Civil Engineering Loses Beloved Faculty Member

Oktay Güven, a former faculty member in Auburn University's Department of Civil Engineering, died June 13 at his home in Unye, Turkey on the Black Sea Coast.

A graduate of Robert College in Istanbul, he came to the U.S. as a Fulbright Scholar in 1968. He earned his master's degree in 1970 and doctorate in 1975 from the University of Iowa.

Güven, his wife Sadel, and two children came to Auburn in 1981 when he joined the faculty of the department of civil engineering. He is recognized for his research and teaching in hydraulics, hydrology, and fluid mechanics. In 2002, he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig Disease (ALS), but continued teaching and researching.

"Even as he became bedridden, Dr. Güven continued his research and graduate student advising," said Michael Stallings, head of the department of civil engineering. "He retired from Auburn in January and made the difficult trip to Unye in March."