Title: Professor Emeritus
Company: Western Carolina University
Location: Syracuse, New York, United States
Robert D. Adams, PhD, professor emeritus at Western Carolina University, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in engineering.
With over three decades of experience, Dr. Adams has built a distinguished career in education and engineering, specializing in digital signal processing and biomedical applications. He currently serves as professor emeritus at Western Carolina University, a role he has held since 2023. His previous positions at Western Carolina University include associate professor from 2009 to 2023, interim electrical engineer program director from 2019 to 2020, ECET program director from 2007 to 2019, electrical engineer program director from 2009 to 2016, interim department head of engineering and technology from 2013 to 2014, and assistant department head of engineering and technology in 2012. Earlier in his career, he served as an assistant professor at Western Carolina University from 2003 to 2007, graduate teaching assistant at The University of Alabama in Huntsville from 1996 to 2001, lecturer at Buffalo State College from 1993 to 1996, research engineer at IIT Research Institute from 1992 to 1993, EMC test engineer at IIT Research Institute from 1988 to 1991, space systems database engineer at IIT Research Institute from 1983 to 1988, and RF propagation engineer at IIT Research Institute from 1982 to 1983.
Dr. Adams is an active member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a professional association dedicated to advancing technology and innovation in the fields of electrical and electronics engineering through research, education, and standards development, and the American Society of Engineering Educators, a professional organization committed to promoting excellence in engineering and technology education through scholarly research, faculty development, and collaboration among academic institutions and industry. He also dedicated his time to regularly donating blood and contributing to various causes, charities, and universities. In light of his impressive undertakings, he was honored with the Commitment to Excellence Award in 2022, the Distinguished Teaching Award in 2020, and the Student Engagement Award in 2016. Laying a solid educational foundation for these successes, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University in 1982, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 1991, and a PhD in electrical engineering from The University of Alabama at Huntsville in 2004.
Reflecting on his career, Dr. Adams was deeply inspired by his father, a world-renowned engineering professor, which sparked his interest in teaching. Early in his career, he gained experience by tutoring in his 20s and was encouraged by his boss to pursue advanced degrees. He found an opportunity at Western Carolina University, where he started with a teaching assistantship in Alabama until a faculty position became available. He takes great pride in teaching over 30 classes, including project-based electronics, electric circuit design, and product design courses. He also guided graduate students on a thesis related to Parkinson’s disease and led a student team in robotics competitions for a decade, participating in the regional Southeast Con competition. He attributes his success to hard work and a genuine passion for his profession. In the coming years, he plans to continue teaching and incorporating new technology into his classes. He also envisions writing a book on current technology at some point in the future.
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