Rose-Hulman chemical engineering professor steps down after 25 years

After a 25-year career at Rose-Hulman, chemical engineering professor Hossein Hariri recently retired, but not before his daughter, Ghazal, served as a visiting faculty member in the same department.

Hossein Hariri's career began with the experience he gained in his native Iran's budding oil industry, which he used toward his education in England and America. Settling at Rose-Hulman, he raised his family while serving as department head from 1997 to 2008. His daughter earned a bachelor's degree at Vanderbilt University and had internships at Eli Lilly and Co.

"I appreciate him more now...because I realize how much effort goes into each lecture and keeping your students engaged," Ghazal Hariri said of her father.

Hossein Hariri specialized as a natural gas engineer and project manager for the government-controlled National Iranian Gas Co. and National Iranian Oil Co. prior to joining the faculty at Rose-Hulman. He also gained experience as a consultant for Amoco and Eli Lilly. He has been essential in making valuable networking contacts for the university.

"Learning is a two-way thing," Hossein Hariri said. "Students provide great feedback while they're learning and applying the subject matter. Our successful alumni have always been our best testimonials about the high standards that have been a department strength."