A legacy of leadership

Dr. N.K Anand, a longtime leader in engineering education and administration at Texas A&M University’s J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ (ASME) Edwin F. Church Medal. The award recognizes eminent service that enhances the value, importance and attractiveness of mechanical engineering education.

“I was genuinely surprised and deeply grateful,” said Anand. “This recognition affirms my 26 years in academic and engineering administration and the sustained effort and strategic vision I’ve dedicated to improving mechanical engineering education.”

Anand’s work reflects that mission through decades of national service and scholarly leadership. He has chaired the ASME K-20 Committee on Computational Heat Transfer and the Committee on Engineering Accreditation, helping shape standards that guide mechanical engineering programs worldwide. He has also served as an associate technical editor for the ASME Journal of Heat Transfer and the Journal of Thermal Science and Engineering Applications. 

At Texas A&M, Anand has led several major initiatives, including the development of departmental standard operating procedures, the 25×25 Growth Initiative, the creation of common undergraduate laboratories in the Zachry Engineering Education Complex and the launch of the undergraduate program in data engineering. 

Teaching and curriculum development remain central to his work. In 1989, Anand created MEEN/NUEN 644, a graduate course on finite volume techniques, and has continually updated it as computing tools have advanced. The course helped shape a widely used textbook he co-authored, published by Cambridge University Press. 

“My motivation is rooted in curiosity and the desire to ensure our curriculum evolves with the field,” he said. “Integrating machine learning into mechanical engineering is one of the most promising areas for future innovation.”

Anand credits several influential mentors for shaping his approach to leadership and service, including Professors K.R. Sreenivasan (New York University), George “Bud” Peterson (Georgia Tech), Vijay Dhir (UCLA), and J.N. Reddy (Texas A&M). He also expressed deep gratitude for the department’s long-standing support for curricular innovation. 

He noted that in the time remaining on his “professional clock,” he is committed to mentoring and promoting faculty, particularly junior faculty, as well as staff and students. 

As he reflects on the significance of the Edwin F. Church Medal, Anand hopes the recognition serves as inspiration for student and colleagues. 

“Work hard and pursue excellence,” he said. “If you stay committed to improving engineering education and the student experience, recognition will follow.”