Theo A. Dillaha honored with emeritus status
Theo A. Dillaha, professor of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of “professor emeritus” by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The title of emeritus may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors, and administrative officers 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 since 1983, Dillaha advanced a systems-based approach to management of natural resources through his research in the areas of watershed assessment and management, soil and water conservation engineering, and nonpoint source pollution control.
During his career, he authored or co-authored over 250 peer-reviewed journal articles, research bulletins, and other publications and reports.
His leadership of the Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources Management Collaborative Research Support Program and the Rebuilding Higher Education in Agriculture in the South Sudan Project contributed significantly to international agricultural development and education.
Dillaha supported scientific research in his field as a conference organizer, advisory panel member, and frequent reviewer for national and international organizations, journals, and funding agencies. He held leadership positions in several professional organizations, including president and board member of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.
He is active in the Virginia Tech chapter of Engineers Without Borders and has been a faculty advisor and project leader on students' projects in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti and Bolivia.
He received several professional honors and awards, including the Virginia Tech Alumni Award for Outreach Excellence, a Fulbright Fellowship, the Wesley W. Horner Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a Fellow Award from the Soil and Water Conservation Society.
Dillaha received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a doctoral degree from Purdue University.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
