BENJAMIN T. ROME (pictured) (1905-1994) graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1925 with a degree in civil engineering. He spent his entire career at the George Hyman Construction Company, where he and his uncle, George Hyman, expanded the company’s business until it was one of the region’s largest construction firms, building numerous landmarks in the nation’s capital. In 1950, a young civil engineer named A. JAMES CLARK joined the company and, together, he and Rome transformed it into a leading national firm. In the late 1960s, Clark succeeded his mentor as company president and today serves as chairman and chief executive of the company, now known as Clark Enterprises, based in Bethesda, Maryland. Over the years, Clark has been a steadfast supporter and friend of Johns Hopkins. A trustee emeritus of The Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine, Clark had the vision and generosity that allowed for the construction of Clark Hall. In 2008, Clark endowed the deanship of the Whiting School in honor of his mentor and business colleague. The Benjamin T. Rome Deanship became the third endowed deanship in the nine academic divisions of Johns Hopkins, an institution Rome supported generously during his lifetime. Dedicated to furthering education and tolerance among world religions, Rome was an advocate for the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, playing a pivotal role in the creation of the school’s China Studies Program as well as supporting many other organizations.

"Jim Clark’s endowment of the deanship demonstrates his belief in the Whiting School of Engineering and what we can accomplish. This gift provides us with resources to navigate the School forward and position it for future growth by investing in exciting opportunities for students and faculty. There is an important connection between Benjamin Rome, Jim Clark, and the School, and I am honored to be a part of this legacy." Nicholas P. Jones, Benjamin T. Rome Dean, Whiting School of Engineering

NICHOLAS P. JONES was appointed dean of the Whiting School of Engineering in August 2004. Under his leadership, the school has embraced “Leadership through Innovation,” a vision to ensure that the Whiting School remains one of the leading schools of engineering in the country and the world. A native of New Zealand, Dr. Jones received his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from the University of Auckland and came to the United States to earn his master’s and doctoral degrees from the California Institute of Technology. An expert in aspects of structural dynamics, flow-induced vibration and wind engineering, he joined the faculty of Johns Hopkins’ Department of Civil Engineering in 1986 and was appointed chair of the department in 1999. In 2002, he departed for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, returning to Johns Hopkins two years later to become the dean of Engineering.