Dr. Doru Stefanescu, key professor at The Ohio State University, was honored on February 11, 2006 by the Central Ohio Chapter of the American Foundry Society (AFS) for his contributions and efforts to revitalize the metal casting laboratory at The Ohio State University, where he has taught since August of 2005.

Stefanescu came out of retirement after 36 years in the field to head up the department at OSU. The department is outdated, but VP/GM of Ashland Specialty Chemical Co. Michael Swartzlander believed Dr. Stefanescu was the right man for the job. His efforts to modernize and rebuild the laboratory began with his initial donation of $10,000 towards the program’s $1 million campaign.

“Even though OSU has a glorious past in metal casting education, the current casting laboratory falls far short by trying to teach students with equipment that would pride the Smithsonian Muesum,” said Stefanescu.

“There is only a short window of opportunity to revive the metal casting program at OSU, and we must act now, and in unison, to assure we can overcome foreign competition and maintain industrial leadership.”