Saied Mostaghimi honored with emeritus status

Saied Mostaghimi, professor and former head of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and director of Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of H.E. and Elizabeth F. Alphin Professor Emeritus and director emeritus of Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The emeritus title may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors, and administrative officers who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1984, Mostaghimi’s scholarship focused on nonpoint source pollution control; environmental monitoring, modeling and assessment; and the development and evaluation of best management practices to improve soil and water quality. He authored more than 400 scholarly publications and served the scientific research community as a reviewer of manuscripts and grant proposals, as the editor/associate editor of several journals, and as an organizer of several scientific conferences.

He also demonstrated his abilities as an educator and leader through his strong research program, the mentoring of graduate students, and his leadership of his college’s research and graduate programs.

During his time as head of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Mostaghimi tripled its graduate enrollment and research expenditures and significantly expanded its bioprocessing engineering program. In 2004, the department was recognized with a University Exemplary Department Award for effectively linking undergraduate education with its research program.

As the associate dean for research and graduate studies and director of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, graduate student enrollment and research expenditures grew to a record level and enrollment in the George Washington Carver Program — designed to advance the college’s commitment to access, equity, justice, and inclusion and to enhance the diversity of graduate student population — greatly increased.

Mostaghimi received numerous honors and awards in his career, including the outstanding research award from the Soil and Water Conservation Society, induction as a fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), the Natural Resources and Environmental Management Flagship Award, the ASABE Fellow Award, and the Association of Southern Region Agricultural Experiment Station Directors Excellence in Leadership Award. At Virginia Tech, he was honored with the Alumni Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising and the Alumni Award for Outreach Excellence.

Mostaghimi held the title of H.E. and Elizabeth F. Alphin Endowed Professor for more than 20 years.

Mostaghimi received his bachelor’s degree from Pahlavi University in Iran and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.