Jeffrey Connor, associate professor of engineering education in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of associate professor emeritus posthumously by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

Connor died May 23, 2019, following a long illness.

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 1999, Connor made significant contributions to the engineering fundamentals and engineering education programs. He co-developed curriculum in the early part of the engineering plan of study, including 10 hands-on discovery modules and early first-year curricular reform.

Connor also participated in the American Society for Engineering Education First-Year Program Division where he published multiple ASEE papers from 2002 to 2010, as well as an ASEE First Year Engineering Experience paper in 2015.

He led or co-led two of the first large National Science Foundation grants received by the Department of Engineering Education: Bridges to Engineering Education at Virginia Tech and Spiral Curricular Reform.

In the classroom, Connor was dedicated to ensuring that all Virginia Tech first-year engineers had a fundamental understanding of the foundations of engineering. He developed a textbook, "Engineering: A Primer," which was written to help students in their engineering success and intended for Virginia Tech students to access at little to no cost.

He taught thousands of engineering students in a variety of undergraduate courses ranging across the engineering fundamentals and engineering education curricula as well as civil engineering, AutoCad, and surveying.

Connor received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Lowell and a master’s degree from Virginia Tech.

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