The endowment funded the Sue and Harry E. Bovay Jr. Professorship in the History and Ethics of Professional Engineering. Dr. Charles E. “Ed” Harris Jr., a leader in the field of engineering ethics and a Texas A&M philosophy professor, is the first appointee.

Harris has focused on engineering ethics for more than a decade and created the course in ethics at A&M. He is a co-author, along with Michael Rabins and Michael Pritchard, of Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases, considered the best introductory textbook in the field. Harris is well published in leading engineering journals and is a popular speaker at meetings sponsored by the prestigious National Academy of Engineering and other professional associations.

“Engineering ethics was the perfect field for me as an applied ethicist; it provides a wealth of cases for me to use in developing and applying my ideas. Having known Mr. Bovay for over ten years, his interest in young people and his profession is inspiring. The Bovay Professorship was unexpected, but it has been an honor and a joy to have been selected.” 
–Dr. Charles E. “Ed” Harris