Dr. John Baugh, professor of civil engineering and operations research, has been named director of the North Carolina Japan Center at North Carolina State University.

Founded in July 1980 by Gov. James B. Hunt, the Japan Center continues to strengthen the state’s academic, economic, scientific and cultural ties with Japan.  It functions as a statewide resource, promoting business and trade with Japan, fostering academic collaboration and student exchange, and serving the general public by offering language classes for pre-college students and adults, hosting a variety of cultural events, and working with Japan-related community groups.

The center is located in the historic Spring Hill House as part of NC State’s Centennial Campus, and operates under the University’s Office of International Affairs.

Baugh’s scientific and technical areas of interest overlap with issues of national importance to the country of Japan in areas such as computational and decision support for natural hazard mitigation and active seismic protection of building structures. He has traveled throughout Japan’s cities and more remote areas.

Baugh received his Ph.D. in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 1989.