George A. Hagedorn, professor of mathematics in the College of Science 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 Timothy Sands. 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 1980, Hagedorn’s scholarship contributed to the understanding of mathematics, physics, and chemistry through his work on semi classical analysis of molecular dynamics.

His research received 32 years of National Science Foundation funding. He published more than 70 papers and presented his work in more than 100 talks in 18 countries on five continents.

He was nominated for the American Physical Society’s Dannie Heineman Prize in Mathematical Physics which recognizes outstanding publications in the field of mathematical physics.

At Virginia Tech, Hagedorn was the director of the Center for Statistical Mechanics and Mathematical Physics and later as the director of the Center for Statistical Mechanics, Mathematical Physics, and Theoretical Chemistry.

In the classroom, Hagedorn taught a wide variety of both undergraduate and graduate level courses.

Hagedorn received his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from Princeton 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.

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