Jeffrey A. Roux
University of Mississippi
Presenting in Track 10: Engineering Education
Presentation Title: What are we investing in? Laying A Strong Foundation is a Key to Our Future Success in Engineering Education
Abstract: ASME Life Fellow with five decades of engineering excellence under his belt, Dr. Jeffrey A. Roux, presents a candid blueprint for engineering students and faculty to be ready to tackle challenges of the 21st century and solve them with a holistic approach. While Dr. Roux has built a legacy through developing many successful engineers in various fields, he points out the importance of engineering students taking their four years of engineering education seriously recognizing it is going to affect 50 years of their future in significant contribution to the field and society. He would strongly advise students to enhance their success through a co-op program sandwiched between lower and upper levels of their four-year degree as that five-year investment prepares them fully ready for an excellent engineering career. He would like students to become ASME members early and be exposed to many opportunities the society provides. Dr. Roux would like them to be lifelong learners. He insists that educators must have the passion to teach, interact and build the students along their academic journey. He stresses the importance of hard work, communication and interpersonal skillset in addition to the technical depth, and his characteristic advice on persistence to "hang in there". It is a rare treat that ASME Engineering Education track plenary will reminisce the wisdom of a proven statesman in our profession who does not sit on his laurels or legacy but reminds adherence to laying a sure foundation which lends to outstanding results that will benefit many stakeholders. Citing examples from scores of funded projects, Dr. Roux will lay out the blueprint for the characteristics that are critical for our future engagement and success.
Biography: Dr. Jeffrey A. Roux, a New Orleans native, earned his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Tennessee. After a decade-long professional career in central Tennessee, he came to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) as an associate professor of mechanical engineering in 1980, became full professor in 1985 and served as Chair for 21 years. Dr. Roux built a solid foundation for the mechanical engineering department at Ole Miss and served it with excellence till his retirement in 2020. Among Roux’s achievements are the Society of Automotive Engineers’ Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award, the ASME Meritorious Service Award for Region IX and the Burlington Northern Faculty Achievement Award for Teaching and Scholarship. Within the university, Roux has received the Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Department Teacher Award six times and the School of Engineering Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year Award four times. A registered professional engineer in Mississippi since 1987, he is both an ASME Life Fellow and an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Fellow. Dr. Roux’s research interests are in the thermal sciences within mechanical engineering. A prolific author and scholarly researcher, Roux has published 150 papers and peer-reviewed journal articles over his career of five decades. He worked on 28 externally funded research projects. He had advised 8 Ph.D. and 40 master’s students who are making significant contributions in engineering across the globe. He is remembered as a stellar teacher by the many undergraduate students and the graduate students he has taught. Professor Emeritus Roux and his wife Cindy (who passed away in 2013) have three adult children who earned degrees from Ole Miss and so are his eight grandchildren having graduated or will graduate at some point from the University of Mississippi.