A Higher Education

Stanley Napper, PhD

Office of the Provost
  • Professor of Engineering
  • Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Education

  • PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Louisiana Tech University
  • BS in Biomedical Engineering, Louisiana Tech University

Courses Taught at Louisiana Tech University (1984-2017)

  • Biomedical Engineering Principles (BME 201, BME 202/203/204)
  • Artificial Internal Organs and Biocompatible Materials (original BME 402)
  • Physiological Control Systems (BME 403)
  • Biomedical Mass Transport (BME 401)
  • Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems Applications (Graduate – BME 570)
  • Biomedical Engineering Research Design (Graduate – BME 550)
  • Biomedical Engineering Design I & II (BME 402/404)
  • Clinical Engineering (BME 310)
  • Clinical Engineering Internship (BME 410)
  • Advanced Bioprocess Identification and Control (Graduate – BME 550)
  • Systems Analysis and Mathematical Modeling of Physiological Phenomena (Graduate – BME 540)
  • Biomaterials and Biomechanics (BME 420)
  • Energy (Graduate – MEEN 500)
  • Engineering Problem-Solving I (ENGR 120)
  • Engineering Problem-Solving II (ENGR 121)
  • Engineering Problem-Solving III (ENGR 122)
  • University Seminar (UNIV 100)
  • Biomedical Engineering Senior Seminar (BME 400)
  • Academic Enterprise (ENGR 622)
  • Leadership Skills for Engineers and Scientists (ENGR 420/421/422)

Teaching Focus

Dr. Napper’s teaching focus is project-based learning in engineering and leadership development for engineering students.  He has taught a variety of freshman, sophomore, senior, and graduate level engineering courses in biomedical engineering and “integrated” engineering.

Research Interests and Publications

Dr. Napper’s early research was in mathematical modeling of physiological systems but later research was in engineering education and in exploring applications of artificial intelligence in biomedical engineering.  Projects have included expert systems for prescription of assistive devices, cognitive orthoses, and AI-based ECG arrhythmia diagnosis. To support this work, and in collaboration with others, he received external funds from NIH, NSF, Whitaker Foundation, Frost Foundation, and the Louisiana Board of Regents. He also helped obtain and manage additional funding from DOE, NIH (LBRN), AFRL, and AFOSR.  The total value of these grants is over $9.8M.  He also published 45 professional articles and served as Chair or Co-Chair for 6 PhD students, and 23 MS students.

Committee Service/Offices Held

During his years at Louisiana Tech University, he served in a variety of capacities, including:

  • Search Committees (at Vice President, Dean, Department Head, Faculty, and Staff levels)
  • Pre-Med/Pre-Dent Advisory Committee, 1988-2004
  • General Education Requirements Committee, 1994-2004
  • Sexual Harassment Committee, 1997-2005
  • Council of Academic Deans, 2004 – 2013
  • Administrative and Planning Council, 2004 – 2017
  • Institutional Review Board, Intellectual Property and Commercialization Office

Awards and Honors

  • Vice President Emeritus of Louisiana Tech University (2017)
  • Professor Emeritus of Louisiana Tech University (2017)
  • Fellow, American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, Inducted 2007
  • Outstanding Achievement in Teaching, College of Engineering and Science, 1997-98
  • Outstanding Achievement in Advising Award, College of Engineering, 1992-93
  • Distinguished Service Award, College of Engineering, 1988
  • Centennial Certificate, For exceptional contributions to the American Society for Engineering Education and the Profession of Engineering, ASEE, 1993.
  • Member
    • Tau Beta Pi (engineering honorary), inducted 1980
      • Chief Faculty Advisor, 1987-1992
      • Member of Advisory Council, 1997-present
    • Phi Kappa Phi (general honorary)
      • Vice-President of Louisiana Tech Chapter, 1985-86,
      • President of Louisiana Tech Chapter, 1986-87
    • Sigma Xi (research honorary), 1985-1992
  • Alpha Eta Mu Beta (biomedical engineering honorary), inducted 1980
    • Faculty Advisor of Louisiana Tech Chapter, 1984-2002
    • National Executive Director, 1981-2007
  • Louisiana Tech Engineering Foundation Outstanding Graduate Student, 1981
  • Outstanding Senior in Biomedical Engineering, 1980
  • National Merit Scholar, 1977-1980

