Dr. Reggie DesRoches, associate chair and professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), has been named a Dean’s Professor of the College of Engineering (CoE) at Georgia Tech. According to Don Giddens, former dean of the College of Engineering, "The designation of Dean's Professor is rare and is intended to honor young, up and coming full professors who are rising stars. Reggie's outstanding work in earthquake engineering and seismic design; his humanitarian efforts following the earthquake in Haiti and other regions; and his exceptional level of teaching and research make him extremely worthy of this honor."

Criteria for the designation of Dean's Professor include outstanding scholarship, dedication to education, and excellence in service at institutional and national/international levels. Special considerations are given to those who exhibit a commitment to applications of engineering to improve society. Nominations are provided by CoE school chairs, and an ad hoc committee is appointed to evaluate the credentials of the nominee and to make a recommendation to the dean. DesRoches was nominated by Dr. Joe Hughes, CEE school chair. The designation carries with it an annual discretionary fund for a five year period and is for the purpose of enhancing professional development

DesRoches' primary research interests are design of buildings and critical infrastructure under earthquake engineering, seismic risk assessment of lifeline systems, and application of innovative materials in rehabilitation of structures. He has been a key technical leader in the U.S. response to the 2010 Haiti Earthquake.  DesRoches has taken eight trips to Haiti since the earthquake, including a trip where he led a group of 28 engineers, architects, city planners, and social scientists, to study the impact of the earthquake with the goal of informing the Haitian government on effective ways to rebuild Haiti to be more resilient and sustainable. He has published over 180 articles in the general area of structural and earthquake engineering. 

DesRoches has served as Chair of the ASCE Seismic Effects Committee (2006-2010), and Chair of the executive committee of the Technical Council on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering (2010).  He is currently a member of the executive committee of the National Academy of Sciences Disasters Roundtable, and is on the Board for the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI). DesRoches was a recipient of the 2001 NSF CAREER Award, and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in 2002.  The PECASE award is the highest honor bestowed upon scientists and engineers in the early stages of their careers.  

DesRoches was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and grew up in Queens, NY.  He earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Master’s of Science in Civil Engineering, and PhD in Structural Engineering – all at the University of California, Berkeley.