Ali Abolmaali
Dean, College of Engineering
Biography
Prior to becoming dean of the College of Engineering at Wayne State University in 2022, Ali Abolmaali served as chair of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) for 10 years. He is also 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.
Education
- Ph.D., structural mechanics and engineering, University of Oklahoma (1999)
- M.S., structural engineering and structural mechanics, University of Oklahoma (1984)
- B.S., civil engineering, University of Oklahoma (1980)
Recent university news spotlights
- Wayne State University to collaborate on $75 million DOE award
- Board of Governors approves new online master’s program in College of Engineering
- Wayne State begins search for new senior vice president for business affairs
- Michigan makes largest investment in semiconductor training to drive industry into the future
- Michigan higher ed leaders celebrate funding for semiconductor training
- Wayne State’s mobility research takes the stage at AutoMobili-D