Delayed by Covid-19, Swanson School finally celebrates 2020 Distinguished Alumni in person, on campus
Pictured above from left: John Gargani, David Bucklew, Lloyd Yates, Laura Livingston, James Martin II, Mark Tressler, Andrew Tavakoli, Robert Agbede. (John Altdorfer)
Just as the Office of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement at the Swanson School of Engineering was prepared to announce its 2020 class of Distinguished Alumni and prepare for the annual award banquet's 61st year, the COVID-9 pandemic forced a halt to all campus activities. Last night however after a two-year hiatus, U.S. Steel Dean of Engineering James Martin II finally welcomed the winners at the Swanson School's formal ceremony at the University Club.
“The disruptions and losses of the past two years may have postponed our celebration, but it did not cancel our pride in the 2020 honorees,” Dean Martin said. “This is a tremendous cohort representative of the leadership, dedication, and success of our 30,000-strong global community of Pitt Engineers."
The 2020 Swanson School Distinguished Alumni include:
Swanson School of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus
Lloyd Yates, BSME ’82
President and CEO, NiSource Inc.
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Swanson School of Engineering Inaugural Leader in Entrepreneurship
Andrew Tavakoli, BSEE ’81
Entrepreneur, Real Estate Investor, Philanthropist
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Department of Bioengineering Distinguished Alumnus
John Wainwright, PhD BioE ’10
Vice President, Research & Development, MIVI Neuroscience Inc.
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Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Distinguished Alumnus
John C. Gargani, BSChE ’86
Vice President (retired), Southwestern Energy Company
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Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Distinguished Alumnus
Robert O. Agbede, BSMine ’79, MSMine ’81
University Trustee and Swanson School Board of Visitors Chair
Chairman and CEO, Chester Group Inc. and Chester LNG LLC
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Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Distinguished Alumnus
Mark Tressler, BSEE ’71
Project Executive (retired), Exxon Mobile
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Department of Industrial Engineering Distinguished Alumnus
David K. Bucklew, BSIE ’80
Senior Vice President, North American Sales (retired), Eaton Corporation
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Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Distinguished Alumna
Laura A. Livingston, BSMechE ’81, MSIE ’85
Key Accounts Vice President (retired), Westinghouse
President (retired), WesDyne
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