Texas A&M faculty members elected to National Academy of Engineering
Dr. Thomas Blasingame and Dr. Karen Wooley honored for contributions in in research, innovation and academic leadership.
Two Texas A&M University faculty members have earned one of the world’s most prestigious engineering honors.
Dr. Thomas Blasingame, the head of the Department of Petroleum Engineering, and Dr. Karen Wooley, the W. T. Doherty-Welch Chair in the Department of Chemistry, are among 158 members elected to the 2026 class of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Once inducted, Texas A&M will have 37 NAE members among its current faculty.
“We invite the entire Texas A&M University community to join us in honoring these faculty members for their dedication to our students, our university and their fields, as well as their contributions to society. Being elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) is one of the highest professional honors an academic can receive,” said Dr. Blanca Lupiani, vice provost for faculty affairs. “This recognition highlights Dr. Blasingame and Dr. Wooley as outstanding examples of teaching excellence, innovative research and meaningful scholarly achievements, while also elevating Texas A&M’s reputation as a force for good.”
Blasingame, a professor in the College of Engineering, conducts research in applied reservoir engineering, modeling and production engineering. His research has led to widely referenced and industry-incorporated methodologies.
He is an honorary member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and served as its president in 2021.“We are proud of Dr. Thomas Blasingame for this outstanding recognition. His long-standing commitment to excellence in teaching, research and service exemplifies the strength of our faculty and the impact they have on students, the university and the broader engineering community,” said Dr. Robert H. Bishop, vice chancellor and dean of Texas A&M Engineering. “Dr. Blasingame’s leadership and dedication reflect the highest standards of Texas A&M University, and we are grateful for the contributions he continues to make to our academic mission.”
Wooley, a distinguished professor in the College of Arts and Sciences with a joint appointment in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, conducts research on the synthesis and characterization of degradable polymers derived from natural products. Her work has resulted in strategies to reduce petrochemicals and the production of environmentally friendly natural products.
“It is an honor to congratulate Dr. Karen Wooley on her well-deserved election to the National Academy of Engineering. Having had the privilege of working with Dr. Wooley for many years, I have seen firsthand the impact of her innovative research and leadership in polymer chemistry,” said Dr. Simon North, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Her election, in addition to her membership in the National Academy of Sciences, is a testament to her remarkable contributions to science and engineering. The College of Arts and Sciences joins me in celebrating this outstanding achievement.”
Wooley is also a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Inventors and the National Academy of Sciences. She was named the 2021 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Professor of the Year.
A component of The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, NAE was established in 1964 and operates under the same congressional act signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 that established the National Academy of Sciences. The NAE advances the welfare and prosperity of the nation by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and public appreciation of engineering.
