Herff College of Engineering announces first Hall of Fame class
April 9, 2026
The Herff College of Engineering proudly welcomed the inaugural members of the Herff Hall of Fame.
The Herff Hall of Fame inducts members based on three tiers.
The highest tier, Tier 1, recognizes individuals whose careers reflect transformative and sustained impact in engineering, leadership, philanthropy, or societal contribution. These are members of the engineering community who have demonstrated lifetime excellence in engineering or a related field, with eligibility defined as having graduated 20 or more years ago or having achieved exceptional accomplishments in engineering. These members have sustained leadership that has meaningfully influenced a discipline, industry, organization, or community; have made significant contributions to the college, the engineering profession, or both through service, mentorship, innovation, or advancement of the field; and have gained either national or international recognition that reflects the nominee's professional impact and distinction.
Tier 2 honors inductees with distinguished achievement awards. These inductees are recognized for exceptional contributions within five specific areas. The Distinguished Professional Achievement award honors recipients for innovation and entrepreneurship, patents and industry advancement, industry leadership, or professional recognition. The Distinguished Academic Excellence recognizes inductees who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, research contributions, mentorship, or scholarly impact. The Distinguished Service to Engineering award represents leadership in professional societies, accreditation boards, standards committees, public policy, or advocacy, and the Distinguished Philanthropy & Community Impact Award is given based on philanthropy supporting engineering or education, civil leadership, community service, or social innovation.
The third level of the Herff Hall of Fame is the Emerging Leaders Award and recognizes early-career professionals who demonstrate rapid impact and strong future promise. In order to receive this award, an inductee must be within three to 10 years of their career, have demonstrated innovation or professional impact, and have shown clear potential for major future contributions.
Earning Herff's highest honor in the first-ever Herff Hall of Fame class were Roberto Young, who serves as the advisor for Baobab Strategic Partners, LLC; Jerry Collins; former CEO of Memphis, Light, Gas and Water, Dennis Koerner, PhD, who serves as the President and CEO of ITN Analytics; Ravindranath Kanuri, Sr. Director of DARPA Programs at Lockheed Martin Corporation; and Arif Shakeel, who served as the CEO of Western Digital.
Young possesses more than 20 years of exemplary leadership in sales, business development, and entrepreneurial growth across global enterprises and venture-backed companies. His career spans transformative roles with The Boeing Company, Morgan Stanley, NCR, and the successful founding of One Touch Real Estate Management, with over $250 million in revenue delivered through innovative technology and financial solutions. A nationally ranked #1 sales leader, Young closed multiple landmark nine-figure and multi–eight-figure deals while driving operational excellence and long-term value creation. Beyond corporate leadership, he is a dedicated entrepreneur, board member, and community-focused strategist, investing in economic development and sustainable housing initiatives that strengthen both markets and neighborhoods.
Collins is a distinguished engineering leader and public servant who served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Memphis Light, Gas and Water, the nation’s largest three-service municipal utility. Appointed CEO in 2007, he became the tenth leader of MLGW and guided the utility through a period of sustained operational excellence, earning national recognition for reliability, safety, and affordability. Under his leadership, MLGW maintained strong financial ratings and ranked among the lowest combined utility rates in the country. A native Memphian and registered professional engineer, Collins is a proud alumnus of the University of Memphis Herff College of Engineering and a recipient of its most prestigious honors for distinguished service and lifelong contributions to the engineering profession.
Koerner is President and CEO of ITN Analytics and Managing Partner at Terra-Vaults Inc. Terra-Vaults designs and manufactures advanced polymer concrete and composite enclosures used in telecommunication and power infrastructures. Terra-Vaults products provides durable, cost-effective solutions that support critical power and fiber optic cable networks across the country. Through ITN Analytics, Dr. Koerner developed BenchmarkPro, a collection of software platforms that enable organizations to improve business performance using data-driven benchmarks that align organizational decisions with productivity, retention, and profitability improvement. Dr. Koerner has a 25-year history of working with the HCOE, contributing his time, expertise, and leadership to support the development of future engineers and strengthen the partnership between academia and industry.
