Lasher Elected Fellow of ASME for His Significant Achievements
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William C. Lasher, Ph.D., associate professor of mechanical engineering at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, has been elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Election to Fellow of ASME recognizes significant engineering achievements and contributions to the engineering profession. “I am delighted to make this announcement about one of our own,” said Ralph Ford, director of the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology. “Bill is a role model for both students and his faculty colleagues, and his service to the school, the college, the university, and the community has been outstanding. With his election as an ASME Fellow, it is clear that he exhibits a strong dedication to his discipline as well.”
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A faculty member in the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology since 1983, Lasher earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in naval architecture and marine engineering from the University of Michigan and his doctorate in mechanical engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Before his appointment at Penn State Behrend he worked in industry as a computer applications engineer, and prior to that he worked as a sailmaker. He also worked as a designer with C & C Yachts Design Group in Ontario.
As a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Lasher regularly participates in that organization’s conferences and has served as chair of ASME’s regional mechanical engineering department heads group.
He has published a variety of articles in refereed journals, and he has created a number of new courses and labs and significantly revised many of his school’s design courses. Lasher received the Guy W. Wilson Award for Excellence in Academic Advising in 1996. He regularly oversees senior design projects for students in mechanical engineering.
Lasher chaired the 1996 United Way campaign, served as vice chair of the Faculty/Staff portion of the Grand Destiny Campaign, and has served on many committees at the school, college, and university levels.
In 2004, as vice chair of the Behrend College faculty council, he led the search for the associate dean of undergraduate education.
He is also a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. His recent research focus has been on the aerodynamics of sailing yacht spinnakers. He spent his sabbatical in the spring of 2003 in New Zealand, working with faculty in the Yacht Research Unit at the University of Auckland.
ASME recognized Lasher particularly for his efforts in developing the Penn State Behrend mechanical engineering program and for his research in computational fluid dynamics and sail aerodynamics.