Richard Cassady, University Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Arkansas, has been inducted as an inaugural member of the Virginia Tech Department of Engineering Education Academy of Distinguished Alumni.

"Our five inaugural inductees to this academy exemplify the levels of sustained impact on engineering education that define the academy," said Jenni Case, head of the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech.

Cassady received his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Virginia Tech. At the University of Arkansas, he serves as director of the undergraduate program in industrial engineering and co-director of the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center. Cassady is the founder of the first-year engineering program at the University of Arkansas and served as its director from 2006 to 2023. He also served a five-year term on the Virginia Tech Industrial and Systems Engineering Advisory Board.

Outside of work, Cassady's passion is helping to lead team-based robotics programs for students through the FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST LEGO League in Arkansas. Root Negative One, a FIRST Tech Challenge team that Cassady co-founded and coaches, was selected to represent the United States at the 2019 FIRST Global Challenge in Dubai and has won numerous championships.

Cassady was awarded the 2016 Albert G. Holzman Distinguished Educator Award from the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers and the Virginia Tech College of Engineering Dean's Award of Excellence for Public Service.

"The people I met at Virginia Tech were incredibly impactful in my life, especially Joel Nachlas. He was the advisor for my undergraduate research project, my master's thesis, and my doctoral dissertation. More importantly, he was my mentor for many important career and personal decisions," Cassady said.

Head of the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Arkansas, Chase Rainwater, commented on the news, "This recognition is another testament to the impact that Dr. Cassady's career has had on engineering education. We continue to benefit from the education and mentorship he received at Virginia Tech." He continued, "It is extra special to see Dr. Cassady recognized in this inaugural class of recipients at an institution that means so much to him."