Mansour Edlin

Q. What does your company do?

A. We provide civil engineering services in the area of land development, facilities, infrastructure, transportation, utilities and economic development .

Q. What academic degrees do you hold?

A. Bachelor of Science in Urban and Environmental Engineering (now Civil) from UNC Charlotte, 1984.

Q. What is the purpose of the board of advisors?

A. It’s a sounding board for the leadership team at the college of engineering (COE) and a direct connection with the professional engineering community at large. The Charlotte community has a strong presence of engineers and engineering firms of all disciplines and backgrounds that could help shape the future growth of COE.

Q. What changes have you seen in the college and UNC Charlotte?

A. Academic – From a predominately undergraduate college, to the start of several graduate majors and research programs in the mid 80’s, the Ph.D. program in the early 90s, the establishment of several research institutes in the new century, and the recruitment of top-notch research and teaching faculty and administration.

Physical growth – Until the 80s, COE was housed in a single building with limited research facilities. Now COE is housed in several state-of-the-art buildings equipped with research labs that are necessary to train young engineers, conduct research, and carry out the mission of a research university.

Students – The university has seen rapid student growth and COE has grown to over 2,000 students and now attracts good students from many states and foreign countries.

Q. What is exciting at the college?

A. The future! As someone who attended UNC Charlotte many years ago, I am very excited about the future of UNC Charlotte and COE. Over the years I have had several interns from the COE and they all speak highly of the COE, faculty, and their educational experience.

Q. What do you see in the future for the college?

A. Continuation of academic and student growth providing adequate funding and facilitates.

Recognition by the legislators that COE is the leading engineering school in the state and worthy of their financial investment. Hopefully more funding to account for student growth and start of new programs.

Research and development that could bring national recognition to COE and UNC Charlotte. Stronger link with business and political leaders in the piedmont and WNC.

Q. What are your thought about the football team?

A. You do not want to know. I believe it’s a setback and future distraction for our institution. Furthermore, a football facility could limit the physical growth of the academic campus.

Hiring Engineers

Q. What is your company looking for in new engineers?

A. Communication, ability to solve problems, ability to work with others, ability to get along with others, ability to adapt and be flexible, and good work ethic.

Q. Where are good opportunities for engineers?

A. Construction management, asset management, alternative energy, environmental engineering, infrastructure, research and development, government and public service. We need more engineers in public service!

Q. What are the hot engineering markets for the future?

A. The energy sector, alternative energy, rail, transportation, IT, biomedical, and traditional civil.

Q. How valuable is an advanced degree?

A. In the private consulting side, degrees above master are not that valuable. M.B.A. in combination with engineering education is very valuable in all fields. Ph.D. is valuable for someone with interest in research and academic field.