Kenneth D. Lewis
The American Nuclear Society recognized Lewis for his five years of dedicated work in establishing a fully viable nuclear science and engineering program at South Carolina State University (SCSU). SCSU now is the only member of the Historically Black College and Universities with an an accreditied university program accredited program in nuclear engineering and technology.
Since 2005 Lewis has served as Dean of the College of Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Technology and BWXT Professor of Nuclear Engineering at SCSU. The academic post evolved from a mentor-protégé agreement reached a year earlier between Lewis’ employer, BWXT Y-12LLC, and the university.
Lewis was honored in 2008 with the University of Illinois College of Engineering Alumni Award for Distinguished Service for contributions in serving and safeguarding the public through his work as an educator and nuclear engineer.
In addition to his lifelong commitment to promoting higher education among African Americans, Lewis served his country by helping to complete the successful 1994 “Sapphire project.” The secret U.S. mission involved retrieving approximately 600 kilograms of very highly enriched weapons-grade uranium (sufficient to construct several Hiroshima-size atomic bombs) from the former Soviet Republic before it could fall into terrorists’ hands.
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Writer/contact: Susan Mumm editor/alumni affairs coordinator, Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, 217/244-5382.
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