The Cockrell School of Engineering celebrated the lives and legacies of three of its former deans — Herbert Woodson, Earnest Gloyna and John McKetta Jr. — extraordinary leaders who passed away this winter. The three succeeded each other in the role of dean between 1963 and 1996, serving as the college’s fourth, fifth and sixth deans — John McKetta Jr., 1963-1970; Earnest Gloyna, 1970-1986; Herbert Woodson, 1986-1996.
The three were giants in their fields, and many significant milestones were experienced during their three decades of leadership — the school’s Women in Engineering and Equal Opportunity in Engineering programs were established; three buildings on the engineering campus were constructed; the biomedical engineering program was created; and engineering students, faculty and research initiatives grew significantly, contributing to the prestige of the overall Texas Engineering education.
Learn more about their lives and the legacies of leadership, forward-thinking and service to others that they leave in the Cockrell School:
Herbert H. Woodson joined the UT Austin faculty in 1971. He served as acting dean of engineering from 1987 to 1988, after which he was appointed the college’s sixth dean. He showed a tremendous dedication to the College of Engineering by creating the Women in Engineering Program and recruiting the best and brightest faculty members, many of whom are leaders in the Cockrell School today.
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Earnest F. Gloyna joined the UT Austin faculty as an assistant professor in 1949, serving as dean from 1970 to 1987. With a dream for UT’s engineering school to serve as a model for the development of other engineering institutions in the United States, Gloyna spearheaded the construction of Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall, the Engineering Teaching Center II and the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Building; dramatically expanded research initiatives within engineering; encouraged a focus on developing student leaders; and launched the school’s Equal Opportunity in Engineering Program, thus setting the precedent for engineering schools nationwide.
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John J. McKetta Jr. joined the chemical engineering faculty at UT Austin in 1946. During his 70-year career with UT, he served as executive vice chancellor of The University of Texas System, dean of engineering and chair of the chemical engineering department three separate times. He is widely known for his teaching and research in chemical engineering, having received countless awards and recognitions, but he will be most remembered for his dedication to students and his enthusiasm for life — and that great, contagious smile.
