Jack McClurg
Twenty years ago, Jack McClurg came to the University of Mississippi to earn his master’s degree in materials science. After working professionally for a couple of prestigious companies, he returned to UM to complete his doctorate in the same field in 2002.
Two years ago, McClurg came back to his alma mater for third time to fulfill his long-held dream of joining the faculty.
“I loved teaching when I was a graduate student at Ole Miss,” said McClurg, an associate professor of practice in UM’s Haley Barbour Center for Manufacturing Excellence. “Since then, I have always wanted to be an instructor. The whole purpose of getting my Ph.D. was to be able to teach somewhere down the line.”
McClurg was an ideal fit for the center, said James Vaughan, F.A.P. Barnard Distinguished Professor of mechanical engineering and CME director.
“He has a strong academic background in engineering and materials science, and he has 15 years of experience working in industry in a variety of manufacturing-related positions,” Vaughan said. “His industrial experience, along with a true desire to help educate students, make him an easy selection for the position. His concern for student learning is evident in how he approaches the courses he teaches and his willingness to work with students outside the classroom.”
A graduate of Colorado State University, McClurg worked at Thermos Co. as a manufacturing and process engineer for six months in 1998. He went on to find employment as a systems engineer at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. for seven years.
“At Lockheed, I worked on the joint strike fighter program (F-35 Lightning II),” McClurg said. “I later became a senior engineer in Miltec Corp.’s missiles and space division and a process and quality engineer for ATK. I also worked on various projects from the ARES I rocket system to the ORION multi-purpose crew vehicle fairings.”
While McClurg was an engineer at Lockheed, he taught courses for the local leadership association after hours.
“I actually enjoyed teaching more than my daytime job, which was also very exciting,” he said. “I received the instructor of the year award for 2002-2003. This award just reinforced my real desire to teach.”
McClurg said the most rewarding part of being on the CME faculty is his interaction with the next generation of engineers, accountants and business professionals.
“I really enjoy getting to know the students and sharing with them my experience of the real world environments that they may soon find themselves in,” he said. “I am also very blessed to be doing this at my own alma mater!”
McClurg and his wife, Christi, have three children: Katie McGaughy, Mallory McClurg, a Corinth High School senior recently accepted into the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, and Joshua McClurg, a CHS freshman. Katie and her husband, TJ, have a daughter, Lylah.