Dr. Thymios (Tim) Jordanides
I started as an assistant professor in 1964 and retired forty years in 2004 after serving as department chairman and associate Dean of Engineering. In 1963, after I completed my Master’s degree in the Bay area, at San Jose State I was reviewing my options. My roommate Ray Halfakre and I were scanning through the ASEE journal or the American Society for Engineering in Education and we saw that Long Beach State had been accredited by the ECPD. So the two of us called Rod Lewis the Department Chair for the Electrical Engineering department and expressed interest. Rod interviewed both Ray and I at the San Francisco Airport. In those days there the Electrical Engineering (EE) Department did not have much funding so we met Rod Lewis on a layover for business. We were offered the job and hired to grow a young EE department.
I have been able to prognosticate fairly well over the years. I knew that Long Beach was a place with opportunity. At the time, I realized that Long Beach was situated in a great location both geographically and professionally. The aerospace industry was booming during those years with firms throughout Los Angeles County and Orange County. LBSC is situated so well between both counties. I knew that these companies would need talent. IN those days I would get calls from mid-level executives Friday askingme if I had anyone available to start Monday. That is how lucrative the industry was. My prediction was on the dot, as these companies hired many of our majors and offered scholarships to the university. Not only that, but I knew that the State was committed to higher education and it was exciting starting and expanding a young EE department.
In 1976 I was promoted to Full professor. Then two years later I was promoted to Department Chairman. It was an honor for me to be chosen as chairman especially at a young age. I was only in my forties. The EE department was growing in leaps and bounds and reflected in that development was the construction of the VEC building.
Yes. I occasionally get together with former colleagues and not just in my field. Last Christmas the current chairman Dr. Chassiakos hosted a party for faculty and staff, new and older, from the EE department. Dean Golshani invites me to many campus events which allows me to interface with old friends.
I have two children. My son is a physician in Newport Beach and my daughter has a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from UC Berkeley and teaches chemistry in Southern California. We see each other often and enjoy each other’s company. In addition, I participate and offer my time and resources to the non-profit organization Olive Crest Foundation. They are an organization that houses and feeds students that come from abusive family backgrounds. In addition I have my own non-profit organization that provides assistance to students and children with a similar background. It is on the small scale, and we do not solicit funds. In addition to that work I do some writing, reading, traveling and spending time with my grandchildren.
Growing! Dynamic! Full of enthusiasm!
