Deputy Vice-Chancellor Deborah Buszard and Associate Dean of Engineering Rehan Sadiq unveil the plaque for the Dr. Spiro Yannacopoulos Board Room.
When UBC professor Spiro Yannacopoulos passed away in December 2015, the School of Engineering looked for some way to keep his memory—and his passion for the profession—alive.
Two weeks ago, at a small ceremony in the Engineering Management Education building, one of the School of Engineering’s board rooms was dedicated to the former professor and associate dean.
Yannacopoulos held the roles of Director of the School of Engineering since 2006 and Associate Dean of Applied Science from 2008 until August 2015. His contributions to UBC and in particular the Okanagan campus were extraordinary and his leadership contributed to the School of Engineering’s success as one of Canada’s newest and fastest-growing engineering schools, said UBC Deputy Vice-Chancellor Deborah Buszard at the event.
“When I first met Spiro, he was a formidable force and I was very much taken by his commitment to this campus, the School of Engineering, and all of you—the people he worked with,” Buszard told the audience of engineering faculty and staff.
Associate Dean of the School of Engineering Rehan Sadiq explained how they wanted to find “the best way to honour Spiro” and one where they will continually be reminded of his passion and dedication to teaching the next generation of engineers.
“We are so very glad we are able to do this small thing for Spiro,” Sadiq added.
Boardroom EME 4249, located right beside the office where he orchestrated the growth of the School of Engineering, has been renamed the Dr. Spiro Yannacopoulos Board Room. A small plaque, dedicating the room, has been installed at the reception area.
Plaque for the Dr. Spiro Yannacopoulos Boardroom
From the family of Dr. Spiro Yannacopoulos’ sister in Greece, we would like to thank the faculty and staff of the School of Engineering as well as everyone else involved in this dedication. We really appreciate your initiative in order to keep the memory of Spiro alive and for your kind words
Spiro was a wonderful person with a distinct passion for engineering and teaching. He took pride in being part of UBC and was always preoccupied in trying to find ways to assist the School of Engineering and make himself useful.
He will always be alive in our hearts and will never be forgotten.
Our warmest wishes to everyone.