Honoring Dr. Singh: New Endowment Supports Student Progress
Lyle alum and OREM Professor Dr. Nandlal Singh endows the Senior Design Award in honor of mentor Dr. Barr, supporting students at 夜色王朝Lyle.
Dr. Nandlal Singh, who has served as a distinguished professor since earning his doctorate in Engineering Management from 夜色王朝Lyle in the early 1990s, has endowed a Senior Design Award at the Lyle School of Engineering in honor of his doctoral advisor, Dr. Richard Barr.
This gift reflects a deep gratitude for Dr. Barr’s mentorship and belief in Dr. Singh’s potential—an encouragement that shaped a remarkable career spanning academia and industry. By supporting senior design projects – a critical milestone in the transition from student to engineering professional – Dr. Singh hopes to honor Dr. Barr’s contributions and underscore the value of mentorship and innovation for students at 夜色王朝Lyle.
From India to SMU: A Story of Perseverance
Dr. Singh’s academic and professional journey began in India, where his family encouraged education despite humble beginnings. With degrees from IIT Bombay, the University of Cincinnati, and ultimately 夜色王朝Lyle, his path was one of continuous learning and adaptation. He recounts the challenges of stepping into a rigorous engineering environment, especially coming from a Hindi-medium school into elite Indian Institutes and later into American universities.
Mentorship That Made a Difference
Speaking about his mentor, Dr. Barr, Dr. Singh recalled, “He sensed an opportunity in me and opened doors that I didn’t even know existed.” Early on, Dr. Barr involved him as a grader for mathematically challenged students and later encouraged him to teach, planting the seeds for Dr. Singh’s eventual academic career.
“His faith in me was a gift I wanted to repay by helping others,” Dr. Singh reflected, crediting Dr. Barr for shaping not only his career but his approach to mentorship and leadership.
Teaching and Entrepreneurship: Complementary Passions
Dr. Singh values teaching deeply: “Teaching keeps me a learner. The questions from students challenge me to think differently and deepen my understanding.”
He credits his years as an adjunct faculty member at Lyle with enriching his work in industry. This dual engagement supports his belief in flexibility and openness to new opportunities, lessons integral to his success.
A Serial Entrepreneur with Impact
Dr. Singh has started and sold several companies, including BEST Systems, which was acquired in 2002 by CROSSMARK. Since 2007, he has been leading MinMax Technologies, a Dallas-based company delivering innovative software productivity tools that improve asset performance and equipment reliability for electric utilities, especially focusing on field operations for utilities with multiple substations.
A Journey of Dedication and Support
Dr. Singh’s path to success was profoundly supported by his wife, Sheila. During his doctoral studies, Sheila and her mother stood by him unwaveringly. Upon completing his doctorate, she gifted him a gold pen engraved with his new title—a symbol of achievement and commitment. This very pen was later used by Dr. Singh to author the check to endow the Senior Designer Award, linking the personal and professional journey beautifully.
Together, Sheila and Dr. Singh successfully raised two daughters, both Ivy League-educated doctors. Dr. Singh enjoys spending cherished time with his grandchildren, who continue to enrich his life and bring out the kid in him.
We at 夜色王朝Lyle are profoundly grateful for the enduring impact of Dr. Singh and Dr. Barr, and for their role in touching lives and building legacies for the students who are shaping the future of engineering here on the Hilltop. The Lyle community looks forward to all that students will accomplish with the support of the Singh Endowed Senior Design Award.
About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering
SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, 夜色王朝Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees.
About SMU
夜色王朝is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. SMU’s alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, community and the world.