updated February 19, 2009

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has bestowed the first Samuel F. Hulbert Faculty Chair in Biomedical Engineering to Glen A. Livesay, associate professor of applied biology and biomedical engineering. The award recognizes Hulbert’s career contributions as an inspirational educator and biomedical pioneer.

First Hulbert Faculty Chair: Glen A. Livesay (middle), associate professor of applied biology and biomedical engineering, is the first professor to receive the Samuel F. Hulbert Faculty Chair in Biomedical Engineering, honoring the career contributions of the former college president (left). Current Rose-Hulman President Gerald S. Jakubowski made the formal announcement during a campus luncheon.

The announcement came as Hulbert returned to Rose-Hulman to participate in a special presentation on visionary leadership, with biomedical engineering pioneer Bill Cook, founder of the Cook Group of Bloomington, Ind. The event, which drew a standing-room-only crowd of students, faculty, staff and community leaders was organized by Rose-Hulman's Leadership Academy, started last summer to develop students into future leaders, as part of National Engineers Week.

Hulbert served as Rose-Hulman’s 11th president from 1976 to 2004. During Hulbert’s tenure, the college emerged as a national leader in undergraduate engineering, science and mathematics education. He is recognized worldwide as a leader in the use of ceramics to create artificial knees, hips and dental prostheses. His career has included teaching, educational administration and serving as principal investigator on several major research projects.

“Samuel Hulbert’s name is synonymous with Rose-Hulman and biomedical engineering, and thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, this innovative educator will continue to influence future generations of biomedical engineering professors and students,” stated Rose-Hulman President Gerald S. Jakubowski. “Endowed faculty chairs are significant for any college, but the person that we’re recognizing with this honor makes this such a special honor.”

The Samuel F. Hulbert Faculty Chair in Biomedical Engineering will honor an applied biology and biomedical engineering faculty member with a distinguished career in teaching and research. The holder of the chair will receive a summer stipend, plus professional development funds to cover summer undergraduate research assistant stipends, equipment, supplies and travel. The chair will be reappointed every three years through a competitive selection process.

Glen A. Livesay has been a member of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology faculty since 2004.

The inaugural recipient, Glen A. Livesay, has been a member of the Rose-Hulman faculty since 2004. Previously he was assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Tulane University, where Hulbert once served as dean of engineering.

“Samuel Hulbert was known for fanning the flames of undergraduate students’ interests in biomedical engineering through his passion for teaching and research, and I feel very fortunate to be able, in a small way, to continue that legacy at Rose-Hulman,” stated Livesay. “As someone who values Samuel Hulbert’s standing in the biomedical engineering profession, I’m deeply honored to receive this professional and personal recognition.”

Assisted by three undergraduate students each year, Livesay will pursue research in three specific areas: To characterize microstructural changes (fiber orientation, crimp, regional variation in modulus) near the soft tissue insertions to bone of two primary knee ligaments; to characterize the macroscopic, multidirectional functional response of soft tissue insertions to bone of two primary knee ligaments; and to characterize mechanical properties of collagen fibers of various cross-sectional shapes, and evaluate the fiber-matrix interactions of these collagen fibers embedded in collagen gels. He plans to involve students in fundamental, yet currently relevant, research.

Livesay has authored or co-authored 48 peer-reviewed publications, 10 book chapters and 110 abstracts and presentations. He specializes in orthopaedic biomechanics, continuum mechanics and engineering education. He served as a Fellow for the National Effective Teaching Institute of the American Society of Engineering Education’s (ASEE) Educational and Research Methods Division and is presently a member of the Board of Directors of the ASEE’s Design in Engineering Education Division. He has advised 37 students on their year-long research thesis projects, 31 at Tulane and six at Rose-Hulman.

Faculty Supporter: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology President Gerald S. Jakubowski thanked Bill Cook, founder of the Cook Group of Bloomington, Ind., for supporting the establishment of the Samuel F. Hulbert Chair in Biomedical Engineering to support educational endeavors on campus. Cook has been a longtime friend of Hulbert and Rose-Hulman.

Livesay earned his doctorate degree in civil engineering (structures/biomechanics) from the University of Pittsburgh in 1996, a master’s degree in applied mechanics/engineering sciences (bioengineering) from the University of California-San Diego in 1990, a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1989, and a bachelor’s degree in engineering (biostructural mechanics) from UCLA in 1988.

Livesay’s wife, Kay C Dee, is a professor of applied biology and biomedical engineering at Rose-Hulman.

Endowed faculty chairs are significant for any higher education institution, showcasing the quality of its faculty and the commitment of its alumni and other financial donors to the college’s educational mission, Jakubowski stated.

“While the Institute benefits from this endowed faculty chair, our students ultimately reap the benefits –- from being exposed to such great teachers, as Glen Livesay, and the opportunities for undergraduate research and discovery,” the president said.

The Samuel F. Hulbert Chair in Biomedical Engineering is the second endowed faculty chair at Rose-Hulman. James McKinney is the Roland Hutchins Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering.

Supporting the establishment of the endowed faculty chair were James Baumgardt, Charles Boesenberg, Jack Bokros, Robert Compton, William Cook, Anton Hulman George Jr., Guidant Foundation, David Jones, Medtronic Foundation, Niles Noblitt, Jack Ragle, George Rapp, J. Lewis Stoelting, John Titsworth, Richard Treharne, Alexander Vogl and Dennert Ware.

Visionary Leaders: Former Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology President Samuel F. Hulbert (middle) joined biomedical engineering pioneer Bill Cook, founder of the Cook Group, in making a campus presentation on visionary leadership on Thursday. Later, Rose-Hulman presented the first Samuel F. Hulbert Faculty Chair in Biomedical Engineering. Biomedical engineering alumnus Stefani Meyer, a former student body president, moderated the discussion.

Hulbert has been honored by the American and European medical societies for his contributions to biomedical engineering. He is a Fellow in Biomaterials by the Society of Biomaterials, a Fellow in the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and a member of the International Academy of Ceramics. An award in biomaterials at Clemson University is named in Hulbert’s honor, he served as president of the American Association of Independent Technological Universities, and he received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Indiana State University.

Hulbert presided over Rose-Hulman during a period of profound growth and progress. Significant hallmarks included the successful $250 million Vision to be the Best fund-raising campaign, a transition to co-education and increased national prominence through being ranked as the number one college or university that offers the bachelor's or master's degree as its top degree in engineering. The ranking is based on a national survey of deans and senior faculty conducted by U.S. News & World Report.

Hulbert’s resume includes service on many boards such as Medtronic, Indiana Business Modernization and Technology Corporation, the International Center for Telecommunications Technology, Thomas and Skinner Inc., Cook Biotech and Old National Bank.

Hulbert and his wife, Joy, now live in Naples, Fla.