President Viets named Milwaukee Rotary Person of the Year
| Published: 05/25/2005 |
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The Rotary Club of Milwaukee Tuesday named Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) President Hermann Viets, Ph.D., the 2005 Rotary Person of the Year. The award recognizes individuals who, through their profession, have made the community a better place to live and work and have made contributions in the form of important leadership activities or in the advancement of ideas, products or services. Viets' contributions and accomplishments during his 14 years as president of MSOE, certainly makes him a worthy recipient.
According to the Rotary: "By pursuing his vocation as a leader in the field of higher education, Dr. Viets has provided his fellow Milwaukeeans with a stellar educational institution in which all of us can take deep pride."
The purpose of this award is to highlight: high ethical standards in business and the professions; worthiness and usefulness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his/her occupation as an opportunity to serve society. The award focuses on the contribution made through one's profession, not through civic and charitable efforts.
Dr. Viets, MSOE's fourth president in its 102-year history, holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in astronautics and an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering. He holds seven American patents. Previous to his inauguration at MSOE, Viets was the dean of engineering at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston.
Dr. Viets' accomplishments have focused on broadening the university's academic scope while maintaining its applications-oriented philosophy. During his presidency, MSOE has introduced a number of international student exchange programs; created joint, five-year programs resulting in two degrees; and introduced four new M.S. programs and two new B.S. programs, including a School of Nursing. The physical campus has been enhanced under his tutelage, including the recently opened Kern Center, MSOE's first new athletics and health center in its history.