Dr. Wartan Jemian is considered by many to be the founder of Auburn University's
Materials Engineering program, which became an official degree program in 1965.
He joined the faculty in 1962 as an associate professor of mechanical engineering
and holds degrees from the University of Maryland and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Before retiring in 1993, Dr. Jemian conducted research focused on weld solidification,
physical metallurgy and energy-absorbing polymers.
Since retiring, he has continued his involvement with the Auburn Rotary Club, serving as team leader for a Rotary sponsored cultural exchange to Hong Kong, Macau and China, and most recently as president during the organization's 75th anniversary year. He also leads a local community course on line and ballroom dancing.
Dr. Jemian's pursuit in establishing a materials engineering program at Auburn University began almost immediately after joining the faculty in 1962. At the time, he and Professor Hal W. Maynor of the Mechanical Engineering Department were the only two faculty members with any significant professional experience in the materials field.
During Dr. Jemian's first year of teaching, Dr. Donald M. Vestal, Mechanial Engineering department head, formed a committee to study the feasibility of offering a polymer degree program, which he asked Dr. Jemian to chair. The committee included the department heads from the Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Textile Engineering and Physics departments. After evaluating what the components of such a degree program should be (e.g. faculty, literature resources, laboratory facilities, a background of existing basic courses leading into the program, et cetera), the group quickly realized that Auburn University lacked the required infrastructure.
In the Fall of 1963, Dr. Vestal convened another exploratory committee, this time to explore the feasibility of offering a degree program in materials, metallurgy, metallurgical engineering or something similar. Dr. Jemian was asked to serve on this committee, along with Dr. Maynor; Dr. Ed Jones, assistant ME department head; Dr. O. C. Moore, Chemical Engineering professor and department head; Dr. Cleveland Adams, Textile Engineering department head; and representatives from other departments with a possible interest. By the end of the first meeting, Dr. Jemian was asked to chair the group.
The group found compelling reasons for establishing a materials-related degree program. The college already had a list of valid materials courses actively being taught in the Mechanical Engineering Department; the necessary laboratory facilities, including microscopes, sample preparation and examination facilities, X-ray diffraction, electron microscope, a variety of hardness testers, furnaces and machine tools; and an excellent collection of reference materials, including subscriptions to a number of important journals.
Furthermore, the college had on its roster two faculty members with Ph. D. degrees in the field. There were other faculty members with academic preparation and achievements supporting their inclusion in the program. From his contact with students, Dr. Jemian affirmed that there were students who were interested in the program.
Dr. Jemian prepared a sample curriculum in metallurgical engineering that would meet the needs for general courses, general science courses, physical education, general electives, basic courses in the field, advanced courses in the field, and so on. Committee members later studied it with interest and made a a few good suggestions, which were incorporated.
The committee submitted a final report to Dr. Fred Pumphrey, current dean of the College of Engineering. After administrative review, the Board of Trustees approved the degree program and curriculum for implementation in the Summer Quarter of 1964. It was designated the as the Materials Engineering curriculum, and courses listed in the Auburn Bulletin.
Because of the connotation many students had in associating a materials engineering degree with being qualified to work only in the steel industry, Dr. Jemain prepared a revised materials curriculum of materials engineering. Dr. Vestal led the effort to gain administrative approval for the cooperation of the addition faculty who would participate in the materials program: Dr. Budentstein of Physics would teach the X-ray Crystallography course; Dr. Hsu of Chemical Engineering would teach Kinetics of Materials Reactions; and Dr. Kosalopof of Chemistry would teach two related courses in polymer science. Dr. Tim Slagh of the Electrical Engineering Department would teach a course in electrical properties. The revised curriculum met administrator, trustee and student approval. In 1965, Auburn University officially began offering an undergraduate degree program in materials engineering.
"We defined Materials Engineering as the profession of applying materials structure-property relations to meet specific needs, without being associated with or aimed at any specific industry," Jemian said. "Over time, it became clear that our graduates found opportunities in many diverse activities including business, teaching and research."
Students and their parents were able to see industrial opportunities for those with a materials degree. A significant boost to the undergraduate enrollment came when our program became an accepted educational program naval officers, and later by other armed forces branches. The Auburn Materials Society, which was approved by Auburn University and the Student Government Association in 1965, was established as a vehicle for students to visit industry and industry representative to visit campus. Dr. Jemian escorted students on field trips around the region (Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida) to inspect materials industry and operations. He coupled large industry with small, family-owned shops wherever possible.
Dr. Jemian further promoted the program through state and national materials trade associations, an industrial advisory committee and a weekly television program entitled "Men, Materials and Manufacturing." Through research funding, he was able to support a secretary who would help further keep the "materials office" visible.
The Materials Engineering faculty applied for an accreditation review in 1974, during the tenure of Engineering Dean Vince Haneman. An accreditation team, composed of Dr. George Dieter, review team chair, and Dr. Fred Bolling, chief metallurgist for Ford Motor Company, reviewed the curriculum. The program was accredited in early 1975, with several recommendations meant to strengthen the program. First, course designations were changed to the "MTL" designation for easier identification. Second, the University provided part-time support for a secretary, and class rooms and laboratories were designated for the materials program. Finally, the university provided Dr. Jemian part-time support so he could serve as curriculum chair.
Dr. Jemian served as curriculum chair until 1981, when Dr. Bryan Chin joined the materials faculty and was appointed to fill the curriculum chair position, which he still holds today.
Thanks to Dr. Wartan Jemian for compiling the historical account of the Materials Engineering program.
