Masudi establishes graduate fellowship

Dr. Houshang Masudi ’84 has established the Dr. Houshang Masudi ’84 Endowed Graduate Fellowship fund. Distributions from this endowment will be used to provide fellowships to full-time students in good standing pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University.

Masudi is a familiar name to the mechanical engineering department. He graduated with his doctoral degree in mechanical engineering back in 1984. Masudi says Texas A&M’s reputation was what brought him to Aggieland.

“I chose Texas A&M because of its high ranking among the well-known institutions in teaching and research,” he said. “I also respected the university’s high moral values as stated by Aggie honor codes, and I found I had a passion for the spirit of Aggieland.”

Masudi formerly served as a senior professor of mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University at Qatar. Masudi has experience as a researcher, educator and service provider at national and international levels. He has worked extensively in the areas of mechanical systems and design, energy, composite materials, computer-aided design and manufacturing, biomechanics and failure analysis.

“My time as a graduate student and later as a professor at Texas A&M has made me who I am today, a devoted member of the Aggie family with respect for others,” Masudi said.

A close relationship with the world of academia and his students is what led Masudi to establish a graduate fellowship.

“I have spent all of my life on university campuses as a student and then as a faculty member. I was inspired by the respect and friendship that I received from colleagues, staff and individuals whom I associated with daily,” he said. “I want to leave behind a legacy that will benefit young adults pursuing an education. There is a significant need to help underprivileged, well-qualified foreign students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to attend a university like Texas A&M. 

“My hope is to attract well-qualified, low-income students to attend a graduate program and make their dreams a reality,” he said. “It is my strong belief that these same students will return to their homes after graduation and inspire others to follow suit. Maybe one day they may even form an A&M club in their homelands.”

Dr. Guillermo Aguilar, head of the mechanical engineering department, expressed his gratitude for Masudi’s gift. “Doctoral students are the engine of every research program in engineering and their financial support is key to their wellbeing and success,” he said. “Traditional mechanisms of financial support from federal or state agencies, industry or foundations tend to fluctuate from year to year and are increasingly competitive. As a recipient of a robust graduate fellowship myself, I can attest to the long-lasting impact and life-changing experience that this endowment will provide to our students. We are thankful to Dr. Masudi and his family for this extraordinary gift, which will change the lives of engineering students in our department.”

Establishing this fellowship is the fulfillment of a lifetime vision for Masudi. 

“This is a dream come true for me, to leave a legacy behind and make a difference in the life of students to achieve their goals and become successful individuals,” he said. “There is no better place to accomplish this objective than at Texas A&M.”