John Prados

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Prados

John Prados

Professor Emeritus, Chemical Engineering, the University of Tennessee

Education

  • B.S. 1951 Chemical Engineering, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • M.S. 1954 Chemical Engineering, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • Ph.D. 1957 Chemical Engineering, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

John Prados was named the 2010 Nathan W. Dougherty award recipient by the UT Knoxville Tickle College of Engineering at the college’s Faculty and Staff Awards Dinner on April 22, 2010.

During his distinguished career at UT, which spans more than five decades, Prados served the University of Tennessee as professor and head in the Department of Chemical Engineering, as Associate Dean of Engineering, Dean of Admissions and Records, Acting Chancellor of both the Knoxville and Martin campuses and Acting Director of Energy Conversion Programs at the UT Space Institute. He also was named Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research of the statewide University of Tennessee system and served in that role from 1973 through 1988. In 1997, he received the coveted Macebearer Award, UT’s highest faculty honor.

Noted for his intellectual vigor and national leadership in engineering education, his professional influence has been felt far beyond the state of Tennessee. Prados is a Fellow of AIChE, ABET and ASEE and is a registered professional engineer (retired) in Tennessee. He received ABET’s highest recognition for services to engineering education, the L.E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award, in 1993. He also received the James T. Rogers Award of the Commission on Colleges in 2004, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, for outstanding leadership in regional accreditation; and the Lifetime Achievement Award in Chemical Engineering Pedagogy from the ASEE Chemical Engineering Division in 2007. He served at the National Science Foundation (NSF) from 1994-1997 as Senior Education Associate in the Engineering Directorate. Prados has also been a consultant to industry, government and more than 30 universities and state education agencies in the United States and abroad.

In 2009, Prados received the Benjamin Garver Lamme Award from ASEE. Established in 1928, the honor recognizes excellence in teaching, contributions to research and technical literature and achievements that advance the profession of engineering college administration.

Prados was recognized for 50 years of combined service to the University of Tennessee, ASEE, ABET, NSF and to the nation and the world for his leadership in engineering education reform and innovation.