The Highest Honor

University of Michigan Engineering counts 35 living NAE members among its ranks, and The Michigan Engineer has undertaken a multi-year mission to photograph them.

By:

Marcin Szczepanski

April 2, 2024

Portraits of National Academy of Engineering honorees for 2026 — National Academy of Engineering honorees for 2026

Side by side portraits of National Academy of Engineering winners for 2025: Elizabeth Holm, (left) and Nicholas Kotov (right). — Two New Inductees (2025)

Standing on a walkway that spans a small hydroelectric dam, Glen Daigger smiles up toward an aerial camera as water cascades down the dam’s spillway. — Glen Daigger

Standing at a workbench in a lab full of equipment and cables, Shorya Awtar peers intently at a Rubiks Cube-sized mechanical component that he is assembling out of machined metal pieces. Behind him, a whiteboard is filled with mathematical equations. — Shorya Awtar

On a snowy winter day, Donald Winter stands next to the sign for the Naval Architecture and Engineering building on U-M’s North Campus. In front of him is a large ship’s anchor that’s on display, its iron crosspiece taller than he is. — Don Winter

Mark Daskin writes mathematical equations on a whiteboard in his office. He is mirrored by a reflection in a window next to the whiteboard. — Mark Daskin

Standing in a lab full of working students, Panos Papalambros smiles at the camera, his hands in the pockets of his khakis. A student in the foreground gives a thumbs-up while two others stand at a workbench with their backs to the camera. — Panos Papalambros

Kamal-Sarabandi standing in an anechoic chamber with sound-absorbing panels, holding a metallic sphere and a triangular object. — Kamal Sarabandi

Ronald Larson drinking from a mug that reads 'Think Beyond Theory' — Ronald Larson

Stephen Forrest working in a laboratory with large scientific machinery. — Stephen Forrest

Prof. Dawn Tilbury poses for a portrait at the Ford Robotics Building at the University of Michigan. — Dawn Tilbury

Ellen Arruda smiles while wearing a U-M football helmet — Ellen Arruda

Alec Gallimore steps outside of a entryway to a chamber — Alec Gallimore

Wallace Hopp stands in front of an illuminated display of a digital human head with circuits and the text "CHAT GPT" in a studio. — Wallace Hopp

Pallab Bhattacharya poses with a photograph of a family member — Pallab Bhattacharya

Ken Wise smiles in a portrait close up — Ken Wise

A black and white portrait of John Allison. — John Allison

Daniel Atkins poses with an electric guitar — Daniel Atkins

Donald Chaffin stands behind the wheel of a large boat — Donald Chaffin

Professor Lutgarde “Lut” Raskin stands alongside a group of people standing on a walkway at a water treatment facility, surrounded by large circular tanks. — Lutgarde Raskin

In Memoriam

Remembering late Michigan Engineering NAE members, leaders in their field who have passed away.

Lynn Conway sits on a bench outdoors on campus. — In remembrance of Lynn Conway, 1938 – 2024

Ralph Yang stands behind a glass door with "Department of Chemical Engineering" written on it. — In remembrance of Ralph Yang, 1943 – 2026

Explore more of the National Academy of Engineering digital feature.

Media Contact

Marcin Szczepanski

Lead Multimedia Storyteller

[email protected]