Trustees honor Bart Sinclair with Distinguished Service Award

Bart Sinclair, whose association with Rice University and the George R. Brown School of Engineering began almost half a century ago, was honored with the Distinguished Service Award by the Rice Board of Trustees.

Engineering Dean Reginald DesRoches, left, presents Bart Sinclair with the Distinguished Service Award from the Rice Board of Trustees. (Photo courtesy of the George R. Brown School of Engineering)

Sinclair, senior associate dean for administration and planning, was presented with the award Dec. 7 during the trustees’ meeting by Reginald DesRoches, the William and Stephanie Sick Dean of the George R. Brown School of Engineering.

“I can’t think of anyone more deserving than Bart,” DesRoches said. “He is involved in nearly every day-to-day aspect in the School of Engineering, including budgets and finances, faculty hires, facilities and academic affairs. He has served under four deans and has been critical in keeping the school running smoothly, particularly during transitional periods. He has a wealth of institutional memory, great judgment and the perfect temperament to be effective as associate dean.”

The trustees presented the award in recognition of Sinclair’s “dedication and many contributions to the well-being of the students, faculty and staff of Rice University.”

Sinclair earned a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. from Rice in electrical engineering in 1973, 1974 and 1979, respectively. In 1978, he joined the electrical engineering faculty as assistant professor, and in 1999 he became a member of the dean of engineering’s administrative team.

Since May 2009, Sinclair has conducted information sessions for more than 6,200 prospective students in the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen. In 2012, he was recognized by the Rice Engineering Alumni Association with its first Distinguished Service Medal for exemplary service.

Edwin “Ned” Thomas, the Ernest Dell Butcher Professor of Engineering and former dean of engineering, echoed DesRoches’ praise: “Bart is an amazing and supremely dedicated professional who just loves Rice.”

–Patrick Kurp is a science writer in the George R. Brown School of Engineering.