The Barbara and Bob Sawyer Scholarship

This fund honors Robert F. and Barbara Sawyer and supports undergraduate students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Professor Sawyer joined the mechanical engineering faculty in 1966 and was renowned for his teaching and research in rocket propulsion, air pollution, and regulatory policy.

Among many recognitions, Bob was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering and served as the president of the International Combustion Institute, chair of the Energy and Resources Group at Berkeley, and Senior Faculty Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. A prolific writer, Bob wrote more than 350 publications with over 230 co-authors. He served on the California Air Resources Board in 1975-76, appointed by Governor Jerry Brown, and was the board’s chair from 2005-07, appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Barbara was a faculty member in journalism and past chair of the Academic Senate at Diablo Valley College.