Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

Overview

The James M. Hoover Chair in Geotechnical Engineering was established in 2004 by Iowa State University alumnus Craig Denny (BSCE 1971; MSCE 1973) and his wife, Terry (BS Elementary Education 1972). James M. Hoover was an Iowa State alumnus and professor of geotechnical engineering at Iowa State from 1955 to 1993. He was known for his dedication to teaching, researching, and mentoring. The endowment for this professorship helps Iowa State continue the legacy of excellence in the geotechnical engineering field.

In 2004, Professor Vernon Schaefer was named the first James M. Hoover Chair in Geotechnical Engineering. Schaefer (MSCE 1981) joined the Iowa State Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering faculty in 2003. Prior to that, he served as professor and chair of the civil and environmental engineering department at South Dakota State University. He has worked as a geotechnical engineer for private industry and as a hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey. Schaefer holds a bachelor's degree from South Dakota State University, Brookings, and a doctoral degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg.

In November 2006, Schaefer started the Hoover Mentoring Workshop, an annual event held to promote mentoring of students and young professionals.

Related Articles:

• Schaefer Named Hoover Chair in Geotechnical Engineering 
• First Ever Hoover Mentoring Workshop is a Success 
• James M. Hoover Memorial Scholarship 
  

Learn More About James M. Hoover

• Biography: Read about Hoover’s career background and more.
• Hoover’s Legacy: Hoover’s former students share stories about his excellent teaching and mentoring.
• Hoover Mentoring Workshop: Learn about future workshops and view PowerPoint presentations from and video clips of speakers from past workshops.