Darsh Wasan will receive an Honorary Doctor of Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology during the university’s 157th commencement ceremony on Friday at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago. Wasan, who joined the faculty in 1964, has spent nearly 60 years helping shape the university’s global outreach, research programs, and academic leadership. University President Raj Echambadi praised Wasan’s role in expanding Illinois Tech’s international footprint and strengthening its research enterprise.

Between 1996 and 2022, Wasan led the university’s international initiatives, building partnerships and academic centers across India, China, Europe, and South Korea. He also pioneered graduate distance-learning programs in India in 1997, helping broaden access to higher education abroad. In 1988, Wasan helped establish the Institute for Food Safety and Health after securing a five-building campus donation and initial funding from the United States Food and Drug Administration.

A member of both the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and the Indian National Academy of Engineering, Wasan holds 10 patents and has authored more than 400 publications. He also mentored dozens of graduate and doctoral students during his academic career.