Born and raised on a small farm in Lebanon, Dr. Nasser learned about construction early in life from his father. When he was old enough, he headed to the American University in Beirut, where he earned a bachelor of science in engineering. After completing his master's degree at the University of Kansas, Dr. Nasser drove to Saskatoon to begin his PhD. When he arrived in 1961, he fell in love with Saskatoon, and with the province, and chose to settle down here.
Since completing his PhD, Dr. Nasser dedicated has more than 33 years as an educator where he has mentored hundreds of students, leading them to bright futures in engineering. He is a tireless researcher and inventor and is best known for inventing the K-slump Tester, which is still in use on constructions sites around the world. To many people in the construction industry, Dr. Nasser is known as the "King of Concrete."
As an active community member, he strives to find new ways to improve the way people live, work and play in Saskatoon. In 1964 he started Victory Construction Ltd. and built a single apartment complex. Now, more than 50 years later, the company owns and operates multiple properties across Saskatchewan ranging from industrial warehouses to multi-family structures. His contributions to the city and to the province continue to have a positive impact on the lives of many. Most recently, Dr. Nasser was a driving force behind the revitalization of Saskatoon's riverfront at River Landing.
According to Dr. Nasser, his continued success can be attributed to the support he received as a student. As a result, Dr. Nasser, along with his wife Dora, have funded a number of bursaries and scholarships to ensure students across Saskatchewan, and around the world, have a greater opportunity to achieve their dreams. Their generosity is rooted in a strong desire to provide positive experiences to as many students as possible, so they can continue to focus on their studies and achieve success in their chosen careers.
Since the first honorary diploma was awarded in 2004, Sask Polytech has been recognizing extraordinary individuals who model the institution's vision and values. The contributions made by the members of this elite group help cultivate an educational environment focused on applied learning and innovative research.