Professor Joseph B. Hughes is stepping down from his position as chair of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), effective October 15, College of Engineering Dean Gary May announced Thursday.

Hughes, who has served as chair since 2003, will be returning to the faculty. After a thorough search and a recommendation from a faculty committee, Hughes will assume the Howard T. Tellepsen Endowed Chair in CEE.  

“We are all deeply grateful to him for his many years of extraordinary service to the school and the college,” May said.

An interim chair of CEE will be appointed and a national search for a new chair will commence soon, May said. 

Hughes has garnered numerous awards and honors while at Georgia Tech including the Walter P. Huber Research Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineering, the McKee Medal from the Water Environment Federation and the CH2MHill Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award, as advisor, by the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors.

The Tellepsen Chair was established to reward an individual who demonstrates commitment to students, values education, has a strong record of scholarly achievement and is dedicated to serving others.

“Joe is certainly a deserving individual to hold this prestigious chair,” May said.