WILMINGTON, Delaware – Reed Lillard, 72, Richmond, a 1967 Richmond High School graduate, has received his doctor of philosophy degree in engineering from Provident University in Wilmington, Delaware. Lillard said he spent the last four years working to complete his Ph.D., which differs from other doctoral degrees by requiring original research detailed in a dissertation. “It took quite a little bit of time,” he said. Lillard’s original research advances the body of knowledge for the facility engineering profession. He targeted his research on microenvironments within office facilities. “Normally, when you find large office environments, you’ll find somebody by the window, and maybe they’re warm because there’s sunlight coming in,” Lillard said. “But people a cubicle or two or three over may be cold.” Everyone in the office uses the same heating and cooling system, but results – meaning the effect on individual heating and cooling comfort – likely vary. “How do you climatize that to an…