EECS honors first Alumni Hall of Fame inductees

May 07, 2025

Shannon Blunt and Matt Klaric have been recognized for pioneering work in radar systems and artificial intelligence, respectively.

Mizzou Engineering produces leaders who are shaping the future. To recognize their achievements, the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) has inducted its first two Mizzou Engineering alumni to the EECS Alumni Hall of Fame.

EECS Chair Syed Kamrul Islam inducted Shannon Blunt (PhD ’02) and Matt Klaric (PhD ’10) as the inaugural inductees April 30 and May 6, respectively.

“Dr. Blunt and Dr. Klaric have both made numerous truly inspiring accomplishments since they graduated from Mizzou,” Islam said. “It is an honor to celebrate their success in our new Hall of Fame. Their dedication to excellence serves as a beacon for Mizzou Engineering graduate students.”

*Shannon Blunt (left) and Syed Kamrul Islam (left)*

Blunt is the Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science & Director of the Radar Systems Lab at the University of Kansas. He is also editor-in-chief of IEEE Transactions on Radar Systems. He served on the White House Council of Advisors on Science and Technology 2019-21 and as a radar engineer in the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.

“All my professional successes can be traced directly back to Mizzou’s outstanding education and research environment,” Blunt said. “While it is difficult to fully express my appreciation for everything Mizzou has done for me, I will always be grateful for the numerous opportunities that have resulted from my time there.”

*Chi-Ren Shyu (left), Matt Klaric (center) and Syed Kamrul Islam (left)*

Klaric leads predictive analytics at National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), advancing artificial intelligence for national security. He was also responsible for coordinating planning activities for Project Maven’s transition to NGA. In 2019, he received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. He was a Mizzou Engineering faculty member from 2004 to 2015.

“This is where I got my start, where my experiences really shaped who I am and how I think about the world,” he told Mizzou Engineering students. “The time you spend here shapes the future you’ll have. So, make the most of it.”

The EECS Hall of Fame will be housed in Naka Hall.

Great legacies start at Mizzou Engineering. Learn more about the accomplishments of our alumni.