Purdue Notebook

January 7, 2005

Faculty and staff honors

– Mete A. Sozen, the Kettelhut Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering at Purdue University, has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the Georgian Technical University for his "significant contribution to the development of engineering sciences." Sozen, an expert in reinforced-concrete structures, has conducted extensive research aimed at designing structures to improve their resistance to earthquakes, blast loads and aircraft impact. The university awarding the degree to Sozen is located in Tbilisi, in the Republic of Georgia. Sozen has worked to develop professional design codes for concrete structures and for earthquake-resistant reinforced concrete structures. He was a member of a research team that in 2003 completed a report detailing how the Pentagon's unusual design enabled the structure to withstand the aircraft collision on Sept. 11, 2001.

– Robert Wayne Ragen, a service worker in Owen Hall, was a regional winner of the Spotlight of the Month Award in November from the National Residence Hall Honorary organization. Ragen was nominated for his work above and beyond typical job duties.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

To the News Service home page