The award, which includes a $10,000 honorarium, recognizes a mechanical engineering educator who is known for outstanding teaching and leadership in the classroom and who has made notable professional contributions.

“In his more than 35 years of service as a mechanical engineering faculty member and administrator, his numerous leadership roles in multiple professional societies and his active duty service as an officer in the U.S. Army, Grant has provided exemplary leadership and distinguished service to his colleges, the nation and to mankind,” said Lynn Byers, chair of engineering, director of the mechanical engineering program and a professor of mechanical engineering.

“His career, teaching and service contributions have had a positive impact on the lives of thousands of engineering faculty, engineering students and young people,” Byers said.

Crawford served in the U.S. Army for nearly 30 years before coming to Quinnipiac in 2014.

“Being selected to receive the Ralph Coats Roe Award by my mechanical engineering peers is both very exciting and very humbling,” Crawford said. “I think about my family, friends, classmates, colleagues, students and fellow veterans, and how they have encouraged me and lifted me up over the years.

“In my wildest dreams as a kid growing up in Arkansas, I never imagined that I would be where I am today,” Crawford said. “I thank the Lord for that, and I hope that I may also help inspire others to reach higher and achieve more than they think is possible. That is what we are about at Quinnipiac and why I enjoy coming to work every day. Dreams are good, but achieving them is better.”

Crawford has a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Kansas, a master of science in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering (aerospace) from the United States Military Academy at West Point.