Athanasiou Receives Honorary Doctorate and Gives Commencement Speech at Alma Mater
May 30, 2024 - Kyriacos A. Athanasiou, UC Irvine Distinguished Professor of biomedical engineering, was awarded an honorary doctorate of science from his alma mater, the New York Institute of Technology, at its Commencement Ceremony on May 19. Athanasiou also delivered the commencement address.
Athanasiou came to the U.S. from his native country of Cyprus to attend college and has become a leader in his field by developing life-saving technologies and biomimetic tissues that treat damaged joints in the human body. He told the graduating class at NYIT: “In May 1984, I was sitting where you are now. Exactly 40 years later, I am receiving an honorary doctorate of science, a great recognition that I accept with joy and humility. This honor fills me with nostalgia for the beloved university that set me on a path toward achievement and excellence.”
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from NYIT, Athanasiou earned two master’s degrees and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Columbia University. He joined the faculty at the UCI Samueli School of Engineering in 2017. Through his research, Athanasiou has enormously impacted health science and technology. The senior academic researcher has spent his career inventing biomimetic tissues for use in treating damaged knees, jaw joints, facets, hips, shoulders and other joints. He has also become a leading authority on translating engineering innovations into commercially available medical instruments, devices and biologics.
In his speech, the NYIT alumnus shared his story of humble beginnings and offered this message: “If one has sufficient mental horsepower, then the objective can be nothing but excellence. Apart from being smart, you must first develop robust morals and unbridled passion. If you have sufficient intelligence, and obviously you all do, there are no limits, no ceilings, no artificial walls.”
He also noted that many of the students were first generation Americans, as he was when he came to the U.S. “I am sure you share with me profound admiration for this great nation that opened its doors to us, embraced us, gave us opportunities and is letting us soar.”
Athanasiou congratulated the students, saying, “I will be rooting for you, I will be admiring you, and I will be looking forward to reading about your accomplishments and successes that I know will make our New York Tech family proud.”
Athanasiou is the recipient of many accolades. Last year he received the Medal of Excellence from the Republic of Cyprus and was named a “Great Immigrant” by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Other honors include the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society, election to the National Academy of Medicine in 2020 and induction into the National Academy of Inventors in 2014.
– Lori Brandt
