Arthur J. Bond, an ECE Alumnus, passed away on December 30, 2012.

He had distinguished himself as an accomplished engineer, educator, administrator - and as a student mentor.

Bond's students remember him as someone who opened doors where no one really knew they existed. While working toward a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, he began his 15-year tenure at Purdue University as the first coordinator of a new "Program for Disadvantaged Students" in freshman engineering. In 1971, there were 28 minority students enrolled in Purdue engineering programs; by 1978, there were 304. In seeking a way for his students to mentor one another, Bond was credited as the founder, and Purdue as the birthplace, of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). The organization started with six members and has grown to 20,000 members, 268 student chapters and 50 technical/alumni chapters.

In 1980, he entered the corporate sector, serving as a member of the technical staff that conducted research investigations on audio and video circuitry for RCA VideoDisc Systems. In 1984, Bond joined a team at Bendix Engine Control Systems as principal engineer and project manager for the conception, design and construction of the fiber optic control systems for the Boeing 777 aircraft.

He later rejoined the academic ranks - as a professor and head of the electrical engineering department in the School of Engineering and Architecture at Tuskegee University, providing technical and managerial leadership and consultant support to electronics-related industries. In 1992, he began a 14-year leadership role as dean of the School of Engineering and Technology at Alabama A&M University. Through Bond's direction, the school received accreditation from ABET for its four-year engineering technology programs, acquired electrical and mechanical engineering programs, moved the university's computer science program under its jurisdiction, and gained ABET accreditation for the three new programs within the school. His efforts to land facilities to centrally house the school gained momentum, and in 2003, the school moved into an 86,000-square-foot building complete with classrooms, offices and laboratories. In 2010 the engineering building was named for him.

Bond's work at any one of the institutions could constitute lifetime achievement for many people. And yet, in addition, his commitment to the success of his students had led to many more engineering leaders - some of whom also have been recognized by Purdue as distinguished engineering alumni.