Engineering Tech's Sriraman named 21st Texas State Piper Professor

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
May 1, 2015

Vedaraman Sriraman, a professor in the Department of Engineering Technology at Texas State University, has been named Piper Professor for 2015 by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation.

Sriraman was named Piper Professor on May 1 in honor of his dedication and service to teaching at the collegiate level. Piper Foundation honorees are chosen by committee members who look for well-rounded, outgoing teachers, devoted to their profession and have made a special impact on their students and the community.

"I teach because I have a passion for teaching. I would rather be engaged in teaching than be engaged in most other occupations I know," Sriraman said. "While each occupation has its value to society, the teaching profession is one that gives best expression to who I am, what I believe and enjoy doing. In particular, I have found great fulfillment in making science and math based engineering and technology courses that tend to be abstract and analytical, practically relevant and interesting to students.

"It is my teaching that drives the rest of the academic activities that I undertake," he said. "My engagement in research, service and outreach are driven by my teaching requirements and in turn inform and constantly improve my teaching."

A member of the Texas State faculty since 1991, Sriraman began as an assistant professor in the Department of Technology and has since held the titles of associate professor, professor and University Distinguished Professor. He developed program proposals that resulted in the establishment of the industrial engineering, electrical engineering and concrete industry management undergraduate degrees at Texas State. He has served as the chair of the Department of Engineering Technology and as an assistant dean in the College of Science. Sriraman has served as the faculty advisor to the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers and the American Foundry Society.

Sriraman adds his Piper Professor designation to a list of prestigious accolades including the Texas State Everette Swinney Teaching Award (2014), the Texas State Distinguished Professor Award (2013), the Texas Association of Schools of Engineering Technology Distinguished Service Award (2004), the Texas State Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching (2000), the National Association of Industrial Technology’s Outstanding Industrial Technology Professor Award (1998) and the Texas State Alumni Association Outstanding Teaching Award of Honor (1996).

"I feel deeply honored to be named a Piper Professor for 2015," Sriraman said. "Our institution has many, many outstanding teachers and Piper Professors, I thus feel humbled in joining this distinguished group of faculty colleagues."

Sriraman is the 21st overall Texas State professor to be named a Piper Professor. Other Texas State Piper Professors have been Emmie Craddock, 1962, history; Robert Galvan, 1968, modern languages; Thomas Brasher, 1970, English; Dan Farlow, 1975, political science; Clarence Schultz, 1976, sociology; Henrietta Avent, 1979, health and physical education; Robert Walts, 1982, English; Beverly Chiodo, 1988, computer information systems and administrative sciences; Barbara Hatcher, 1993, curriculum and instruction; Michael John Hennessy, 2001, English; Nancy Fehl Chavkin, 2002, social work; Paul Nathan Cohen, 2003, English; James David Bell, 2004, business; Byron Dale Augustin, 2005, geography; Christopher Frost, 2006, psychology; James Housefield, 2007, art history; Brock Brown, 2008, geography; Max Warshauer, 2010, mathematics; Steven Furney, 2012, health and human performance; and Kenneth Margerison, 2013, history.