ABET Fellow Award

About the Award

Every ABET Expert promotes confidence in technical education. But those who truly embrace the power of our work and have a clear impact are named ABET Fellows.

The distinction of ABET Fellow is an honor that recognizes individuals that surpass normal expectation by dedicating notable time and effort to achieving our endeavors.

For his leadership with a purpose-driven, inclusive approach in streamlining processes, strengthening communication and increasing engagement that enhances collaboration among commissions to improve the quality of ABET accreditation.

Dr. Chris Taylor is the Vice Chair of the Dwight and Dian Diercks School of
Advanced Computing, Program Director for the Software Engineering program
housed within the school, and Professor at the Milwaukee School of
Engineering.

He is an enabler who enjoys aligning with others and seeing them succeed. He
is a builder, who likes anticipating needs, building solutions, and, with the
benefit of time, discovering all the ways these solutions can be used
productively. He is a people-person who values who he works with more than
the work that he does. He is a proponent of persuasion who seeks to assert
authority sparingly Taylor is a Fellow of CSAB and currently serves as the Past Chair of the
Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET

For exceptional leadership and transformative contributions to accreditation processes through streamlined procedures, innovative and engaging training methodologies, and unwavering dedication to advancing the quality of engineering technology programs.

Mark Lower is currently a Program Manager/Mechanical Engineer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He is the pressure systems Subject Matter Expert and liaison as part of the operations team for ORNL’s leased technology facilities including the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. He provides technical assistance to the USDOT Office of Pipeline Safety and other USDOE complexes for pressure safety. He has extensive experience and several publications related to boiler, pressure vessel, and pipeline materials, construction, and safety practices including regulatory position papers. Mark is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Tennessee. He is an active member with several standards organizations, including advisory member to the University of Tennessee Applied Engineering program. He is an ABET Fellow and ASME Fellow. 

For strategic and transformative ABET leadership advancing global engagement, accreditation innovation and governance reform with sustained, high-impact contributions to quality assurance in STEM education worldwide.

S. K. Ramesh is ABET’s Global Council Chair with over two decades of service to ABET including: 2022-23 President, Engineering Area Delegation Chair, Lemelson Award committee Chair, and as a Program Evaluator. An IEEE Life Fellow recognized for contributions to “entrepreneurship in engineering education”, he has served IEEE as President of IEEE-HKN, Vice President Educational Activities, and is the 2027 Chair of the IEEE Awards Board.

With almost four decades of service as dean, department chair and faculty in the California State University System, Ramesh is Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at California State Northridge where he leads nationally recognized programs to advance student success with over $ 15 Million in grant funding from the US Department of Education. He is a member of Sigma Xi, ASEE and Phi Beta Delta. Ramesh earned his MSEE and PhD from SIU Carbondale, and BS in ECE from NIT Trichy in India.

For sustained leadership in advancing computing accreditation, harmonizing data science criteria across commissions, expanding accreditation to new computing degree levels, and integrating industry practices to strengthen ABET’s global impact.

Scott Murray is a Senior Data Engineering Manager for Emory University’s School of Medicine. Prior to the role at Emory, Scott spent 5 years as Director of Data Engineering at Procore and 18 years at HCA Healthcare where he held several roles including Senior Manager of Business Intelligence. He also teaches, in an adjunct role, Data Analytics and Information Systems classes for Kennesaw State University and Maryville University.

Scott has been a Team Chair and Program Evaluator for ABET for the past 17 years and most recently was Chair of the Computing Accreditation Commission; previously he co-chaired the Data Science initial program criteria subcommittee, which created new data science criteria for CSAB and ABET. Additionally, Scott is a CSAB Fellow and a Representative Director for CSAB.

As avid soccer watchers, Scott and his family cheer on Atlanta United and the US National teams. Likewise, they enjoy volunteering weekly with the animals at Etowah Valley Humane Society in Cartersville, GA.

For transformative leadership and visionary contributions significantly advancing the quality and global impact of engineering technology education through dedicated mentorship, policy improvements, and the building of rigorous international accreditation standards.

Upon graduating with an Electrical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree from Stony Brook University’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences in May of 1980, Venancio “Venny” Fuentes anxiously ventured into industry as a System Engineer in Navigation Systems while simultaneously earning his master’s in engineering degree. After a few years, he chose to share his wealth of knowledge and experience in the field by taking a position at County College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey. His passion for the subject matter led him to becoming the Department Chair of the Engineering Science and Engineering Technologies Department. He has served in both positions for the past 25 years.

The education he received in Electrical Engineering, and his student experiences at Stony Brook University enabled Venny, an immigrant from Cuba and his family from Queens, to achieve his goals. Furthermore, it also helped him secure a rewarding career that has provided a good life for his family.

Venny’s decision to pursue a career in higher education and become a professor at County College of Morris after working in industry for several years, was a direct result of his practice in the field of engineering. His educational experiences at Stony Brook University, his industry background and decision to become a professor has given Venny many rewards of his career, giving back to others and himself.

Award Benefits

Fellow award winners will be recognized at the ABET Awards program in the fall. Fellows will also be featured on our website and social media pages, as well as recognized in a press release.