FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. --  Lalit Verma, head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Arkansas, was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Biological Systems Engineering Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he recieved his doctorate.. 

The Hall of Fame began in 1995. Members are chosen by emeritus and current faculty in the department. Currently, there are 35 members.

Verma was the first agricultural engineering doctoral graduate of the department, receiving his degree in 1976 for his work under the guidance of Ken Von Bargen on storage of mechanically formed hay packages. His dissertation was titled, “A system study of the storage characteristics of mechanically formed hay packages.” His work was grounded in experimentation on the impact of baling method, degree of compression, and moisture content.  

“I’d like to offer my congratulations to Dr. Verma for this recognition,” said John English, dean of the College of Engineering. “He has accomplished many things in several important leadership roles at the U of A, in the College of Engineering and in his field, and it’s no surprise that his alma mater chose to include him in its Hall of Fame.”

Verma credited several people with helping him succeed in his career. “We all have people who are agents who enable us to accomplish our goals in life,” he said, citing several friends and faculty members with connections to the UNL Biological Systems Department, and adding that, “my primary enabler in all matters has been my wife of over 35 years, Aruna, who I am eternally grateful to.”

Verma has served as the president of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers for 2013-2014, and is currently the group's immediate past-president and member of the board of trustees. He served as the interim dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and the associate vice-president for academic programs of the U of A Division of Agriculture during 2008-2010. He was also the program director of the M.S. degree program in biomedical engineering in the U of A College of Engineering. Prior to this he was the professor and head of Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Louisiana State University. Verma is a fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and the Institute of Biological Engineering. He is a charter member and past-president of the Institute of Biological Engineering and a past member of the board of directors of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.