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Bio

“One of the noblest and critical professions is being an educator of young minds. The responsibility to shape, challenge, inspire, and influence our youth should not be taken any lighter than life itself.”

​

     Dr. Derrick Keith Rollins, Sr. grew up in inner-city Kansas City, Missouri. He received a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Kansas in 1979. From then until 1986 he worked for the E. I. Du Pont Chemical Company in Kansas, Missouri and Ohio. In the fall of 1985, he returned to college and earned the following degrees from The Ohio State University: an M.S. degree in chemical engineering in 1987, an M.S. degree in statistics in 1989, and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering in 1990.

   Professor Rollins joined the Iowa State University (ISU) faculty in the fall of 1990 in a unique joint appointment between the Statistics Department and the Chemical Engineering Department. Since coming to Iowa State, Dr. Rollins has received many research grants and awards including the 2013 National Organization for the Professional  Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) Joseph N.Cannon Award in Chemical Engineering, the 2012 McDonald Mentoring Award from the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society, the 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) MAC Eminent Engineer Award, the ISU 2007 Louis Thompson Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award, 2005 Regents Faculty Excellence Award given by the Iowa Board of Regents, the 2000 ISU Presidential Service Award, the 1996 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mentor Award, the 1994 ISU Foundation Award for Early Achievement in Teaching, and in 1994 the National Science Foundation Presidential Faculty Fellows Award, which was considered the highest honor the federal government gives young scientists and engineers. The latter award was given by the president of the United States each year to no more than 30 faculty members -- 15 in engineering disciplines and 15 in science disciplines. His research areas include glucose monitoring, modeling and control to help people with diabetes control blood sugar better, development of supporting technology for ventricular assist devices (VAD), nonlinear dynamic modeling in human aging, bin grain dryers, and for improving cancer protocols in Biomedical Engineering; Bio- and Material- Informatics and data mining; and development of processes for non-destructive testing procedures. He is the ISU Director for IIN-SPIRE LSAMP and hold the title of University Professor.

Contact Information

Offices:

1033 Sweeney Hall - Phone: (515) 708-2557

2214 Snedecor Hall - Phone: (515) 708-2557

Email: drollins@iastate.edu

Office Hours Spring 2020:

2:10 - 4:00 T/R - 1033 Sweeney

Classes

Currently Teaching:

  • STAT 305: Engineering Statistics & Chemical Engineering Statistics

  • STAT 587: Statistical Methods for Research Workers

  • ChE 210: Material and Energy Balances

  • ChE 421: Process Dynamics and Control

Previously Taught:

  • STAT 231 Probability and Statistical Inference for Engineers

  • STAT 401, Statistical Methods for Research Workers

  • STAT 515 Theory and Application of Nonlinear Models

  • ChE 590 Advanced Process Control

  • ChE 690, Advanced Statistical Modeling in Chemical Engineering 

Faculty Advisor

Awards

  • 2015 awarded the title ISU “University Professor”

  • 2014 Outstanding Faculty Member, by Interfraternity Council, “Selected as one of ISU’s most outstanding faculty members” Spring 2014.

  • 2013 NOBCChE - Joseph N. Cannon Award in Chemical Engineering recognizing honors and achievements in the Chemical Engineering Field.

  • 2012 Tau Beta Pi MacDonald Mentor Award.

  • 2012 “Citizen of the Year Award” on behalf of the Men of Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity, Inc. Mu Omicron Graduate Chapter, Des Moines, Iowa.

  • 2010 AIChE MAC Eminent Engineer Award.

  • ISU AIChE Student Chapter, "Come on in, it's not my office hours," award (2008).

  • ISU AIChE Student Chapter, "Favorite Faculty Member" award (2008)

  • ISU Tau Beta Pi Eminent Engineer for Membership into the Iowa Alpha Award (2008).

  • ISU Engineering Student Council Leadership Award, “for significant and lasting contributions to the success of Iowa State engineering students” (2007).

  • VEISHEA Nomination as Faculty of the Year for the College of Engineering (2007).

  • ISU Louis Thompson Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award (2007).

  • ISU AIChE Student Chapter, "Come on in, it's not my office hours," award (2007).

  • ISU AIChE Student Chapter, "Favorite Faculty Member" award (2007).

  • ISU Engineering Student Council Leadership Award, “for significant and lasting contributions to the success of Iowa State engineering students” (2006).

  • ISU AIChE Student Chapter, "Come on in, it's not my office hours," award (2006).

  • Outstanding Faculty Member, by Interfraternity Council, "Selected as one of ISU's most outstanding faculty members" Fall 2006

  • Outstanding Faculty Member, by Interfraternity Council, “Selected as one of ISU’s most outstanding faculty members” Fall 2005.

  • ISU recipient of the 2005 Regents Faculty Excellence Award given by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.

  • ISU Engineers’ Week 2004 Outstanding Professor in Chemical Engineering.

  • ISU Student Chapter, The 2004 “You Make this Class Bearable Award,” “In appreciation for his effort in undergraduate instruction, as chosen by his student.”

  • 2003 ISU Student Affairs Certificate of Appreciation in Recognition of Service To Students and Support of Division of Student Affairs.

  • ISU Student Chapter, The 2003 “You Make this Class Bearable Award,” “In appreciation for his effort in undergraduate instruction, as chosen by his student.”

  • 2003 Outstanding Faculty Member, by Interfraternity Council, “Selected as one of ISU’s most outstanding faculty members” Fall 2003.

  • 2003 Outstanding Faculty Member, by Interfraternity Council, “Selected as one of ISU’s most outstanding faculty members” Spring 2003.

  • 2003 Kansas State Multicultural Engineering Program Appreciation Plaque, “In recoginition 3 of your accomplishments in engineering and commitment to promote the academic and intellectual development of the multicultural engineering students at Kansas State University.

  • VEISHEA 2001 Nomination as an Outstanding Faculty Member at Iowa State University.

  • 2001 NAACP Vanguard Award.

  • 2000 Iowa State University Presidential Service Award.

  • 1997 Featured in ISU commercial, “Hero.”

  • 1996 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mentor Award.

  • 1995-96 ISU Program for Women in Science and Engineering Anna Pate Mentoring Award.

  • Featured as the June Scientist in AEtna's Calendar of African American History with the 1996 theme as African Americans in Science.

  • Featured in “Revlon Presents African-American Heritage -- A Living Legend” brochure for 1996 Black History Month.

  • Engineering Student Council Outstanding Engineering Professorship in Chemical Engineering, 1995-96.

  • LAMPOS Professor of the Year Award, LAS College Honor Society, 1995-96.

  • Honorary Member Golden Key National Honor Society -- elected 1994.

  • 1994 National Science Foundation (NSF) Presidential Faculty Fellows (PFF) Award.

  • 1994 ISU Foundation Award for Early Achievement in Teaching.

  • 3M Non-tenured Faculty Award (1993, 1994 and 1995).

  • Award Winning Paper -- 62nd Annual National Technical Association Conference Minority Technical Student Symposium, 1990.

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