Eduardo Aldana-Valdés

CEEAA Distinguished Alumni Award, 2013

For innovative thinking and outstanding leadership in the development of the School of Engineering of the Universidad de los Andes, the SER Institute of Research, the Universidad de Ibague and the Institute for Regional Innovation, and for contributions to the quality of life in Colombia.

Biography

Eduardo Aldana-Valdés came to University of Illinois in 1955 as a transfer student from the University of Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, which was at that time a junior college.

After graduating from Illinois in 1958, Aldana-Valdés joined the University of Los Andes faculty. Later as Dean of the School of Engineering he was trusted with developing the full undergraduate engineering program. In this endeavor he received the assistance of outstanding colleagues from Colombia and abroad including the University of Illinois’ William Everitt, Nathan Newmark and Narbey Khachaturian, his former advisor. That undertaking set the foundation for one of the top-ranked schools of engineering in Latin America.

In 1971 Aldana-Valdés obtained his Ph.D. in Urban Systems from MIT. In addition to roles at Los Andes as professor and dean, Aldana-Valdés has also chaired both the University and its Board. He is former director of the Colombian Science Foundation and past Governor of Tolima, his home state. As a civic leader in Colombia, Aldana-Valdés serves on national level commissions on critical social issues and champions rural development throughout the country. Aldana-Valdés has received many distinctions from governmental and international organizations, including a Tinker Fellowship from the University of Texas.