Dr. Joseph J. Rencis received a
B.S. degree from Milwaukee School of Engineering, M.S. from Northwestern
University, and Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. From 1985 to 2004 he
was an Assistant, tenured Associate, and tenured Full Professor of Mechanical
Engineering at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). At WPI he was Director
of Engineering Mechanics from 1995 to 2004. Since 2004 he has been a tenured
Professor and Department Head of Mechanical Engineering at the University of
Arkansas. He is the inaugural holder of the Twenty-first Century Leadership
Chair in Mechanical Engineering since 2007. Dr. Rencis is an inaugural fellow of
the Southeastern Conference Academic Consortium Leadership Development Program.
Throughout his career, Dr. Rencis’ principal research interests have been in
boundary elements, finite elements, atomistic modeling, and engineering
education. His research is supported by National Science Foundation and
industry. Dr. Rencis has published over thirty journal articles and over ninety
conference publications. He is an associate editor of the International Series
on Advances in Boundary Elements. Dr. Rencis serves on the editorial board of
Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements and The Open Mechanics Journal. He
is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME), American
Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), and Wessex Institute of Great Britain.
Dr. Rencis was recognized as the Cambridge Professional of the Year in
Mechanical Engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in
Massachusetts. Dr. Rencis received the ASEE New England Section Outstanding
Teaching Award. He is completing, as co-author with Hartley T. Grandin at WPI,
an innovative undergraduate textbook, Mechanics of Materials: An Introduction
with Integration of Theory, Analysis, Verification, and Design.
Dr. Rencis has been active in various professional organizations at the local
and national levels. He is currently Chair of the ASME Mechanical Engineering
Department Heads Committee. In ASME he also serves on the Board of Directors for
the Center for Education and is a member of the Society National Nominating
Committee. Other current positions include Program Chair of ASEE Mechanical
Engineering Division and Chair-Elect of ASEE Midwest Section, and Past Chair of
ASEE Mechanics Division. Dr. Rencis is a ABET program evaluator and member of
the National Collaborative for Engineering Graduate Education Reform. He has
conducted reviews of new M.S. and Ph.D. engineering programs. Dr. Rencis
currently serves on the advisory boards of United Arab Emirates University, John
Brown University, and Springdale High School Engineering/Architecture Academy.
He has received the ASEE New England Section Outstanding Leader Award, ASEE
Mechanics Division James L. Meriam Service Award, and ASEE Midwest Section
Outstanding Service Award. Rencis is listed in several Who’s Who publications.
Dr. Rencis, his spouse Minerva, an elementary school teacher, and child,
Christina, a senior at Fayetteville High School, enjoy a variety of physical,
athletic, film, and theater activities.
Updated: 09/14/09
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Prof. Joseph J. Rencis
204 Mechanical Engineering Building
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
1-479-575-4153 (V-mail/Office)
1-479-575-6982 (FAX)
jjrencis@uark.edu (E-mail)
Copyright 1995
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J. Rencis.
Last Updated:
September 14, 2009.