Michael Hyer honored with emeritus status

6 Oct 2010

Michael Hyer, the N. Waldo Harrison Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the “N. Waldo Harrison Professor Emeritus” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The title of emeritus may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.

A member of the Virginia Tech community for 30 years, Hyer’s work focuses on the mechanics of composite materials and structures and solid mechanics. His research was recognized by the American Society for Composites’ Best Paper Award and Outstanding Research Award, the American Society for Testing Materials’ Award of Appreciation and Virginia Tech’s Alumni Award for Research Excellence.

He wrote more than 300 publications, including journal papers, conference proceedings, and government and university reports and gave 100 presentations in Asia, Europe, North America, and the former Soviet Union. From 1988 through 1996, he directed the NASA-Virginia Tech Composites Program, which conducted research totaling $4.2 million.

Hyer was named a Fellow of the American Society for Composites, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the American Society of Mechanical Engineering, and the American Academy of Mechanics.

He was former president of the American Society for Composites, vice president of Region 3 (the Americas) of the International Committee on Composite Materials, past editor for the Society of Engineering Science, and a member of the Society of Engineering Science board of directors.

Hyer organized the 16th Annual Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites and served as vice chair of the 14th International Conference on Composite Materials; as scientific co-chairman for the 14th U.S. National Congress of Applied Mechanics; as technical chairman for the 48th AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference; as chairman of the AIAA Structures Technical Committee; and will serve as co-chairman of the 26th Annual Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites in 2011.

Hyer taught a wide range of courses from freshman to advanced graduate level. He often was cited by the College of Engineering for his excellent teaching evaluations and received the department’s Frank A. Maher Award for Excellence in Education.

He received his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a master’s degree from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.