Darsh Wasan, Who Helped Shape Illinois Tech’s International Outreach and Pioneered Partnership with FDA, to Receive Honorary Doctor of Engineering

CHICAGO—May 16, 2026—Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) will award Darsh Wasan—a longtime steward of the university who has sparked momentous growth and innovation—an Honorary Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa, at its 157th Commencement ceremony today at Credit 1 Union Arena. Wasan, who joined Illinois Tech’s faculty in 1964, has played a defining role in shaping the university’s global reach, research enterprise, and academic leadership for nearly 60 years.

“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from Illinois Tech, an institution to which I have given and from which I have received so much,” says Wasan. “It has been a privilege to work alongside colleagues and students who are committed to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and expanding opportunity around the world. I hope this honor inspires current and future students to think globally and collaborate across silos, building something greater than can be accomplished alone.”

From 1996 through 2022, Wasan led Illinois Tech’s international initiatives, dramatically expanding the university’s global presence. He established partnerships and centers across India, Europe, China, and Korea, helping grow the university’s international enrollment. In 1997, Wasan pioneered the delivery of graduate education abroad, launching novel distance-learning master’s programs in India.

“Darsh Wasan’s extraordinary career reflects the very best of Illinois Tech—innovation, global engagement, and a deep commitment to advancing knowledge for the benefit of society,” says Raj Echambadi, president of Illinois Tech. “From building world-class research centers to expanding our international footprint, Darsh’s leadership has left an enduring mark on this university and on higher education around the world.”

In 1988, Wasan secured a gift of a five-building campus in Bedford Park from CPC International Inc. and an initial grant of $3.7 million from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to found an innovative national center for research and education in food safety and technology. Today, the Institute for Food Safety and Health (IFSH) stands as a leading model of collaboration among academia, industry, and government. 

“Darsh Wasan’s leadership and foresight were instrumental in the formation of IFSH and shaping its mission as a hub for innovation and cooperation,” says IFSH Executive Director Brian Schaneberg. “His legacy continues to guide our work as we address critical challenges in food safety and public health.”

A member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and the Indian National Academy of Engineering, Wasan holds 10 patents and has co-authored more than 400 publications, including the textbook Interfacial Transport Processes and Rheology with David Edwards (Ph.D. CHE ’87) and Howard Brenner. He served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science for more than 20 years.

“Darsh Wasan’s influence on Illinois Tech and its community is profound,” says Louis N. Cattafesta III, dean of Armour College of Engineering. “His contributions to research have had lasting impact, and his dedication to education, mentorship, and institutional service has helped shape the next generation of engineers.”

In his 58 years at Illinois Tech, Wasan has held nearly every leadership post, including provost, interim dean of engineering, and vice president for research and technology. Wasan’s dedication to the Illinois Tech community also extends to a deeply personal level as the supervisor and mentor for 65 doctoral students, 61 master’s students, and 15 postdoctoral fellows. He has received the Western Electric Fund Award for excellence in instruction of engineering students and the Illinois Tech Excellence in Teaching Award.

“Darsh Wasan’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of Illinois Tech,” says Illinois Tech Board Chair Michael P. Galvin (LAW ’78). “Through his visionary leadership, he expanded the university’s global reach and strengthened its research enterprise, creating a lasting impact that is extraordinary and inspiring.”

Wasan came to the U.S. from India as an undergraduate student, getting his B.S. in chemical engineering at the University of Illinois (1960) before earning his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley (1965). He’s won numerous awards, including the FDA Commissioner’s Special Citation, the American Chemical Society National Award in Colloid and Surface Chemistry, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Alpha Chi Sigma Award for Fundamental and Applied Research, and the American Society for Engineering Education Chemical Engineering Division Lectureship Award.

Photo: Darsh Wasan

Illinois Institute of Technology

Based in the global metropolis of Chicago, Illinois Tech was born to liberate the power of collective difference to advance technology and innovation for all. It is the only tech-focused university in the city, and it stands at the crossroads of exploration and invention, advancing the future of Chicago and the world. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, computing, architecture, business, design, science and human sciences, and law. Illinois Tech students are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences, personalized mentorship, and job readiness through the university’s one-of-a-kind Elevate program. Its graduates lead the state and much of the nation in economic prosperity. Its faculty and alumni built the Chicago skyline. And every day in the city's living lab, Illinois Tech fuels breakthroughs that change lives. Visit iit.edu.

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