Tufts alumnus named to National Academy of Engineering

Tufts alum Glenn Bell, E74, E06P, E08P, was recently named a Fellow of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), an honor that is widely considered one of the highest professional distinctions in engineering. According to the NAE, Bell was recognized “for creativity in building design, advancing forensic engineering, and innovation in engineering education.”

Bell graduated from Tufts in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He earned his master’s degree in structural engineering and structural mechanics at the University of California, Berkeley. Most of his career was spent working at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc., where he was first hired as an intern and advanced to CEO over the 45 years that he spent with the company.

From 1995 – 2016, he served as CEO of the organization, and he was the Board Chairman from 2015 – 2018, leading the company through significant growth during his tenure. After retiring from the company in 2020, he took a position at the National Institute Standards of Technology (NIST), where he currently works as a research civil engineer.

In addition to being a Fellow of the NAE, Bell is also a Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a member of the National Academy of Construction, among other prestigious accolades. He has held several prominent positions including serving as President of the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute, Director of Confidential Reporting on Structural Safety - US, and a member of the board of directors of the Charles Pankow Foundation.