Dr. Darsh Wasan a well-respected professor at the IIT (Chicago) for over 55 years. He is an institution with an interesting personality, multiple accomplishments and challenging personal journey as one of the pioneers of the Indian Community in Chicago. His life story is an inspiration to many students and friend's worth sharing with the world.
He describes his challenging life journey-fleeing persecution in Pakistan as a child to become an impoverished refugee in Bombay, discovering he loved learning, moving to the United States to study, making his mark in academe, and achieving the American dream. His faith in himself and his religion drove him to accomplish much.
Mr. Wasan came to the USA as a naïve teenager to pursue a bachelor's degree. With tenacity and hard work, he excelled in his studies and went on to earn a Ph.D. He was fortunate to find great teachers and mentors, and he became one himself. He became a leader in his field of chemical engineering. At Illinois Institute of Technology, he served as professor, dean, provost and chief academic officer, all the while continuing his research. Applications of his research with students and colleagues won him international renown—numerous awards and honors including his induction into U.S. National Academy of Engineering, which he regards as the pinnacle of his career.
Mr. Wasan is first and foremost an educator-- his devotion to his students is heartfelt. He describes his career path, his inspiration, and his commitment to inspire and guide others. The title of his book is his life's motto: "Come in to Learn and Go out to Serve."
