September 23-24, 2004

ITEM 124-2001-R0904   Authorization to Confer the Title of Professor Emeritus of Engineering Mechanics upon Jimmie D. Dent; Montana State University-Bozeman

THAT:    Upon the occasion of the retirement of Jimmie D. Dent from the faculty of Montana State University, the Board of Regents wishes to express it appreciation for his service to the University, the Montana University System, and the people of the State of Montana.

 

EXPLANATION:       Dr. Dent received his Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics from Montana State University in 1982. Prior to arriving at MSU in 1976, he earned BS and MS degrees in Physics from the University of Montana and worked at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in California. He began work at MSU as a Research Associate advancing to the rank of Instructor in 1978, Assistant Professor in 1983, Associate Professor in 1988, and Professor in 1998.

Dr. Dent has been a mainstay of the Engineering Mechanics faculty at MSU, teaching everything from sophomore level static and dynamics courses to graduate level finite element methods courses. He has been recognized as the Civil Engineering Department's Outstanding Professor of the Year.

With respect to research, Dr. Dent has made significant contributions to the international reputation that MSU has earned in the field of snow and avalanche mechanics. In particular, his work on electrostatic forces in blowing snow, and density, velocity and friction in dry snow avalanches has been recognized and attracted visiting scientists and collaborators from Russia, Japan and Switzerland.

For these and other contributions, the Board of Regents of Higher Education is pleased to confer Jimmie D. Dent the rank of Professor Emeritus of Engineering Mechanics at Montana State University and wishes him well for many years in the future.