Black History Month Spolight: Dr. Gladius Lewis

Dr. Gladius Lewis, Professor
Mechanical Engineering

“My 35 years at the university have been extremely rewarding. I hope my biggest accomplishment is being able to be an effective instructor to students on all levels.” - Dr. Gladius Lewis

Research expertise: Engineering Materials, Mechanics of Materials, Biomaterials, Biomechanics

An accomplished man from Sierra Leone, West Africa, Dr. Gladius Lewis majored in mechanical engineering at the University of London where he was the only black student in his class. He was drawn to mechanical engineering because he was always intrigued by how things worked. Dr. Lewis received his M.S. in Corrosion Science and Engineering from Sir John Cass College in London and his Ph.D. in Metallurgy and Materials Science from the University of Nottingham, England. In 1987, he brought his teaching and research talents to the University of Memphis because he was attracted to the research opportunities involving biomedical engineering. Over the years, he has published many research articles, but his favorites are the ones focused on spine research, robotic arm-assisted knee implant and antibiotic enhancement.