Antonio Nanni, professor and chair, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, was awarded the Faculty Senate 2022–23 Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award, for his lifetime dedication to research and practice in the field of civil engineering.
Focused on sustainability, Nanni has had the opportunity to make an impact through a variety of projects during his career spanning more than three decades. “Tony’s trademark in research has been the ability to work equally well with both public and private sectors,” said Fabrice Manns, professor and chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Nanni has been instrumental in developing and revising national and international standards for the use of fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) in infrastructure. He founded the NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center on Repair of Buildings and Bridges with Composites, which generated new and viable technologies and was used to train engineering graduates. While working at Missouri University of Science and Technology, he also founded the University Transportation Center on Advanced Materials and Non-Destructive Testing Technologies, which placed Missouri on the national map for the adoption of FRP in bridge repair. Additionally, he was involved in the manufacturing and installation of four innovative FRP bridges and addressed the development and deployment of sustainable concrete.
In a field challenged with the aging infrastructure in need of repair and replacement, Nanni noted that “it's not only the research, the patents, or the scientific papers, it's the impact that your work has on society, on the profession, and on your students.’’ He reminds colleagues and students that they are privileged to have access to knowledge and believes they have the power to make a difference in the world.
Nanni’s impact within the University also can be seen. He has served as a member of the Faculty Senate Hearing Panel from 2008 to 2009, and was part of the Facilities and Planning Committee, 2015–2018, before becoming its chair from 2018 to 2019.
A testament to his dedication to the construction industry’s quest for sustainability, Nanni served as vice president of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) in 2021 and was elected as its 100th president for 2023–24.
“In more than 35 years, Tony has held an uninterrupted focus covering the areas of scholarly research, practice, and standard writing,” said Manns. “He has demonstrated to be a true innovator by maintaining a sharp focus on the deployability of the technologies and has shown that he is a true engineer by making sure that his creativity would ultimately benefit society.”
Presented by the University’s Faculty Senate, the Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award recognizes individuals with either a single outstanding scholarly achievement or a lifetime of distinguished accomplishment in any area of research or creative activity.
The 2022–23 Faculty Senate Awards Ceremony will be held in person on Tuesday, April 11, at 5 p.m. Learn more about the awards ceremony.
This profile is part of a 2022–23 Faculty Senate Awards series recognizing all awardees.
