Carnegie Mellon University
February 06, 2015

Carnegie Mellon Professor Elected To Prestigious National Academy of Engineering

By Abby Simmons / 412-268-4290

CaulkinsJonathan Caulkins, the H. Guyford Stever Professor of Operations Research and Public Policy at the H. John Heinz III College, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional distinctions an engineer can receive.

Caulkins has been cited "for seminal contributions to the analysis, modeling and engineering of drug policy in the United States and abroad." With his election, CMU has been home to 50 NAE members.

"We are extremely proud of Jonathan Caulkins and his election to the National Academy of Engineering," said Heinz College Dean Ramayya Krishnan. "Jon's work has been a shining example of the quality, in-depth research on societal problems we devote ourselves to here at Heinz College."

Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to "engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature," and to the "pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education."

"I am thrilled to have been selected," Caulkins said. "I have had the great good fortune to work with an amazing set of co-authors, and much of the credit goes to them. Likewise, I look forward to meeting more people through membership in the Academy. It is an august group, and I am honored to be associated with them."

Caulkins' primary research interest is modeling the effectiveness of interventions related to drugs, crime, violence, delinquency and prevention. In addition to an extensive list of professional journal articles, Caulkins has co-authored 10 books, most recently "Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know" and "Drugs and Drug Policy: What Everyone Needs to Know."

A member of the Heinz College faculty since 1990, Caulkins previously served as director of the Masters of Science in Public Policy and Management program and as interim associate dean for faculty. From 2005 to 2011, he taught at CMU's Qatar campus.

Also a leader at the RAND Corporation, Caulkins served as founding director of the organization's Pittsburgh office from 1999 to 2001. In addition, he served as co-director of the RAND's Drug Policy Research Center in Santa Monica, Calif., from 1994 to 1996. He has been an author or co-author on more than 30 RAND publications.

For a full list of this year's 67 new NAE members, visit: http://www.nae.edu/Projects/MediaRoom/20095/130169/130172.aspx.

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