Dayton Engineer

By Cara Stevens, marketing communication intern

Each year, the National Academy of Construction (NAC) elects industry leaders from across the country to become members of the organization. This year, more than 300 nominations were received, and 39 professionals were selected to join the class of 2019, including Dean Eddy Rojas, University of Dayton School of Engineering

The National Academy of Construction is a national organization that honors the best in the construction industry. NAC’s mission is to honor individuals for their distinguished contributions to the industry and to share this reservoir of expertise as a service to the nation. 

The 326 members of the organization have backgrounds as contractors, suppliers, consultants and academics. There are a variety of qualifications in order to become a member of the NAC, but all members have made significant contributions to the effectiveness of the construction industry over several years. Members must be recognized as leaders by their peers, have high levels of integrity, and demonstrate achievement in areas such as education, technology, work process, safety, or cost effectiveness.

On Oct. 24 in Nashville, Tennessee, Rojas joined David Ashley, director of industry relations at the School of Engineering, as a member of this elite organization.  

“He was elected for his significant and creative contributions to advancing construction education through his research, teaching, academic leadership and socially-focused initiatives,” Ashley said. “His selection included recognition of his focus on the Engineering that Matters initiative with its emphasis on social responsibility and the positive impact diverse engineering perspectives can provide society.” 

The "Engineering That Matters" framework focuses on the common good and the impact of engineering with a purpose. 

“Under this framework, engineering students are not merely invited to be agents of change but rather join a profession that expects them to rise to the call,” said Rojas.  

Because of the very nature of membership in NAC, less than 3 percent of members are under the age of 55, making Rojas’ induction all the more impressive. Members of NAC have a responsibility to give back to the construction industry and the community at large with their efforts in this industry.  

Rojas has been dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Dayton since 2014. He holds both master's and doctoral degrees in civil engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He held faculty positions at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY) and the University of Washington before becoming the director of the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.