Tulane School of Science and Engineering Honors Outstanding Alumni

(L-R) Science & Engineering distinguished alumni honorees celebrating at the awards ceremony. (L-R Scot Ackerman, Jennifer Berumen, and Robert Ryan).

It’s no secret that the School of Science and Engineering at Tulane houses exceptional intellectual talent, producing groundbreaking innovations in every area of scientific study. But every so often, the School ensures that this open secret stays wide open. At its tenth annual Alumni Awards ceremony on April 12, the SSE honored alumni Robert N. Ryan, Jr., Dr. Jennifer Berumen, and Dr. Scot N. Ackerman.

A longtime veteran in oil and gas, Ryan (Geology, BS '79, Geology, MS '88) is Vice-President for Global Exploration at Chevron. Ryan (aka “Bobby”). Bobby, who has served both in the private and public sector under President George H.W. Bush, has long sought to marry rigorous geological research with technological and economic development, leading to his 2018 Outstanding Alumnus Award.

A physician with the UC-San Diego health system, Dr. Jennifer Berumen (Biomedical Engineering, BSE '03, Medicine, MD '07) is an expert in abdominal transplantation in both children and adults, procedures she regularly performs at Rady Children’s Hospital. For her life-saving work with the critically ill, Berumen received the 2018 Outstanding Young Alumna Award.

Dr. Scot N. Ackerman (Biomedical Engineering, BSE '78) is the director of the Ackerman Cancer Center in Jacksonville, Florida, where he also oversees the First Coast Cancer Foundation, providing support services for patients and families alike. Ackerman’s compassionate service to his community led to his receiving the 2018 Outstanding Service Alumnus Award.

“Bobby, Jennifer and Scot are not only extremely accomplished in their chosen careers,” says Shepard Perrin III (Chemical Engineering, '83), President of the SSE Board of Advisors and Chair of the Board Alumni Awards Sub-Committee, “but as individuals have given back to society consistent with the vision and values of the School of Science and Engineering and Tulane University.”

The School of Science and Engineering remains proud of all its alumni, Perrin added, and is delighted to honor those leading lights who inspire all Tulane students, faculty, and staff.