The College of Engineering lost an influential leader and longtime friend May 29 with the passing of Neil M. Schmitt, an electrical engineering alumnus who served as dean of the college from 1983 to 1996 and ushered in an era of heightened focus on research and fundraising.
Schmitt was 82.
“I’m saddened by the passing of my dear friend, colleague and mentor Dr. Neil Schmitt,” said Provost Terry Martin. “Dr. Schmitt was my professor when I was a student, and he hired me when I joined the university in 1983. We worked alongside each other as faculty members and when he was the dean of the College of Engineering. He was truly an incredible person, and he had an immeasurable impact on my life and career as well as the university and campus community.”
He continued to cheer on the college after retirement, and its current leader, Dean Kim Needy, in recent years.
“Throughout his career and into his retirement, Neil never stopped advocating for the College of Engineering nor encouraging its leaders. I will forever be grateful for his support through a kind word or inspirational note,” she said.
Schmitt earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering at the U of A before completing his doctorate at Southern Methodist University in 1969. After military service, he worked as a systems engineer for IBM, then at Texas Instruments developing military radar systems.
His academic career began in 1970 when he joined the U of A as an assistant professor of electrical engineering. He spent time doing postdoctoral work at Baylor College of Medicine in 1971 before becoming department head of electrical engineering in 1973. He was named dean of the college in 1983, serving 13 years, and returned as interim dean from 2001 to 2002.
“We have lost one of the greats,” said John R. English, professor of industrial engineering, who served as dean of the college from 2013 to 2020. “Many, many people, including myself, have been significantly touched by the life of Dean Schmitt. I loved him dearly.”
Among his many accomplishments, he oversaw the design and construction of Bell Engineering Center and led the transformation of a factory in south Fayetteville to become the Engineering Research Center. Schmitt also started and supervised the Genesis Technology Center, which was recognized early as the premier technology incubator in the United States.
During Schmitt’s tenure, the college broke campus records for fundraising and established a new model for donor relations. He was inducted into the college’s Hall of Fame in 2014.