The SMU School of Engineering will induct Aart De Geus, Karen Shuford and Richard Ru-Gin Chang into the Hall of Leaders in a ceremony at the Dallas Museum of Art on Jan. 28. Induction into the Hall is an award given for outstanding industry and civic contributions.
The Hall of Leaders 2008 Award is presented to SMU alumni who have demonstrated success in their fields, showed leadership within the community and who have had a positive effect on society. Members of the engineering executive board and the dean of the School of Engineering select recipients, while the dean and president of the university approve the final selection.
Aart de Geus is chairman of the board and CEO of Synopsys, an electric design automation company for semiconductors based in Silicon Valley. He specializes on logic simulation and synthesis. De Geus is also credited with the conception of the Synopsys Outreach Foundation, an educational organization that promotes project-based studies in math and science. De Geus received a doctorate in electrical engineering from SMU in 1985.
Karen Shuford earned her bachelor of science in engineering at SMU in 1970 and was presented by the school with the Maura Award in 2005 for her work with women and children. Shuford is a Dallas civic leader and philanthropist, working as the Charitable Trust Consultant for the Bank of America private client group. She has also been an active leader and volunteer in over 20 civic organizations and agencies promoting medical care, education and the arts.
Richard Ru-Gin Chang is the founder and CEO of the Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation. Headquartered in Shanghai, the company is the largest semiconductor foundry in Mainland, China. In 2004 Ru-Gin Chang received the Magnolia Silver Award acknowledging his contribution to Shanghai’s economy, social development, and international interchange and cooperation. He received his doctorate in electrical engineering from SMU in 1985.
Sixteen alumni have received the award, including Governor William P. Clements (’39), Dr. Bobby B. Lyle (’67) and Dr. Rajendra Singh (’80).
