Distinguished faculty chairholders like Dr. John Sutherland attract outstanding students, stimulate innovative, leading-edge research, and serve as mentors to young faculty.

The Richard W. and Elizabeth A. Henes Chair Professor in Mechanical Engineering was established in January 2002. Richard, a Menominee, Michigan native, graduated from Michigan Tech in 1948 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, and in 1951, earned a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Elizabeth is a native of Peshtigo, Wisconsin.

Richard Henes started Henes Stamping Inc. in 1958 in Phoenix, Arizona. He also served as president of Henes Manufacturing Company and the Henes Products Company. Residents of Arizona since the early 1950s, Richard and Elizabeth are valued long-time Michigan Tech supporters.

John W. Sutherland appointed Henes Chair Professor The Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics is pleased to announce the appointment of John W. Sutherland, PhD, to the Richard and Elizabeth Henes Chair Professor.

Dr. Sutherland joined ME-EM in 1991. His teaching interests have included manufacturing processes, environmentally responsible manufacturing, and statistical methods for quality and productivity improvement. He has served as an investigator on $10 million in research grants and has mentored nearly fifty students to the completion of their graduate degrees. He has published more than 150 papers in various journals and conference proceedings and is co-author of the widely used textbook, Statistical Quality Design and Control.

Dr. Sutherland holds leadership positions within ASME and SME. He was the recipient of SME’s Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award and Michigan Tech’s Distinguished Teaching Awardin 1992, NSF Career Award in 1995 and a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineersin 1996. He was selected for an SAE Teetor Awardin 1999 and the MTU Research Award in 2000. Prior to his appointment to the Richard and Elizabeth Henes Chair Professor, Dr. Sutherland served as associate department chair and director of graduate studies.