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Dr. Jack G. Simon, FASM
President, Technology Access Inc.
Aiken, S.C.
I
t is with great pleasure that I introduce ASM Interna-
tional’s 2013-2014 president, Professor Comondore
(Ravi) Ravindran. I have known Ravi for 32 years, so I
have a lot to tell you about our new leader.
Personal
My last visit to Ryerson University, Toronto, was
in September 2013. Once again I was struck by the
love and devotion everyone at Ryerson has for Ravi. It
begins with the person who sells him a cup of
coffee and continues with his students,
dean, and university president. This is what
ASM International can expect from its next
leader. Ravi is not a showy person, but will
listen effectively, help create a vision, and
then develop a plan to execute it. He is both
a consensus builder and a strong motivator.
I also know that Ravi would tell you that
the honor he is most proud of is being hus-
band to his wife Shanti and father to his
three children, Nikila, Vikram, and Shobita.
Nikila is a gastroenterologist, Vikram a pul-
monologist, and Shobita a lawyer. I have
watched Ravi and Shanti raise their children
and it is no surprise that he has motivated
them to excel and be successful.
Education and training
Born in India, Ravi received his early train-
ing in materials science at the University of
Madras and the Indian Institute of Science
and earned his master’s and doctorate from
the University of Manitoba. Ravi has not for-
gotten his early roots and has done much to
help advance ASM International in India,
Canada, America, Europe, and Asia.
In 1973, Ravi began his career as a prod-
uct and process development metallurgist
with Manitoba Steel Rolling Mills. Early on,
he became chief engineer and in 1982 was
promoted to chief metallurgist. In 1985, he became
group vice president of Galtaco Automotive Castings
and Stampings Corp. with major foundries in Ontario
and a large stamping plant in Michigan. In 1989, he
joined the faculty of Ryerson University. Ravi brings 16
years of industry experience and 25 years of academic
experience to his role as ASM president.
Service to ASM and the materials community
Ravi and I first met at the ASM International Ma-
terials Week technical conferences held at numerous
venues in the U.S. and Canada. We found we hadmuch
in common as I had just taken over the job of divisional
metallurgist of the Buick Motor Division of General
Motors after serving for several years as chief metallur-
gist for Chevrolet’smetal casting plants. Ravi invitedme
to Ryerson to discuss his vision to form a Center for
Near-Net Shape Processing of Materials.
One can look back today and congratulate Ravi
on the success of this center in advancing research
on lightweight metals processing. The center first
began research in lost foammetal casting of nodular
iron, then in casting of thin wall aluminum, and is
now investigating magnesium alloys. What many
people may not know is that Ryerson had little re-
search going on when Ravi was hired. Today, the uni-
versity thrives due to the external research it
conducts. Ravi had the vision and used his unique
abilities as a consensus builder to get approval for his
center. In addition, he has developed many interna-
tional partnerships and has been able to attract dis-
tinguished visitors and support several foreign
students earning advanced degrees.
ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES •
JANUARY 2014
“If you want a job done,
engage Ravi and it
will be done right and
with a lot of
enthusiasm.”
Ravi Ravindran, ASM International's
2013-2014 president.
2013-2014 President of ASM International
C. (Ravi) Ravindran
Excellence
Ryerson University awarded Ravi the 2012 Chancellor’s Award of Distinction for sustained teaching and educational
leadership, the university’s top award. Previously, he was awarded the University Distinguished Scholar Award for re-
search excellence in 1995. Ravi also served as president of the Canadian Academy of Engineering during 2007-2008
and was co-general chair of the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences in 2009.
He has won numerous awards, including the 2013 CIM-MetSoc Research Excellence Award, and his research center
received the AFS Outstanding Organization Award for Excellence in Magnesium Research in 2009.
As a Fellow of many societies including ASM, CAE, CIM, INAE, AAAS, and Engineers Canada, Ravi has shared his re-
search by presenting technical papers at major international conferences. When I visit ASM Canadian chapters, they
refer to him as "Mr. ASM of Canada." ASM has also honored Ravi with the Allan Ray Putnam Award in 2006, the M. Brian
Ives ASM Canada Council Lectureship in 2004, and the MacDonald Young Award in 1995.
Pictured left
to right,
Shobita
Ravindran,
Dr. Nikila
Ravindran,
Ravi, Mrs.
Shanti
Ravindran,
and Dr.
Vikram
Comondore.