Finley Charney, professor of civil and environmental engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The emeritus title may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors, and administrative officers who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.

A member of the Virginia Tech faculty since 2001, Charney made significant contributions to the field of civil engineering through his work in the general area of structural engineering in the specific areas of structural analysis, structural behavior, seismic engineering, and wind engineering.

Charney contributed to a variety of activities in seismic and wind hazard mitigation in association with the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. His scholarship has been recognized by the Raymond C. Reese Award of the American Concrete Institute, and he was named a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a Fellow of the Structural Engineering Institute.

In the classroom, Charney developed and taught both undergraduate and graduate courses, including courses on structural analysis for undergraduate students and courses on structural analysis, seismic engineering, wind engineering, and structural dynamics for graduate students. In addition, he was the advisor for 10 Ph.D. students and 35 master’s degree students. 

Charney received a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Texas, Austin, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

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