Dr. Joshua D. Summers
- Professor of Mechanical Engineering
- Jonsson School Chair
The chair was established anonymously to support the research and scholarly activities of a faculty member in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and is designated for the head of the mechanical engineering department.
“The youth of The University of Texas at Dallas’ mechanical engineering department is attractive because we have an opportunity to make an impact as we continue to grow our collaborative research culture.”
Dr. Joshua D. Summers is a leader in collaborative design, manufacturing and systems science.
Summers joined The University of Texas at Dallas in 2021 as professor and head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. Formed in 2008, the department enrolls more than 1,200 undergraduate and graduate students preparing for careers in industries including energy, biotechnology, defense, automotive and electronics.
Summers’ expertise is in improving design through collaboration and computation. While he has received numerous honors for his research, Summers considers teaching and advising students his greatest accomplishment.
“I like helping people realize their best,” Summers said. “When my students walk across the stage at graduation or are hooded, that communicates that we accomplished and completed something, that they are now prepared to tackle the world.”
Before joining UT Dallas, Summers was professor of mechanical engineering and director of graduate studies at Clemson University, where he also directed or co-directed several research groups and led initiatives to broaden access to higher education during his 19 years on the faculty.
In 2022 Summers and co-principal investigators at UTD received a $1.5 million National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics award to provide financial and academic support to transfer students from low-income backgrounds who want to become engineers and computer scientists through the Improving Transfer Academic, Career and Community Engagement for Student Success in Engineering and Computer Science initiative.
In addition to the NSF, Summers’ research has been supported by the U.S. Army, NASA and industry partners. Summers, an American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) fellow, has been recognized for his leadership in the field through awards including the 2020 ASME Computers and Information in Engineering Division Excellence in Research Award and the 2018 ASME Design Engineering Division Kos Ishii-Toshiba Award. He is a founding member of the North American chapter of The Design Society.
He earned a PhD in mechanical engineering from Arizona State University, and a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri.