For the past 36 and a half years, Professor Gene McGinnis, PE has been a fixture in the School of Engineering, nimbly adapting to changes in the field, sharing his fascination with math and science, and preparing students for postgraduate work and successful careers. 

McGinnis’s students have gone on to lead companies, complete advanced degrees, and serve universities, including Dr. Andrew Assadollahi, the current dean of CBU’s Gadomski School of Engineering.

“Professor McGinnis was my first civil engineering professor at CBU when I was 18 years old,” said Dr. Assadollahi. “He has been a mentor and colleague to me, especially since I joined the faculty at CBU, and I am proud to call him a dear friend.”

McGinnis grew up in Memphis and graduated from Christian Brothers High School in 1974. He went to college locally with plans to complete a master’s degree in civil engineering and then launch a consulting firm. After completing his bachelor’s degree and postgraduate studies, he worked for three consulting firms in Memphis.

In 1982, as he was finishing up his master’s degree, McGinnis got his first taste of teaching while employed as a graduate assistant. He must have impressed his professors because not long after graduation, he was asked to teach a freshman programming course one night a week. 

It was there that McGinnis found his calling. As much as he was suited to consult for engineering firms, teaching quickly became his professional passion. 

“I was bitten by the teaching bug,” said McGinnis, whose wife, Tricia, is also a teacher at the elementary school level. 

Professor McGinnis moved into a tenure-track position and, after five years at that institution, was hired in 1988 by Christian Brothers College, soon to become Christian Brothers University. The way people went about engineering looked very different at that time, fewer advanced electronics and more drafting boards.

“I go back to the time before we had computers,” he said. “They were on the horizon but not common. The only computers available were basically mainframes and they were not user friendly. 

“When I first came to CBU, I was teaching a surveying class using 1-minute transits and steel tapes. Now, there are total stations with electronic measurement devices, Global Positioning Systems [GPS] units, 3D design software, Geographic Information Systems [GIS], and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles [UAVs]. Engineering is always changing, and we have to adapt to those changes. I’m not sure how artificial intelligence is going to impact the field, but I’m sure there are going to be some changes. Technology is always rapidly changing.”

After 40-plus years as a professor, including more than 15 years as department chair, McGinnis has seen things come and go and change—from the classes he teaches to the current trend of specialization over core classes to the students themselves and how well they are prepared for college. One highlight of his career was having the opportunity to teach his own children.

“All three boys—Patrick (‘15) Trey (‘17), and Brian (‘18)— graduated from CBU,” said McGinnis. “They have seven degrees among them. All have bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and computer science. My middle son, Trey, also has a degree in math and was named a Lasallian Fellow. When he was here, I became known as ‘Trey’s dad’ for a while.” Trey has followed the legacy of his parents by teaching at Tech 901 in the Crosstown Concourse.

The brothers all took one class from McGinnis, which was probably less unusual to them than it would be for most college students, since their mom also taught them in elementary school.

When McGinnis thinks back on his years at CBU, two graduations stick out to him—last year, when every civil engineering graduate came by individually and shook his hand, and when Trey graduated and celebrated by giving his father a “great big hug” while they both wore their CBU graduation regalia.

“I’m not only a faculty member but also a very proud parent,” said McGinnis.

Loved and respected by his students and colleagues, McGinnis has also won many significant awards. Most recently, he was recognized with the 2025 Nicole Craven Distinguished Service Award from the American Society of Engineers (ASCE) West Tennessee Branch.

McGinnis’s office can be found in the Gadomski School of Engineering.