10/20/99
Editors and news editors: Corrects name of the Russ College of Engineering in the first sentence. A photo of Frank Van Graas is available at: http://cscwww.cats.ohiou.edu/news/pix/VanGraas.JPG.
ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University Professor of Engineering Frank van Graas has been appointed the Fritz and Dolores Russ Professorship in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology. Chosen from among the faculty in the college by the dean, each candidate must show leadership contributing to the growth and advancement of the college by outstanding performance and achievement. The Russ Professorship is a five-year appointment which receives a $10,000 yearly grant and travel funds of $2,000 annually.
Van Graas, a professor of electrical engineering and a principal investigator with the Avionics Engineering Center, has been on the faculty at Ohio University since 1988. He is responsible for a Federal Aviation Administration project to develop the next generation of aircraft landing systems scheduled to be installed at 143 airports in the United States. Van Graas has received several awards for his work, including the William E. Jackson Award for distinguished service to The Institute of Navigation and the Johannes Kepler Award for "sustained and significant contributions to satellite navigation" from the Satellite Division of the Institute.
"I intend to use the $2000 travel allowance to make college of engineering better known, especially at the high school level in terms of student recruitment, awareness and what kind of educational programs they can enter," Van Graas said.
Dean of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology Warren K. Wray said Van Graas has brought international recognition to the University.
"Van Graas has truly distinguished himself in aviation and electronics," he said. "His accomplishments in his area of expertise have brought an international reputation to the College."
Van Graas completed a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in electrical engineering with a specialization in avionics at the Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands. He earned a doctorate in electrical engineering from Ohio University in 1988.
