Robert R. Tillman

Professor Emeritus,  Civil and Environmental Engineering

Contact

Office

  • 617.373.3469

Research Focus

Cooperative education; professional ethics; education research

About

Robert Tillman received his BSCE and EdD from Northeastern University. During his 38+ at NU years he has coordinated the civil co-op program at the graduate and undergraduate levels. He has served as Acting Dean of the Department of Cooperative Education and as Co-op Director for the College of Engineering. He has conducted research, presented at professional conferences, and published in the areas of cooperative education, career development, professional ethics, and research design in education.

Education

  • Doctor of Education in Administration of Higher Education, Northeastern University, 1988
  • M.S., Master of Education, Counselor Education, Northeastern University, 1979
  • B.S., Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, 1972

Honors & Awards

  • The Society of American Military Engineers, New York City Post, commendation for outstanding support to the New York City Post S.A.M.E. Scholarship Fund, (2011).
  • American Society for Engineering/Cooperative Education Division Alvah K. Borman Award for sustained, honorable, and meritorious contributions to the promotion of the philosophy and practice of cooperative education in engineering and/or engineering technology (2007).
  • Northeastern University Civil Engineering Alumni Organization (NUCEAO) Most Outstanding Alumnus (2003).
  • American Society of Civil Engineers, Faculty Advisor Certificate of Commendation (1985, 1986, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010). During time as Co-Advisor the Chapter received The Robert Ridgway Award (1987), National Community Service Awards (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005) and the Zone 1 Vice President’s Award for Most Outstand Student Chapter (1984, 1987), Honorable Mention for outstanding activities (2010), and Letter of Recognition for Service (2010). Additionally the Chapter received award citations from the Charles River Conservancy (2007) and the Northeastern University Office for Community Service Programs (2011).

Professional Affiliations

  • Accreditation Council For Cooperative Education
  • American Society of Civil Engineers
  • American Society of Engineering Education, Cooperative Education Division
  • Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section
  • Cooperative Education and Internship Association
  • Cooperative Education Network
  • Northeastern University Civil Engineering Alumni Organization

Research Overview

Cooperative education; professional ethics; education research

Selected Publications

Book Contributions

  • Learning From Experience: A Resource Book by and for Co-op/Internship Professionals (2009). Weighart, S., Mosaic Eye Publishing, Brookline, MA.
  • Find Your First Professional Job: A Guide for Co-ops, Interns and Full-Time Job Seekers, 3rd Edition (2007). Weighart, S., Mosaic Eye Publishing, Brookline, MA.
  • Applied Ethics in Engineering Practice (1997). Bucknam, R. (ed.), Institute of Professional Engineering Practice, University of Washington. Funded by a grant from the General Electric Foundation.

Conference Presentations

  • Mentoring the Young Professional (2014). Structures Congress, The Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) – American Society of Civil Engineers, Boston, MA – with C. Barnes, M. Berry, R. Croswell, S. Zamora, & K. Dougherty.
  • Through the Looking-Glass – Revisited (2012). American Society for Engineering Education – Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration Conference (CIEC), Orlando, FL. A Pre-Conference workshop with R. DiMarco.
  • Co-op and Internship Programs: Positive Strategies for Challenging Times (2010). American Society for Engineering Education – Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration Conference (CIEC), Palm Springs, CA. Received Outstanding Conference Presenter Award.
  • Discovering Magical Partnerships Within Your University (2009). American Society for Engineering Education – Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration Conference (CIEC), Orlando, FL – with P. Bazrod, Georgia Institute of Technology. Received Outstanding Conference Presenter Award.

External Presentations, Instruction, Seminars, and Workshops

  • Course Instructor and consultant, Professionalism and Professional Ethics for LEPs and LSPs (2013, 2014 & 2015). An eight-hour continuing education course offered to meet state licensing requirements Massachusetts. Sponsored by the LSP Association of Massachusetts, Westborough, MA & Environmental Professionals’ Organization of Connecticut (EPOC), Hartford, CT.

External Grant Activity

  • Member, 12-person external review board that evaluated 26 grant applications for Ohio Means Internships & Co-ops (OMIC) that made recommendations to the Ohio Board of Regents. This was the second phase of solicited RFP’s to award $16.3m in grants with $22.2m private matching funds over a 2-year funding period.
  • Member, Five-person external review panel that evaluated 41 grant applications ($61.4M) and made recommendations to the Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents for the Ohio and Internship program. This was part of Ohio’s five-year effort to expand and strengthen experiential learning in Ohio, 2009.

Feb 19, 2016

COE Featured in NAE’s Infusing Ethics Report

The National Academy of Engineering's Infusing Ethics into the Development of Engineers report features in Daniel Saulnier, Bob Tillman, & Tricia Lenihan for "Multiyear Engineering Ethics Case Study Approach" and Matthew Eckelman & Jacqueline Isaacs for "Case Studies for Engineering Ethics Across the Engineering Life Cycle".

Professional Societies

Oct 14, 2015

ASCE Community Service Builds Park for Walpole

The student chapter of ASCE recently reached a milestone on their multi-year community service project with the Town of Walpole – the completion of a ramada.

Undergraduate

Jun 25, 2015

A Celebration of Bob Tillman’s 39 Years of Dedication to Students

A celebration of Bob Tillman's 39 years of dedication to students. 

Jun 04, 2015

Bob Tillman Retires

Robert Tillman, who has served the Northeastern community for 39 years, is retiring in June 2015.

Nov 15, 2010

Prof. Tillman’s Presentation Receives Award

At the 2011 American Society for Engineering Education Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration (ASEE/CIEC) to be held in San Antonio this February, Professor Robert Tillman will receive the 2010 ASEE/CEED Best Presenter Award for his presentation Co-op and Internship Programs: Positive Strategies for Challenging Times.

Nov 19, 2009

Congratulations Robert Tillman

CEE Associate Professor Robert Tillman, has been selected to receive the best CEE division speaker award for his session “Discovering Magical Partnerships within Your Campus”. He will be recognized for this achievement at the annual CIEC conference in February.

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