Dr. Ernest Nester, former Tech dean and professor emeritus, passed away earlier this week. A Virginia native, Nester was the first in his family to earn a college degree and went on to earn a doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Virginia. A strong believer in the value of education, he spent his professional life teaching others.
Nester started teaching at Tech in civil engineering in 1966 and continued until his retirement in 1996. He became chair of civil engineering in 1979 and was appointed dean of engineering in 1986. He served as Dean of Engineering until 1993, at which time he went back to full time teaching until his retirement. Nester was awarded emeritus status in 1997.
“He had taught an estimated 3000 students in his career at Tech,” commented Dr. Steve Leftwich, civil engineering chairman at WVU Tech. “Ernie was a great mentor and role model to the many who knew him.”
“While I did not personally know him, he was known for fondness for his students and his genuine desire to help them learn and succeed,” said Dr. Zeljko Torbica, dean of the WVU Tech Leonard C. Nelson College of Engineering & Sciences.