Rory Roberts named inaugural Jon Yarbrough Endowed Professor at Tennessee Tech
Tennessee Tech University has named Rory Roberts, professor of mechanical and nuclear engineering, as the inaugural recipient of the Jon Yarbrough Endowed Professorship, an honor recognizing faculty who demonstrate exceptional research and instructional achievement, innovation and leadership.
The professorship was made possible through a $3 million gift from Tech alumnus, entrepreneur and philanthropist Jon Yarbrough, founder of Video Gaming Technologies, Inc. (VGT). The endowment provides a stipend to one faculty member each year in recognition of their excellence in research and teaching.
Roberts, who joined Tech’s College of Engineering in 2020, said the recognition is both humbling and gratifying. He described it as a prestigious title that acknowledges the contributions of his entire research team.
“It's nice to be recognized for the work that we’re doing, and it’s not just me,” said Roberts. “I have a whole team of students and researchers that play a huge role in everything we accomplish. It’s their efforts as well that help make this opportunity possible.”
John Liu, interim provost at Tech, said Roberts exemplifies the kind of faculty excellence the endowed professorship was created to honor.
Liu noted that Roberts has published more than 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and secured over $26 million in research funding over the past five years from agencies such as NASA, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy. He also credited Roberts for helping establish Tech’s aerospace engineering concentration, which now enrolls more than 140 undergraduates, and for mentoring large numbers of undergraduate and graduate researchers.
“Dr. Roberts has demonstrated outstanding productivity and scholarship that merit this distinction,” said Liu. “In addition to his research accomplishments, he is a dedicated and highly effective educator whose mentorship is shaping the next generation of engineers.”
An expert in sustainable aviation and energy systems, Roberts serves as principal investigator for a NASA-led project known as CLEAN (CarbonLess Electric AviatioN), which is developing concepts for zero-emission commercial aircraft. The project, involving more than 50 students across six universities, aims to design an electric-powered aircraft capable of carrying up to 200 passengers.
Roberts said the project’s technical complexity is matched by its value to students.
“We’re not just tackling an important engineering problem; we’re also creating workforce development opportunities,” he said. “Students are working side by side with faculty, industry engineers and peers across other universities, gaining hands-on experience that will prepare them for the future aerospace workforce.”
He added that Yarbrough’s generosity will have a lasting effect on the research culture and faculty morale at Tech. “Research takes a lot of time, dedication and persistence,” Roberts said. “This kind of recognition shows that the university values those efforts and wants to reward faculty who are making progress and achieving success. It’s something I’m sure future researchers will aspire to.”
Since joining Tech, Roberts has built an active research laboratory involving undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students who design and test advanced propulsion and energy systems. The group works on multiple federal projects and has transitioned from computer modeling to hands-on prototype development.
Roberts credits Tech’s collaborative environment for helping his team thrive. “The faculty here work well together, and the leadership in the department and the college really go out of their way to support you,” he said. “Tech is growing, and we’re growing with it.”