Dr. Steve E. Watkins, interim chair and professor of electrical and computer engineering, received the 2021 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)-Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) Distinguished Service Award “for a career of outstanding contributions and sustained service to IEEE-HKN.” The award recognizes lifetime contributions to IEEE-HKN and is limited to one recipient annually. The presentation was made during the virtual IEEE Educational Activities Awards Ceremony on Nov. 11, 2021. IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu is IEEE’s honor society and has over 260 student chapters internationally.

Watkins’ service to HKN includes positions as co-advisor for the Missouri S&T student HKN chapter, editor-in-chief of The Bridge magazine, and 2018 president of the organization. He has been an advisor to the S&T chapter since 1992 and received the campus Distinguished Advisor of the Year in 2015.

Watkins joined the Missouri S&T faculty in 1989 and is a member of the S&T Academy of Electrical and Computer Engineers. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Missouri S&T and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.