Swan honored by Order of Engineers

Chris Swan, Dean of Undergraduate Education in the School of Engineering and Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Tisch College, was recently honored as an Outstanding Link Coordinator by the Order of Engineers. Each year, only four coordinators are selected for this distinction -  one from each of the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and West regions. The award recognizes Link Coordinators who have gone above and beyond in providing service to the Order.

For over 50 years, the Order of the Engineer has established a standard of ethics and dignity for engineers to uphold in their work. As a non-member organization, any graduating engineering student at a participating school can choose to take up the oath and join the order. Members pledge to use their skills to serve humanity and responsibly manage the earth’s natural resources.

Each link, or local chapter of the order, is led by a Link Coordinator who establishes and maintains the link including organizing ring ceremonies and other official business. Swan was initiated into the Order when it was established at Tufts in 1998. Annual inductions at Tufts have since ranged between 12 and 75 student inductees since this initial ceremony, but in the last two years inductees have exceeded 100 students. With hundreds of links nationwide, the organization unites engineers across the country in a common pledge.

Swan joined Tufts in 1994, and currently holds a primary appointment in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a secondary appointment in the Tisch College of Civic Life. In addition to his teaching and research, Swan is deeply involved in many areas of the Tufts community. Throughout his 30-year career at Tufts, he has served several important roles including, Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Curriculum Development, Dean of Undergraduate Education in the School of Engineering, and Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion for the school as well as being a Special Advisor to the Provost on DEIJ Efforts.

His research interests encompass community engagement in engineering education, and geoenvironmental and geotechnical engineering. Through efforts such as maintaining the Order of Engineers link at Tufts, Swan contributes to Tufts School of Engineering’s mission to educate students committed to the innovative and ethical application of science and technology, and empower them to address the most pressing societal needs. Swan’s leadership as Link Coordinator helps to foster an environment in which students are committed to ethical engineering practices, and we congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.