Meet the dean

Ali AbolmaaliBefore taking over as dean of the Wayne State University College of Engineering in August 2022, Ali Abolmaali served as chair of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) for 10 years. He is a Dr. Tseng Huang Endowed Professor in Structural Engineering and Applied Mechanics, the founding director of UTA Center for Structural Engineering Research, and the professor-in-charge of the Structural Simulation Laboratory at UTA.

Abolmaali has extensive research experience in computational structural engineering and full-scale structural testing of civil, aerospace and underground structural systems, including research in fluid-structure interaction problems and biomechanics. He has conducted several high-profile failure investigation research projects for the National Transportation Safety Board. Examples include the Boston tunnel collapse (Big Dig tunnel), Minneapolis bridge collapse and Big Springs, Nebraska, bridge collapse. As a principal investigator, he has secured more than $38 million in development and research funds from local, state, and federal agencies and corporations

At UTA, Abolmaali increased his department's enrollment significantly. In fall 2021, it grew to more than 1,600 students the highest civil engineering enrollment in Texas, and one of the largest in the nation. In the process, he increased the number of Ph.D. students by 300% to 125, all of whom are fully supported by research and teaching appointments.

During his tenure, Abolmaali established degree programs in construction management and architectural engineering. He also pioneered online classes at UTA for both undergraduate and graduate students. Now, both graduate and undergraduate UTA Civil Engineering Department courses are offered online and attract students from around the nation.

To meet the needs of more students, Abolmaali recruited 44 faculty and staff members with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. These hires include more than 30% underrepresented and female faculty. As a strong fundraiser, he has secured multiple endowed professorships and scholarships, as well as an endowment for naming a laboratory.

His department's research expenditures grew each year, increasing to $10.3 million in fiscal year 2021 the highest amongst all academic units at UTA.

In the first year of his deanship at Wayne State, he looks forward to working with College of Engineering faculty, staff and students collaboratively and collectively to accomplish WSU's goals of growth in enrollment, research, and philanthropy.