The University of Missouri recently announced that Dr. William Schonberg has been named the 2007 recipient of the Manuel T. Pacheco Academic Leadership Award. Schonberg is a professor and chair of the civil, architectural and environmental engineering department at the University of Missouri-Rolla.

Schonberg was presented with a plaque and $2,500 on Sept. 24.

The Manuel T. Pacheco Academic Leadership Award was created in 2002 and is presented to an administrator who exemplifies outstanding academic leadership qualities at the University of Missouri. Former University of Missouri President Manuel Pacheco was recognized as a leader who exhibited humility and respect for others. Award winners exemplify these characteristics.

As a department chair, Schonberg has coordinated two undergraduate curriculum revisions, fostered an increase in annual research expenditures, and worked with faculty and staff to write his department’s first five-year strategic plan, including mission and vision statements.

During the 2006-2007 academic year, Schonberg also served as interim dean of the School of Engineering at UMR.

“Bill is an individual who can deal with difficult situations very effectively, discuss contentious issues in a direct, clear way, and at the same time maintain a positive working relationship with everyone,” says UMR Provost Warren K. Wray. “He is able to maintain perspective on the larger goals and objectives and to make decisions based on his appreciation of the strategic impact.”

As an interim dean, Schonberg was responsible for six engineering departments and various special engineering programs. He worked to implement cooperative programs in civil engineering and electrical engineering at Missouri State University, served on the External Affairs Restructuring Committee as part of a campuswide reorganization activity at UMR and served as a member of the Chancellor’s Advisory Council on African American Recruitment and Retention.

Schonberg received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and his master’s and doctorate degrees from Northwestern University. He is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.