Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor<\/a> goes beyond just his unrivaled commitment to the success of his students \u2014 it's a reflection of his ongoing mission to give back to the community that built him.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe award is one of the most prestigious undergraduate teaching awards at NC State, and recognizes faculty that have provided distinguished service in support of undergraduate students. Along with a new title of \u201cAlumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor,\u201d Ormond will be recognized at the Alumni Association event and receive a cash award. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The science of protecting firefighters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Twenty one years after walking on to the Textiles campus as a first-year student, Ormond has earned himself a spot as one of the world\u2019s leading experts in the science of protecting firefighters. It\u2019s the real-world impact of his research and the difference it has made in the lives of these first responders that makes his work unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe work we do on firefighter protective clothing and equipment, trying to decrease their exposure to harmful things, trying to make sure they\u2019re protected and can do their job,\u201d Ormond explains. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t just stay in the lab, it doesn\u2019t stay in a publication. It\u2019s literally across the backs of firefighters that are in the field today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Making sure the work he and his team are doing gets from the lab to the field is a big part of Ormond\u2019s mission. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s disseminate this information. Let\u2019s get out to the firefighters and meet them in the field, meet them in the station and talk to them where they are,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019re going to firefighter specific trade shows and conferences, sharing our information as much as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it\u2019s not just the results of his research that make it to the field, but the process itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can only do so much in the lab,\u201d Ormond explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His team recently ran two different field tests, burning down rooms in a controlled environment and taking samples from the real firefighters who went in to investigate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n