Richard E. Woodring, Ph.D, received his bachelor of science in Civil Engineering from Drexel in 1954, and would eventually obtain master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois. Dr. Woodring returned to Drexel as an instructor in 1956, and was promoted to professor in 1968. In 1974 Dr. Woodring was appointed Dean of Engineering. It was in this position that he initiated a new approach to engineering education, Enhanced Education Experience. Dr. Woodring is also recognized for his encouragement of minorities seeking education in the field of engineering, and was notably one of the founders of PRIME (Philadelphia Regional Introduction for Minorities in Engineering). He was named "Delaware Valley Engineer of the Year" in 1974, and in 1982 he was awarded the Reginald H. Jones Distinguished Service Award of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. In 1989 Dr. Woodring was appointed Vice President for Student Life at Drexel, however returned to teaching in the Civil and Architectural Engineering Department in 1992. In the same year he was named as an original member of the Drexel 100. In 2002 he was elected to the rank of Honorary Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Due to his long dedication to Drexel University, Woodring was the honorary recipient of the degree of Doctor of Engineering in 2010. Furthermore, the Civil and Architectural Engineering Laboratories were renamed the Richard E. Woodring Laboratories in his honor. As of 2010, Dr. Woodring was retired and working in K-12 science, mathematics and technology education.

Source: Drexel University Commencement Program 2010 [UR6.9].