville, Miss.—Prior to transitioning his career into academia, Dr. Tom Lacy spent eight years designing and analyzing highly loaded aerospace systems and structural assemblies at The Boeing Company, Lockheed-Martin Aeronautical Systems Company, McDonnell Douglas Corporation, and The Northrop Corporation. The aerospace engineering associate professor’s decision to leave an exciting industry career is for one reason; he loves to teach.
Lacy, a selected member of the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and a NASA Graduate Student Research Program Fellow, has received numerous collegiate accolades from students and peers, such as the Professor of the Year Award, and the Bagley College of Engineering (BCoE) at Mississippi State University inducted him into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Now, colleagues on the international level have recognized Lacy’s contributions to teaching and research by honoring him with the Society of Automotive Engineers Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award. Lacy, a licensed professional engineer, is one of roughly 15 professors selected from around the world to receive this international mark of distinction.
“Dr. Lacy provides that special viewpoint of a practicing engineer and embodies the best aspects of an educator by providing opportunities for his students to learn the theories taught in a classroom setting and to extend that knowledge outside the classroom by applying it to research projects,” offered Dr. Tony Vizzini, professor and director of the BCoE aerospace department.
The award is funded and bestowed by the SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational Fund to allow educators to interact with practicing engineers, so that they can in turn inspire students to pursue careers in mobility engineering. Established in 1953, the award honors the late Ralph R Teetor, 1936 International President, who believed that engineering educators are the most effective link between engineering students and their future careers.
“I’m honored because the award is not just a recognition of the department and college’s commitment to teaching and research, but the Ralph R. Teetor program provides an invaluable opportunity for academics to interact and team with industry partners from around the world in order to identify crucial skills for successful young engineers, and to solicit feedback on ways we can improve our overall curriculum,” commented Lacy.
The Teetor Award program brings engineering educators to the annual SAE World Congress and Exposition in Detroit or the SAE AeroTech meeting held every other year. The events attract more than 45,000 engineers who work on the research, design, development and production of land, sea, air and space vehicles.