A
professor of civil engineering at Texas A&M University and a
research engineer for the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), Rowan is
held in very high regard by both peers and students.
TTI Director C.V. Wootan hails Rowan as "the father of
high-level illumination work. He is the chief proponent of roadway
illumination.
His work done in the late Sixties is now a national
standard."
He also was instrumental in the development of the breakaway sign
technology used internationally today, and he has served in senior level
TTI management positions.
Born,
raised, and educated in Texas, Rowan earned his B.S. in civil
engineering from Texas Tech University in 1957.
He went on to Texas A&M for his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees and
has been a member of the faculty there since 1959.
From1979 to 1989 he served as assistant department head for
undergraduate programs in the civil engineering department.
In this capacity he guided many young professionals through the
maze of the engineering curriculum.
He currently serves on the university's Academic Appeals Panel
and the committee for the College of Engineering Scholarship &
Awards.
His involvement in education is further enhanced by his role in
launching ITE’s educational emphasis, an area of ITE that
continues today.
He
has garnered many faculty citations, including the 1989–90 Zachry
Teaching Excellence Award, for which he was nominated by his students.
He was also named Outstanding Professor in 1985.
He was honored recently by his alma mater when he was named to
the Texas Tech Engineering Hall of Fame.
He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Chi Epsilon, the honorary
engineering societies, and he is the faculty advisor for the student
chapter of Chi Epsilon at Texas A&M.
Since
1981, Neil has served as an expert witness in the areas of highway
design and operations, rail-highway grade crossings and roadway
lighting.
His research on these topics and other areas of highway safety is
well-known across the country, having published more than 25 definitive
papers.
In addition, Neil was active in the development of the continuing
education program in Traffic and Highway engineering for Texas and the
Federal Highway Administration.
In
1978, he was named Transportation Engineer of the Year by the Texas
Section, and he received the Highway Research Board Award in 1973 for a
paper of outstanding merit.
In 1966 he received a Certificate of Commendation from the
National Safety Council for his contributions toward the development of
breakaway sign supports.
Rowan's
chronology of contributions to ITE begins long before his
stint as International President, and continues to this day.
Beginning with his participation at the state level, he had
achieved presidency of the Texas Section by 1973.
In 1975, he was elected to the International Board representing
District 5.
Neil helped to initiate and guide the development of the
Transportation Technician Curriculum of ITE through his
service as a member of the Steering and Advisory Committee.
During his term as international president, Neil initiated the
Institute Voluntary Contributions Program that since 1981 has provided
nearly $250,000 to help fund programs not able to be accomplished within
ITE’s operating budget.
Neil also has been a member of the Philanthropic Advisory
Committee since its formation.
Today, he serves on the Task Force on Transportation Engineering
Education and the Philanthropic Advisory and Steering Committee.
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