John Ballato, professor of materials science and engineering and director of the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), has been selected as the recipient of the Class of ’39 Award for Excellence for 2013.
Ballato served as the interim vice president for research and associate vice president for research and economic development, where he championed Clemson’s advanced materials-related research and economic development. The author of more than 150 peer-reviewed journal articles and 110 reviewed conference proceedings, Ballato has been the principal investigator on more than $46 million in competitive extramural funding and founded three South Carolina-based companies.
Ballato is a Liberty Fellow and a Fellow of the Optical Society of America, the International Society of Optical Engineering, and the American Ceramic Society. He is an Associate Editor of the Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Topical Editor of Optics Letters, and has served on numerous professional committees.
The Class of ’39 Award for Excellence recipient will be honored at Clemson’s Dec. 19 graduation ceremony, and at a special ceremony held in the Carillon Garden at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 14.
The Class of 1939 established the Award for Excellence in 1989 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the class. The Great Class of 1939, itself characterized by remarkable service to Clemson University, the community, the state, and the nation, created this award to recognize and inspire faculty service above and beyond expectations.
