Dr. Dong Qian, professor of mechanical engineering at The University of Texas at Dallas, has been named a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Honorees, who are nominated by ASME members and fellows, must have 10 or more years of active practice and at least 10 years of active corporate membership in ASME. The distinction has been given to just over 3% of the organization’s more than 90,000 members worldwide.

“I feel like I made one of the best choices of my career to grow within a department at UT Dallas,” said Qian, who also serves as associate head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. “This award is a huge honor, and people throughout my career supported me in the nomination process. The Department of Mechanical Engineering has attracted a number of early career faculty, so as a fellow, I am most excited that I am now in a position to nominate others.”

Dr. Joshua Summers, head of the department, nominated Qian for the honor.

Dr. Dong Qian

“Professor Qian is an incredible colleague,” Summers said. “He seeks to ensure that all others are recognized and supported before thinking inward. Beyond his professional and service contributions, he has made fundamental contributions to the mechanics of nanostructured materials, particularly low-dimensional nanostructures such as fullerene, carbon nanotubes, graphene and MXenes, as well as nanostructured materials such as artificial muscles and composites.”

Qian’s interdisciplinary work encompasses mechanical engineering, physics and nanotechnology. His research interests include nonlinear finite element and mesh-free methods for stress and failure analysis; fatigue and life prediction; surface engineering and residual stress analysis; modeling and simulation of nanoscale materials; and multiscale methods to bridge gaps in spatial or temporal scales.

As an undergraduate in China, Qian studied bridge engineering, an area of civil engineering critical to China’s infrastructure, and he has focused his research on the mechanics of materials over time. He earned a Bachelor of Science in bridge engineering from Tongji University in China, a Master of Science in civil engineering from the University of Missouri and a PhD in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University.

Hinojosa Elected National Trustee on College Board

Raul Hinojosa Jr.

Raul Hinojosa Jr., director of community engagement for The University of Texas at Dallas’ Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, has been elected to the national board of trustees of the College Board, a nonprofit organization focused on college readiness and success initiatives.

Hinojosa was elected to the 31-member board at the organization’s annual meeting in October. His term began Nov. 1 and will end Oct. 31, 2025.

“I am excited to begin this new appointment with education leaders across the country to guide and support the work of the College Board,” Hinojosa said. “I am looking forward to the continued opportunity to work with the organization on its important access and opportunity initiatives supporting students pursuing postsecondary education.”

Hinojosa, who joined UT Dallas in 2008, served on the College Board’s national CSS/Financial Assistance Assembly from November 2017 to October 2020 and previously served on the College Planning Advisory Council, which advised the board on college planning tools for traditionally underrepresented student groups and their families.

Accolades is an occasional News Center feature that highlights recent accomplishments of The University of Texas at Dallas faculty and students. To submit items for consideration, contact your school’s communications manager.