Some people turn their profession into a true calling. In the quiet of laboratories, in the energy of lecture halls and in the patience behind every explanation, they shape the future, generation after generation.
The March 31 meeting of the Senate of the Technical University of Moldova opened on a solemn note. To sustained applause, Rector Viorel Bostan presented the diplomas awarding the honorary title of Professor Emeritus to a group of distinguished academics whose careers are deeply tied to the university’s history and reputation. It is a lifetime distinction, but above all a gesture of gratitude for decades of dedication, for a commitment to teaching and for the dignity with which they have served the academic profession.
Their careers span more than three decades of sustained work, including at least ten years as full professors, marked not only by academic achievement but also by integrity. These are not values measured in titles, but in the generations they have trained, the characters they have shaped and the paths they have opened.
“Being a Professor Emeritus means carrying the name of the university with distinction in the wider academic world, bringing together decades of research experience and the innovative spirit of UTM. These professors are among those who helped build the country’s technical foundation, turning their vocation into a lasting legacy,” Rector Viorel Bostan said, as he handed the diplomas to nine members of the academic community:
- Valerian Balan, Professor, Doctor Habilitated, Department of Horticulture and Forestry, FȘASM,
- Ion Bolun, Professor, Doctor Habilitated, Department of Software Engineering and Automatics, FCIM,
- Larisa Bugaian, Professor, Doctor Habilitated, Head of the UTM Erasmus University Center,
- Valeriu Dulgheru, Professor, Doctor Habilitated, Head of the Department of Machine Design Fundamentals, FIMIT,
- Nicolae Eremia, Professor, Doctor Habilitated, Department of Animal Resources and Food Safety, FȘASM,
- Maria Gheorghiță, Professor, PhD, Department of Economics and Management, FIEB,
- Alexei Leahu, Professor, PhD, Department of Software Engineering and Automatics, FCIM,
- Ion Rusu, Professor, Doctor Habilitated, Department of Transport Infrastructure Engineering, FUA,
- Viorel Trofim, Professor, Doctor Habilitated, Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering, FCIM.
To be “Emeritus” is to remain a source of inspiration. It means continuing to set a standard of excellence and striking a balance between scientific rigor and the human side of teaching. At key moments, these mentors have guided and encouraged generations capable of carrying Moldova’s name forward.
The university extends its sincere gratitude for every lecture delivered with passion, for the countless hours spent in laboratories, and for the patience, modesty and quiet strength with which these professors have carried their achievements. For them, UTM is more than an institution; it is home. Their legacy will live on in every generation that follows.
The prolonged applause of the Senate carried a shared message from the entire academic community: thank you, distinguished Professors Emeritus, for everything you have given to the Technical University of Moldova.
Vivat Academia! Vivant Professores!
