Jacky C. Prucz

Dr. Jacky C. Prucz began his career as a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at West Virginia University (WVU) in 1985, and he has recently retired from WVU in 2022. He has served as Associate Chair and Graduate Program Director from 2002 to 2009, a position in which he has strengthened both the enrolment and the quality of all MAE graduate programs through pro-active recruiting initiatives, by offering additional degree tracks, as well as enforcing consistently updated admission and graduation requirements at all levels.

Dr. Prucz was appointed as Interim Chair of the MAE Department in 2009, and as department Chair in 2011, following a national search for this position. As department Chair, he has provided steady, effective and visionary leadership by maintaining and even raising the standards of excellence in all mission areas of education, research and outreach, despite budgetary constraints, management challenges, and the pandemic. These high levels of quality are reflected, for example, in two consecutive cycles of accreditation without any shortcoming of the undergraduate programs in both aerospace and mechanical engineering, as well as two consecutive designations as “Programs of Excellence” of all the educational programs offered by the MAE Department. During the 2009-2022 period, about 30 new faculty members have joined the MAE Department, of which not fewer than 20 in tenure-track positions. The research expenditures and the undergraduate enrollment have reached peak levels, a new graduate program in Materials Science and Engineering has been established both at the M.S. and Ph.D. levels, while the partnership with the external constituencies of the department has strengthened significantly.

Dr. Prucz earned both a bachelor’s degree (1972) and master’s degree (1979) in aeronautical engineering from the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion). In addition, he received his Ph.D. degree (1985) in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Currently, Dr. Prucz lives in Allison Park, Pennsylvania, and is enjoying his retirement by traveling and spending overdue time with the family.