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Jerry Cohon sitting in a conference room and smiling while facing away from the viewer

March 20, 2024

Honoring the Memory of Jerry Cohon

Heartfelt messages, memories, and reflections have flooded the halls of Carnegie Mellon as many mourn and honor the memory of Jerry Cohon, a profound and enduring figure at the university and beyond. 

Cohon was perhaps best known for serving as CMU’s eighth president from 1997 to 2013, but to the College of Engineering community, many knew him as a beloved professor, mentor, and colleague. Following his term as president, his decision to return as a faculty member in the civil and environmental engineering and engineering and public policy departments was unique but invaluable, leaving a permanent mark on both the College and the broader community.

“Upon my arrival as dean, I reached out to Jerry, and he was quick to sit down with me to share his insights and knowledge,” said Bill Sanders, dean of the College of Engineering. “He was a gifted leader, and I am grateful for the time he spent with me, offering his guidance, perspective, and friendship.”

Between advising PhD students, Cohon actively pursued his passion for environmental and sustainability research, conducting groundbreaking studies in water resources management, environmental policy, and energy systems analysis across the globe. He pioneered innovative solutions to complex environmental challenges, integrating environmental considerations into urban planning practices and advancing technologies for water quality improvement and conservation that will not soon be forgotten. But his work wasn't just about advancing knowledge; it was about making a tangible difference in the lives of people and the health of our planet.

"Jerry was an incredible human being, a mentor, and a role model. He cared about every individual he interacted with and was always there for his students, friends, and colleagues,” said Burcu Akinci, head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. 

After stepping down from his role as president of CMU and returning to the faculty, Cohon was known to dispense his considerable wisdom in a thoughtful manner. 

“In examinations, he could ask pointed questions in the most disarming way,” recalls Peter Adams, head of the Department of Engineering and Public Policy. “Our students were incredibly fortunate to learn multi-attribute decision-making and leadership from one of the truly greats."

As we reflect on Cohon's remarkable legacy, we are reminded of his unwavering dedication to making the world a better place through engineering and innovation. His groundbreaking research, visionary leadership, and commitment to sustainability will continue to inspire future generations in their quest—and Cohon’s vision—of a more sustainable and equitable future for all. 

Read Carnegie Mellon President Farnam Jahanian’s Message

He was an incredible mentor, intimately involved in my work. He brought the best out of me and was never content with mediocrity where he was sure I could do better. I had serious doubts about my intellectual capacity while at CMU sharing a space with the most intelligent people in the world. It was ultimately Dr. Cohon who made me believe that I was on the same caliber as my Ph.D. student counterparts, and inspired me to eventually pursue one, despite me not believing that I could.

His inspiration, mentorship and leadership will endure through the countless amount of people that he has inspired.

— Tyler Skidmore, master engineering and public policy, 2022

We’ve never met or likely will meet someone whose actions spoke with such gravity and yet who’s actual words were so unassumingly and softly serving others. He will be terribly missed and we’d like to think he’s watching over us asking us to act in his trademark understated and unassuming way. His loss is not only a loss to our academic community, but it's the loss of a great mentor, leader and true grandfatherly figure full of kindness and care. If we can even accomplish an iota of what Jerry has done in his rich life, we will all have lived to be great loved ones, parents, and scholars — all of which Jerry did for and empowered in others.

— Nikki Ritsch, Ph.D. candidate, and Daniel Armanios, assistant professor in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy