SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON

N. Bruce Hanes, 1954 Engineer, Professor

Professor Emeritus Norman “Bruce “ Hanes has dedicated his career to educating future engineers, serving various organizations to help forward his profession and acting as an approachable mentor to students. The Minot, N.D., native graduated from Minot High School in 1950. After two years at Minot State Teachers College, he transferred to North Dakota State University, where he became a member of the 1953-54 SAE pledge class. In the summertime, he worked as an engineer with the Corps of Engineers. He graduated from NDSU in 1954 with a bachelor’s of civil engineering degree, before relocating to Wisconsin to work as an engineer for the City of Milwaukee. He then was accepted into graduate school at the University of Wisconsin.

 

Bruce left school to marry Lou Hanson, but later returned and completed his graduate degree in environmental engineering. He joined the faculty of Tufts University in 1961 and remained there until 1993, when he retired as professor and department chair. While at Tufts, Bruce produced more than 30 publications on environmental health engineering, and testified before multiple Congressional committees as an advocate for the Academic Education of Environmental Control Specialists. He also has been active in many organizations. He was former president of the Association of Environmental Engineering Professors, a former member of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology, former president of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and former chairman of the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. He also was an elected member of the Conservation Commission and the Board of Health, both in Winchester, Mass., and prepared civil service exams for the State of Massachusetts. 

 

The person who nominated Bruce for Hall of Fame induction pointed out how he has “long contributed to the greater engineering community in both civic and educational capacity. His 32-year career in teaching and research at Tufts University ran parallel to his leadership roles in professional organizations. “Bruce also was known for his accessibility to students. He always maintained an open-door policy to his students both while teaching and as department chairman, “ reads his nomination. “He also provided his personal home phone number to his students in case of trouble or personal problems. “ He has received numerous awards for his professional contributions, including the Seymour S. Simches Award for Distinguished Teaching and Advising in 1992 and the College of Engineering Centennial Award for Distinguished Professional Service in 1994. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi, an engineering honor society, and Sigma Xi, a scientific research society. Bruce and his wife, Dorothea, live in Gibsonville, N.C., where he runs an antique business, Dadsfollie ( www.Dadsfollie.com). Bruce has five children.