Jesus M. de la Garza honored with emeritus status
Jesus M. de la Garza, Vecellio Professor of Construction Engineering and Management in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of Vecellio Professor Emeritus 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 1988, de la Garza’s scholarship has significantly contributed to the knowledge in numerous areas of construction engineering and highway infrastructure management.
His research was acknowledged by his receipt of numerous major professional awards, including the Peurifoy Construction Research Award and the Richard R. Torrens Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers, being named a Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a Fellow of the Construction Management Association of America, and his induction into the National Academy of Construction. De la Garza was also active in the Construction Industry Institute, which conferred him the Richard L. Tucker Leadership and Service Award.
At Virginia Tech, de la Garza was significantly involved in the formation of the Myers-Lawson School of Construction. In the classroom, he taught thousands of civil engineering students in many areas of construction engineering and management and advised approximately 70 graduate students through their master’s degree and Ph.D. research work. De la Garza also served as director of the Civil Infrastructure Systems program at the National Science Foundation.
De la Garza received his bachelor’s degree from Tecnologico de Monterrey and his master’s degree and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.
