Bruce becomes newest distinguished professor
Lori Bruce and Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Gilbert
The Bagley College of Engineering's associate dean for research and graduate studies has earned the university's highest honorary distinction for faculty.
During an April ceremony, Lori Mann Bruce was named a W.L. Giles Distinguished Professor. Of the university's 1,096 active faculty, only 13 hold this honorary title.
"We are extremely proud of Dr. Bruce for earning this distinction," said Dean Sarah Rajala. "It's a well deserved honor for her noteworthy scholarly contributions, the unrivaled opportunities she provides our engineering students at Mississippi State University, and her dedication to economic development and service to the state."
Bruce came to MSU in 2000 as an assistant professor. She earned full professorship in electrical and computer engineering in 2006, and assumed her current role in the dean's office in 2008. During her time at State, she has completed the Faculty Leadership Program and served as the university's representative to the Southeastern Conference Academic Consortium's Leadership Development Program.
As a faculty member she has taught approximately 45 sections of 17 different courses while earning high evaluations from her students. As an administrator, Bruce has worked to build the BCoE's distance education program. She holds membership in the American Society for Engineering Education, as well as serving as chair-elect for its Engineering Research Council's board of directors, and IEEE, the Society of Women Engineers, the Order of the Engineer, Eta Kappa Nu, Phi Kappa Phi and Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society.
Her research focuses on hyperspectral imaging and remote sensing. In addition to bringing in research funding, supporting students' research, and coordinating the college's research activities, she has served the university's research function as associate director of the Geosystems Research Institute and interim director of the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory.
Bruce earned a bachelor's and doctoral degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Alabama, Huntsville, a master's in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She also has a biomedical engineering certificate from a joint program of the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory Medical School.
The W.L. Giles Distinguished Professors program is named for the university's 13th president. It is earned based on distinguished scholarship as evidenced by a record of outstanding research, teaching, and service and is conferred only on a faculty member at Mississippi State University who has attained national or international status.
Recipients are nominated by their departments or colleges, which must provide evidence of the nominee's excellence in research, teaching and service. Bruce was the only faculty member to earn the honor this year. Six of the 13 active Giles Professors are from the BCoE, the most from any one college at the university.
Susan Lassetter | Bagley College of Engineering
