Geoffrey C. Orsak, PhD has been called one of this nation’s key leaders in engineering research and education and its impact on economic development and global competitiveness. The editors of EDN – a leading international publication for the fields of engineering design and innovation wrote that Dr. Orsak is “one of the brightest minds in the world in engineering education”. And in 2006, the editors of EE Times magazine called him a “true pioneer and visionary” and named him their first ever Educator of the Year in engineering and science.
In his professional roles as Dean of the Southern Methodist University School of Engineering and Executive Director of the federally funded Caruth Institute for Engineering Education, Dr. Orsak has led the school to national prominence through a clear focus on engineering leadership while also founding and creating a number of nationally recognized programs, including The Infinity Project and Visioneering, that today reach millions of students across our country with innovative engineering curricula and educational experiences.
A noted scholar and expert in communications, signal processing, and information theory, he has been the lead researcher on approximately thirty projects funded by public and private grants and contracts. Dr. Orsak is a Fellow of the IEEE and is the recipient of the 2001 KPMG High Tech Award. In addition, he recently completed service on a National Academy of Engineering blue ribbon panel evaluating the Marine Corps’ science and technology programs and has in the past served as a DoD Science and Engineering Advisor through his participation on the Defense Science Study Group sponsored by the Institute for Defense Analysis.
Dr. Orsak is a frequent contributor to national and regional media stories as well as op-ed articles on advances in engineering, math and science education, and economic development - having been featured in over 150 newspaper and magazine articles and TV and radio spots in outlets including US News and World Report, TheChronicle of Higher Education, Associated Press, Dallas Morning News, Washington Post, National Public Radio, Austin American Statesman, San Antonio Express News, ABC, CBS, Fox, and TXCN amongst others.
Dr. Orsak has served on a number of international, national, and state boards including service as a Trustee of Southwest Research Institute, a member of the Texas State Strategy Group on Advanced Technology, the IEEE Educational Activities Board, the Executive Committee of the Texas Engineering and Technical Consortium, and the Advisory Committee of Texas State Board of Educator Certification. As part of his community efforts, today he serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the da Vinci School and on the Dallas Assembly.
Geoffrey Orsak received his B.S.E.E., M.E.E., and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Rice University.
