MSU graduate school dean receives international honor

��APP Associate Vice President and Dean of the Graduate School Lori Mann Bruce. (Photo by Beth Wynn)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—��APP Graduate School Dean Lori Mann Bruce is among a select international group named distinguished lecturers by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Bruce, who also is a Giles Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been designated as an expert in the areas of remote sensing, image processing, unmanned aerial vehicles and precision agriculture. According to the IEEE, distinguished lecturers such as Bruce are engineering professionals who help lead their fields in new technical developments that shape the global community. Bruce was given the distinguished lecturer honor by the IEEE’s Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society.

“To be recognized by your peers worldwide as a leading expert in the field of electrical engineering is a significant accomplishment,” MSU Provost and Executive Vice President Judy L. Bonner said. “We are so proud to see Dr. Bruce receive this recognition.”

As a distinguished lecturer, Bruce will be requested for speaking engagements throughout the international community. She said she looks forward to representing and promoting MSU across the world during her three-year term.

Out of 12 distinguished lecturers in her group, Bruce is the only woman. The group includes five American engineers, as well as engineers from Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Italy, Japan and Spain. The IEEE has an international membership of more than 400,000 engineering researchers and professionals from more than 150 countries.

“As an IEEE distinguished lecturer, I serve the engineering community by traveling nationally and internationally to speak to IEEE professional and student chapters, as well as industry consortia and the like,” Bruce said. “As a university, MSU has a great reputation internationally in the fields of remote sensing, electrical engineering and geosciences. This will help further that international reputation.”

Prior to serving as associate vice president and dean of the graduate school, Bruce was the associate dean for research and graduate studies in MSU’s Bagley College of Engineering. She also has been in leadership positions of two university research centers, working as director of the Raspet Flight Research Center and as associate director of the Geosystems Research Institute.

Bruce’s research accolades include serving as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on more than 20 research grants and contracts with approximately $20 million in funding from federal agencies. Her research in remote sensing for agricultural and environmental applications has been presented across the U.S. and in 15 countries. As a faculty member, she has taught 17 different engineering courses and guided the work of 75 Ph.D. and master’s students.

“When you’re invited to be a distinguished lecturer, it not only means that you’re an expert in you field, it also means they have confidence you can speak to the general public and represent the society professionally, that you can be factual and informative,” Bruce said. “That, to me, is what makes it really special.”

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