Weatherby was born in Brighton. He went to Central State University in Ohio where he received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1982. He got his master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Dayton. He worked on staff as an assistant professor at Central State University before coming to Auburn in 1996 to start the minority engineering program.
“Dennis built Auburn’s minority engineering program literally from scratch, forging it into the most respected program of its kind in the nation,” said Larry Benefield, dean of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. “His death at such an early age is a tragedy for all of us.”
In 2003, Weatherby left Auburn to go to the University of Notre Dame as associate dean of the Graduate School. Then he went to Northern Kentucky University to serve as associate provost of student services.
Anthony Smith was a member of Weatherby’s program when he was a student at Auburn.
“My freshman year was his first year at Auburn,” Smith said. His class was the first class to go through Weatherby’s minority engineering program.
“The basic thing was to recruit and maintain more minorities in the engineering program at Auburn,” Smith said.
Smith recalled that Weatherby would host Sunday Evening Tutorials in Parker Hall each Sunday night. Students met to go over homework and study, and Weatherby served food.
Weatherby also set up a learning lab in Ramsey Hall. Students in the program went to the lab three times each week to get help with homework.
Smith said Weatherby was an approachable person, and someone students could confide in.
“In some ways he became an academic adviser for a lot of the students,” Smith said.
Smith said he also became a friend to many of the people in the program.
“Dennis was a respected colleague as well as a close friend,” Benefield said. “He left a legacy that few others will ever be able to match. Many students can credit their success in engineering, and in life, to the examples that he set.”
The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Friday in Kentucky. Donations can be sent to 10269 Goldeneye Drive Alexandria, KY 41001.
