We mourn the loss of Dr. Brian P. Butz, a visionary educator, researcher, and mentor whose pioneering work in intelligent systems and engineering education continues to shape the future of technology and learning.

Before his academic career, Dr. Butz honorably served in the United States Army from March 24, 1964, to August 6, 1971. His time in the military shaped his lifelong commitment to service, discipline, and leadership — values that he carried into his work as an educator and mentor.

During the energy crisis of the 1970s, Dr. Butz served as a program officer and a project director at Argonne National Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy. In this role, he contributed to national efforts to address energy challenges, such as developing and expanding renewal initiatives, applying his engineering expertise to support research and development in energy systems and policy at a critical moment in American history.

Dr. Butz served the College of Engineering at Temple University for over three decades, where he held numerous leadership roles, including Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. As Chair, he championed curriculum innovation, faculty development, and student-centered learning, helping to elevate the department's national reputation and expand its research footprint in emerging technologies.

He also founded and directed the Intelligent Systems Application Center, leading groundbreaking research in intelligent tutoring systems, virtual laboratories, and interactive multimedia education. His innovations included tools for circuit analysis, forensic biology, and prostate cancer education, developed in collaboration with institutions like Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

In the early 1990s, Dr. Butz introduced one of the first university-level courses in artificial intelligence, titled Introduction to Artificial Intelligence. This visionary move placed Temple University decades ahead of its peers in AI education, laying the foundation for the university's leadership in the field long before AI became mainstream.

A proud first-generation college graduate, Dr. Butz earned his BSEE, MSEE, and Ph.D. from Drexel University, and dedicated his life to expanding access to engineering education. He mentored over 25 graduate students, countless college engineering students, and numerous Philadelphia-area high school students, offering hands-on lab experience and externship opportunities. His commitment to inclusion also led to the development of a virtual electrical engineering lab for physically disabled students.

Dr. Butz's teaching style was deeply rooted in the Socratic method, encouraging students to think critically, ask questions, and engage in thoughtful dialogue. His classrooms were spaces of intellectual curiosity and rigor, where learning was driven by inquiry and reflection. In recognition of his exceptional teaching and mentorship, Dr. Butz was honored in 1999-2000 with Temple University's Great Teacher Award, one of the university's highest accolades for faculty excellence.

As Chair of the IEEE Philadelphia Section, Dr. Butz established a scholarship endowment that became the largest undergraduate award given by any IEEE section nationwide. Alongside his wife, Susan Butz, he created the Brian and Susan Butz Term Scholarship in Electrical and Computer Engineering and supported research in the College of Public Health.

In 2023, the Butzes made the largest gift in the college's history to support  AI research and establish an endowed chair. Their generosity ensures that future generations of Temple students will benefit from the opportunities and mentorship that defined Dr. Butz's career.

Dr. Butz will be remembered not only for his academic excellence but also for his kindness, humility, and unwavering belief in the potential of others.

We warmly invite you to join us in honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Brian P. Butz at a Memorial Service on:

Date: Friday, November 14, 2025

Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Location: Temple College of Engineering, First Floor, 1947 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122

To help us plan accordingly, please register using the link below by November 3, 2025. Feel free to share it with others who were impacted by Dr. Butz's life and work:

🔗 https://temple.short.gy/butzmemoryservice

Thank you for helping us celebrate Dr. Butz's remarkable contributions and enduring influence.

To honor Dr. Butz's legacy and support student scholarships in his name, please visit:

Butz Engineering Scholarship