THE TSU CoETCS 'MIGHTY 100'

PROFILE OF EXCELLENCE

Dr. Decatur B. Rogers

Dr. Decatur B. Rogers, P.E. is Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. Appointed to this position effective July 1, 1988, he is Dean of a College with four (4) engineering programs (Architectural, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering), Computer Science and a Technology Program. The College of Engineering, a top 10 producer of African American Engineers, is recognized for its research in Environmental Engineering, Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Cyber Security, and Probabilistic Mechanical Design which incorporates optimization, modeling and simulation.

Dr. Rogers began his professional career in 1963 with Grumman Aero-Space Corporation in Bethpage, New York, as a Tool Designer and later as a Thermal Control Engineer with the LEM Thermal Balance Group. His professional experience also includes two (2) summer (1981and 1982) appointments at NASA Goddard Space flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland as a Thermal Engineer in the ASEE-NASA Faculty Fellows Program.

Dr. Rogers began his academic career at Tennessee State University, after receiving the Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering-Thermal Systems Concentration from Vanderbilt University in 1975, as an Assistant Professor and Director of University Planning. He received his B.S. degree from Tennessee State University in Mechanical Engineering and two Masters Degrees from Vanderbilt University in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Management.

He has taught at Federal City College, (now UDC), in Washington, D.C.; did two tenures at Prairie View A&M University, Prairie, Texas; then he went to Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida as Professor of Mechanical Engineering and the first Associate Dean in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. He left that position in 1988 to return to Tennessee State University as Dean of Engineering. Since his return, several new graduate degree programs have been added including, M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer and Information Systems Engineering, and Masters in Biomedical, Environmental and Structural Engineering.

Dr. Rogers has served on numerous local and National committees and boards, including the Metropolitan Government of Nashville Thermal Transfer Corporation, Board of Directors; State of Tennessee Board of Boiler Rules; Applied Engineering Technology Division Advisory Committee,Y-12; Applied Research Laboratory, Board of Directors, The Pennsylvania State University; SECME, Board of Directors and he served on the NASA Return-To-Flight Task Force Technical Group and received The NASA Service Award.

Beyond his technical accomplishments in the area of thermal management of electronic systems, Dr Rogers is most proud of the K-to-Ph.D. pipeline programs established at each university where he has worked and the adoption of Cockrill Elementary School, in Nashville as a significant partner in the pre-college pipeline. Over 4,100 youth have participated in these programs. Sixty-six percent (66%) of the high seniors who participated in these programs have attended college and 46% major in STEM disciplines.