Thursday, the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors formally approved a request by Louisiana Tech to name its Biomedical Engineering Building for former university president Dr. Daniel Reneau. It was Reneau who led the push in 1972 for Tech to start on of the country’s first biomedical engineering programs. University spokesperson Tonya Oaks Smith says the honor is well deserved.
“It signifies his visionary approach to introducing programs like biomedical engineering to our state and providing so much opportunity for our students,” Smith said.
Reneau first joined Louisiana Tech’s faculty in 1967 before becoming the longest-serving president in the university’s history and building a tremendous legacy along the way. His vision endures through generations of graduates who have gone on to make scientific advancements that have improved our way of life.
“Biomedical engineering has had such a great impact on many, many areas,” said Smith. “Our graduates work to help people live better lives through engineering.”
Up until last year, it wasn’t legal to name buildings after living people. However, since the 81-year-old Reneau has been such an influential educator, not only at Louisiana Tech but also as former president of the U-L system, the university was successful by the unanimous vote of the board.
“We’re happy that this was the first chance that we had to honor Dr. Reneau in this way,” Smith said.
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