June 20, 2011
Baltimore, MD - An esteemed member of the ABET community, Robert M. Laurenson, III, P.E., lost his battle with cancer on Thursday, June 9, 2011. At the time of his death, Mr. Laurenson was a representative director from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) on the ABET Board of Directors.
Mr. Laurenson's involvement with ABET began when he volunteered as a mechanical engineering program evaluator in 1985. He became a member of ABET's Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) and chaired EAC for the 2005-2006 accreditation cycle. In addition, Mr. Laurenson played a pivotal role in improving and implementing ABET volunteer recruitment and selection practices during the organization's Partnership to Advance Volunteer Excellence (PAVE) initiative. Mr. Laurenson was recognized for these contributions when he was inducted as an ABET Fellow in 2008. He became a member of the ABET Board in 2010.
Mr. Laurenson had a 37-year career with The Boeing Company, working in areas such as structures engineering, systems engineering, and engineering management. His last position was General Manager of Boeing's Engineering Service Division in Seabrook, Md. After his retirement in February 1999, Mr. Laurenson served as a consultant to ASME and to numerous engineering firms around Washington, D.C.
Contributions in Mr. Laurenson's name may be made to:
St. Paul's Anglican Church
P.O. Box 380
Crownsville, MD 21032
or to the:
Salvation Army
P.O. Box 21787,
St. Louis, MO 63109
Please use the designation "Joplin Tornado."
About ABET
ABET, the recognized accreditor for college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology, is a federation of 31 professional and technical societies representing these fields. Among the most respected accreditation organizations in the U.S., ABET has provided leadership and quality assurance in higher education for more than 75 years.
ABET currently accredits over 3,000 programs at more than 600 colleges and universities worldwide. More than 2,000 dedicated volunteers participate annually in ABET activities. ABET also provides leadership internationally through workshops, memoranda of understanding, and mutual recognition agreements, such as the Washington Accord. ABET is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.