Ashraf Habibullah is inaugurated Doctor Honoris Causa by UNPHU

Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU) carried out the act of celebration of Doctor Honoris Causa to the world-famous structural engineer and developer Ashraf Habibullah, one of the most influential figures of modern civil engineering. The Pakistani American software developer engineer is best known as president and chief executive of Computers and Structures, Inc., a privately held structural and seismic engineering software company based in Berkeley, California, and founded in 1975.

The Honoris Causa Doctorate is the highest distinction granted by a university to a professional, in recognition of its merits and career in the academic, scientific or cultural field, its values, and its special link with the university.

The Rector, Architect Miguel Fiallo Calderón, presented the proposal and imposed the title of Doctor Honoris Causa that was awarded by the Faculty of Science and Technology, as well as the corresponding badges, to Mr. Ashraf Habibullah, after pondering his career path, and his contributions to science and technology. 

Mr. Ashraf Habibullah, after receiving the title said: ‘’Receiving recognition like this makes me feel part of this country that I have a close relationship with for more than 20 years.‘’ 

The reading of the central speech of the event was carried out by Engineer Doris Peña, dean of this Faculty, and the reading of the bibliographical sketch of the laureate was carried out by Engineer César Mercedes, director of the School of Civil Engineering.

The panel of honor was composed by: Architect Raúl De Moya Español, President of the Dominican University Foundation Pedro Henríquez Ureña (FUDPHU); Architect Miguel Fiallo Calderón, rector at UNPHU; Patricia Matos Lluberes, academic vice-chancellor; Engineer Walter Lendor, Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Development and Quality Assurance; Dr. Leonor Farray Bergés, Vice-Chancellor of Postgraduate and Continuing Education; Josefina Pepín Ubrí; Vice-Chancellor of Research, Projects, Link, and Internationalization and Engineer Doris Peña, dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology.

On UNPHU 

With 56 years of foundation, it has a wide academic offer of undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing education; with a vision of academic excellence, innovation, and research, attached to sustainable development and environmental preservation.

About the Award Winner

Ashraf has a deep personal interest in the study of psychology and human behavior, and how they can be harnessed to help people from all walks of life reach their full potential.

Its programs are used by thousands of engineering firms in more than 160 countries to design large bridge and building projects, including Taipei Tower 101 in Taiwan, One World Trade Center in New York, and Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai. Also, the Bird’s Nest Stadium of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the Centenary Bridge over the Panama Canal, and the Petronas Towers in Malaysia. The top five CSI products are SAP2000, CSiBridge, ETABS, SAFE, and PERFORM-3D.

Habibullah’s scientific and altruistic work has been recognized many times. In 2010, Ashraf Habibullah received the H. J. Brunnier Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Structural Engineers of Northern California (Seaonc) for “improving the practice of structural engineering by developing efficient structural analysis programs.” Other acknowledgments include the 2011 American Concrete Institute (ACI) Charles S. Whitney Medal for “developing world-class computing applications.”

He also received the SEAONC 2000 Award for Community Participation, for «improving the safety of life, environmental health and economic well-being of the public». In 2013 he was inducted into the CEE Academy of Distinguished Alumni, which recognizes Berkeley’s professional achievements and service.

In 2014, he received the University of California, Berkeley Foundation Mention Award.  It has been recognized by dozens of universities in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.