In Tier 2, Laura Whitsitt and Scott Rhodes were recognized for distinguished professional achievement. Whitsitt, President and Founder of LS Whitsitt Consulting, is a respected senior executive and consultant with more than 35 years of leadership experience in the global medical device industry. As a longtime R&D leader at Smith+Nephew, she guided innovation, talent development, and strategic initiatives across complex global organizations before founding LSWhitsitt Consulting to share her expertise in executive leadership and governance. A NACD.DC–certified director, Whitsitt has demonstrated a deep commitment to civic and nonprofit service, serving on numerous boards focused on economic development, education, and community impact. Through her continued work as an executive coach, corporate board member, community board leader, and mentor, she exemplifies visionary leadership and a lasting dedication to advancing both industry excellence and the Memphis community. Rhodes is a respected senior leader at Acuity Brands, where he has built a distinguished career driving innovation, operational excellence, and strategic growth within a global industry leader in lighting and building solutions. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he brings a strong technical foundation and systems-oriented perspective to executive leadership. Throughout his career, Rhodes has been recognized for his ability to lead complex organizations, align technology with business strategy, and deliver long-term value. His professional achievements reflect a continued commitment to excellence, innovation, and leadership at the highest levels of industry.
Andrew Assadollahi received Tier 2 honors for distinguished academic excellence. Assadollahi serves as Dean and Professor of the Gadomski School of Engineering at Christian Brothers University, where he is a respected leader in engineering education and academic administration. A registered professional engineer in the State of Tennessee, he previously served for nearly six years as Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Assadollahi is widely recognized for his contributions to undergraduate curriculum development, student advising, and initiatives that strengthen recruitment, retention, and student success. His scholarly and technical expertise spans geotechnical and structural engineering, project-based research, and engineering education pedagogy, reflecting a deep commitment to excellence in both teaching and professional practice.
Herff inducted Kory Robinson into the Tier 2 distinction for distinguished service to engineering. Robinson is an accomplished engineering professional and engineering manager at Memphis Light, Gas and Water. A licensed professional engineer, he provides leadership in the management and delivery of critical utility infrastructure that serves the Memphis community. His career reflects a strong commitment to technical excellence, public service, and ethical engineering practice. A proud alumnus, Mr. Robinson’s professional achievements and leadership exemplify the impact engineers can make through service-oriented careers.
Rounding out Tier 2, JT Malasri received the honors for distinguished philantropy and community impact. Malasri is the founder and principal engineer of Malasri Engineering, PLLC, a trusted firm specializing in project management, land development, and utility consulting services. Based in Memphis and serving the Mid-South region, he plays an active role in advancing infrastructure, housing, and long-term community growth through both his professional work and civic engagement. A licensed Professional Engineer and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience, he has grown his firm from a startup into a respected and growing operation by combining technical expertise with strategic leadership. Mr. Malasri is known for his builder’s mindset, focusing on creating scalable systems that unlock opportunity for clients, teams, and communities. His commitment to thoughtful collaboration, disciplined execution, and developing future leaders exemplifies the values of the engineering profession and brings distinction to the alumni community.
The Tier 3 Emerging Leader Award went to Jennifer "Jenny" Jarvis Pallme. Pallme is a rising leader in the engineering profession and currently serves as manager of biocompatibility at Stryker. Selected as a Tier 3: Emerging Leader (Young Engineer) Award recipient, she is recognized for her early-career excellence, technical expertise, and growing leadership within the medical device industry. Ms. Pallme’s work supports the development of safe, innovative healthcare technologies that improve patient outcomes worldwide. Her achievements reflect both professional promise and a strong commitment to advancing engineering through impact-driven leadership.