James Duderstadt Collegiate Professorship in Nuclear Engineering established
Regents approve new professorship honoring former U-M president and NERS faculty member.
The University of Michigan Regents have approved the establishment of the James Duderstadt Collegiate Professorship in Nuclear Engineering, effective March 1, 2025. The professorship honors James J. Duderstadt, a pioneering nuclear engineer, former NERS faculty member, and the university’s 11th president.
Duderstadt joined U-M’s Nuclear Engineering Department in 1969 and went on to lead the College of Engineering as dean before serving as university president from 1988 to 1996. His legacy includes transformative contributions to nuclear science, engineering education, and institutional innovation.
The first recipient of the James Duderstadt Collegiate Professorship in Nuclear Engineering will be appointed at the May 2025 meeting of the Regents.
Collegiate professorships are among the highest honors bestowed by the university, recognizing faculty who demonstrate outstanding scholarly achievement and leadership. The establishment of this professorship not only honors Duderstadt’s enduring impact on the university and the field of nuclear engineering but also supports the continued excellence of the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences (NERS).
“Professor Jim Duderstadt embodied the finest qualities of a nuclear engineer inspired by the spirit of the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project,” said NERS Chair Todd Allen. “He was an exceptional scientist, a visionary leader, a thoughtful historian of his field, and a builder of enduring institutions. I hope this Professorship inspires its holder—and our entire department—to continually strive toward the standard of excellence Jim set throughout his remarkable career.”