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Frankel Retires After 26 Years at UT; Named Department Head at New Mexico State University-Las Cruces

Jay FrankelProfessor Jay Frankel will officially retire from the university on February 29 after more than 26 years of research, teaching, and service. On March 1, he begins his new position as Department Head and R. Myers Endowed Professor of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.

Frankel began his career at UT in 1993 as an associate professor in the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering, which is now MABE. During his tenure, he taught many classes including engineering analysis, advanced engineering analysis, and advanced topics in thermal and fluid science.

He is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA, recipient of two AIAA TN awards, and is well-known in the aerospace community.

His research in heat transfer, applied mathematics, and data reduction led to him receiving ten NSF grants as PI supporting his efforts. He has also received grants and contracts from NASA, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Sandia National Laboratories, the US Department of Energy, Defense Nuclear Agency, Defense Special Weapons Agency and others over the years. He has consulted with Arnold Engineering Development Complex on arc-jets data reduction; AFRL, NASA, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on the HTV-2 Falcon Remediation; and AFRL’S Small Business Innovation Research program for the Airborne Laser program.

Frankel has more than 145 publications, published in 32 different peer review journals, and served as a reviewer to more than 36 journals involving engineering, mathematics, and physics. He has also presented 73 invited domestic and international seminars, and has one US patent.

Over the span of his professional career of 34 years, teaching students, working with the staff, and collaborating with faculty has led to creative endeavors and brought Frankel great personal satisfaction.  He greatly appreciates and treasurers the close friendships he has built with his peers, the staff, and students while at UT.

Frankel, known for his sense of humor, patience, humanity, and professionalism will be missed by everyone in the MABE department.

A retirement celebration will be held in his honor on February 14 at The Sunsphere.