Loewer Named to Hall of Distinction at Louisiana State University
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Otto J. Loewer of Fayetteville, Ark., has been named to the Louisiana State University College of Engineering’s Hall of Distinction. Loewer, founding director of the University of Arkansas Economic Development Institute and professor in the biological and agricultural engineering department, graduated from LSU with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering in 1968 and a master’s degree in agricultural engineering in 1970.
Loewer came to the University of Arkansas in 1985 to serve as the biological and agricultural engineering department head until 1992. Loewer returned in 1996 to serve as the dean of the College of Engineering until 2002. During his time as dean, Loewer chaired the effort to create the Arkansas Research and Technology Park and secured external funding for remodeling of the Engineering Research Center and expansion of the Genesis Technology Incubator.
In 2002, Loewer founded the university’s Economic Development Institute. Its mission is to enhance the economic and social well-being and prosperity of the people of Arkansas by extending University of Arkansas programs in partnership with others having similar interests.
Loewer’s professional honors include serving as the president of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers from 2005 to 2006; being named as the Communicator of the Year by the northwest Arkansas chapter of the Public Relations Society of America in 2004; being designated as an outstanding graduate by the Purdue University Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering in 2004; receiving the Arkansas Engineer of the Year Award from the Arkansas chapter of the National Society of Professional Engineers in 1997; and being named a Fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers in 1996. He has published more than 300 professional papers including 64 refereed journal articles and a textbook.
Loewer is a native of Wynne, Ark., a Delta community 50 miles west of Memphis, Tenn. He completed his doctoral work in agricultural engineering at Purdue University in 1973 and received an Master of Science degree in agricultural economics from Michigan State University in 1980. He has also served on the faculty of the University of Kentucky and the University of Florida.
Established in 1979, the Hall of Distinction is the highest honor bestowed by the College of Engineering at LSU. The award recognizes distinguished professional achievement, dedicated service to engineering and outstanding humanitarian activities.
“I’m greatly appreciative for having been honored in this way by my alma mater,” said Loewer. “I would like to thank my many colleagues over the years who helped make this recognition possible.”
Contacts
Otto J. Loewer, director, University of Arkansas Economic Development Institute; professor, biological and agricultural engineering
College of Engineering
(479) 575-5118, ojl@uark.edu