DeKALB — Cliff Mirman, the Department of Technology chair, died Tuesday after suffering a heart attack, leaving students and faculty in awe.

Mirman started his career at NIU as an associate professor in 1999 and was quickly promoted to a full-time professor in 2002; Mirman was the chair for 17 years.

During his time as chairman, Mirman achieved numerous accomplishments, such as his 2011 Presidential Engagement Professorship, an award recognizing professors for their excellence in outreach and engagement through student involvement projects.

“We [all] felt that he really worked hard for the students in the department and tried to expand our programs,” said Alice Peliski, College of Engineering and Engineering Technology office manager.

Donald Peterson, Dean of the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, said Mirman was committed to the quality of education by ensuring that the training students received was on the “leading-edge” to assure their preparedness when leaving the program.

Peterson, who has been the dean six months, said when he met Mirman in March to interview for the position, it was like seeing someone from his past.

“The second I met him it was as if I knew him my whole life,” Peterson said. “That’s the way he treated me, and that’s the way he made me feel. And to have that characteristic is an incredible trait or ability to have.”

Peterson said he knows other colleagues have felt the same about Mirman because he had such a warm, welcoming way about him.

“In regards to probably the hardest achievement is the ability to keep a department of engineering modern and cutting-edge,” Peterson said. “That’s not an easy task, and so his personality and ability to be personal with folks, in other words make them feel comfortable, I think was a tremendous benefit to the development and growth of that department.”

Mansour Tahernezhadi, College of Engineering and Engineering Technology senior associate dean, said Mirman was committed to the mission of both the college and university and often engaged with stakeholders to bring resources to the department. He said Mirman also established several labs within the department, such as the Automation lab and Lean Manufacturing lab.

“In total he brought about $2 million in terms of sponsorships through private companies, as well as state and federal agencies,” Tahernezhadi said.