Mac Van Valkenburg
Mac Elwyn Van Valkenburg was an American electrical engineer and university professor. He wrote seven textbooks and numerous scientific publications.
Early life and education
Van Valkenburg was born in Union, Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1943 with a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, received a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1946 under the supervision of John G. Trump, and a PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1952, under advisor Oswald Garrison Villard Jr.Career
Van Valkenburg was a professor at the University of Illinois from 1955 to 1966, then joined Princeton University as professor and head of electrical engineering until 1974, when he returned to UIUC. He received an endowed position, the W. W. Grainger Professorship, in 1982, and became Dean of the College of Engineering in 1984.Van Valkenburg was author of seven textbooks and numerous scientific publications. He died in Orem, Utah at the age of 75.
Awards and memberships
- Member of the National Academy of Engineering
- The Lamme Medal, the highest honor of the American Society for Engineering Education
- The IEEE Centennial Medal in 1984
- The George [Westinghouse Award (ASEE)|ASEE George Westinghouse Award]
- The IEEE Education Medal
- Halliburton Engineering Education Leadership Award of the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois.
His PhD students have included:
- Leon O. Chua
- Prof. VGK Murthi
- Franklin Kuo, who was instrumental in the development of the Aloha protocol
- Jose B. Cruz Jr.
- King-Sun Fu
- S. L. Hakimi
- Shlomo Karni
- Steven B. Sample.