Previous Academic/Professional Positions

33 years on the faculty of Louisiana Tech University in variety of academic and administrative capacities, including:

  • 2013 – 2017 Vice President of Research and Development, Louisiana Tech University
  • 2004 – 2013 Dean of the College of Engineering and Science, Jack Thigpen Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Louisiana Tech University
  • 2002 – 2004 Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Executive Associate Dean of the College of Engineering and Science
  • 2001 – 2002 Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Academic Director of Biomedical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, Louisiana Tech University
  • 1988 – 2001 Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering,
  • 1984 – 1988 Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Additional Information

Professional Leadership and Activities:

  • Program Evaluator for Biomedical Engineering Programs, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, 2002 – 2009
  • ABET Board of Directors, BMES Representative, 2009 – 2015
    • Board Liaison to Executive Committee of Engineering Accreditation Commission, 2010 – 2013
  • Executive Director of Alpha Eta Mu Beta (national biomedical engineering honor society), 1980-1999.
  • Reviewer, Artificial Intelligence articles, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 1988-2002.
  • Reviewer, National Science Foundation, Bioengineering and Research to Aid the Disabled, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994.
  • Reviewer, National Institute of Disability Research and Rehabilitation, 1993.
  • Co-Chairman, Expert Systems in Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE EMBS, Nov. 4-7, 1988.

Member

  • Alliance for Engineering in Medicine and Biology
    • Chairman, Membership Committee, 1985-1987
    • Delegate to the Council from Alpha Eta Mu Beta, 1980-1988
  • American Society for Engineering Education, 1985-present
    • Biomedical Engineering Division
      • Member-at-large Officer, 1986-1989; Vice-Chairman for Professional Development, 1989-90; Vice-Chairman for Career Development and Awards, 1990-91,1991-92; Program Chair-Elect, 1993-94; Program Chair, 1994-95; Division Chair, 1995-96; Past Chair, 1996-97
    • Engineering Deans Council, 2004 – 2013
  • Biomedical Engineering Society, 1982-1993, 2002 – present
    • Member, Student Affairs Committee, 1987-1989
    • Member and Scheduler (2004-2010), Accreditation Activities Committee, 2004 – 2015
    • Representative to ABET Board of Directors, 2009 – 2015
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, 1982-1992
    • Computer Society, 1986-1989
    • Education Society, 1985-86
    • Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 1982-1992
    • Student Representative to the Administrative Council, 1982-1983
  • Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America, 1986-1994
    • Special Interest Group on Robotics, 1986-1990
  • Louisiana Council of Engineering Deans, 2004 – 2015

Church Service:

Member, Cook Baptist Church, Ruston, LA, 1980 – present

(Ministry roles have included: church pianist and organist; deacon; Personnel Committee – past Chairman, Finance Committee – past Chairman, Youth Support Committee – past Chairman; Minister of Music Search Committee; Pastor Search Committee (2005, 2017); Discipleship Training Study Leader; Sunday School teacher, Missions Team member – trips to Kazakhstan and New Mexico)

Personal Statement:

My wife, Vicki, and I have been married 37 years.  We have eight children (six sons and two daughters, all now grown, four who are married), and two grandsons.  As important as my profession is to me, and as much as I love my family, my priority and devotion is to God.  The support, the hope, the source of my life is found in the Word of God (Holy Bible) and in a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Because I am able to personally confirm that God is real, alive, active, and true (even in the hardest of days), my view of the world is entirely Christian.  My desire is to represent Him well and to demonstrate His love and all the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Dr. Napper’s personal biography is available at “What I Would Like You to Know About Me.”