Faculty

Faculty researchers from W.S. Lee College of Engineering were joined by fellow faculty from across UNC Charlotte as they were honored for leading research projects with $1 million or more in active, external funding in 2024.

James Amburgey, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, and Olya Keen, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, have been honored by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) for innovation, naming them “Senior Members.” The announcement, made on February 20, 2025, honors distinguished academic inventors whose achievements in patents, licensing and commercialization have led to and have the potential to create meaningful differences in our world.

The William States Lee College of Engineering congratulates Courtney Smith-Orr on her appointment as assistant dean for student experiences and director of the Office of Student Development and Success, or OSDS. Smith-Orr replaces Cathy Blat, who will retire in February 2025.

UNC Charlotte’s William States Lee College of Engineering welcomes new faculty to help support growing research activity and academic enrollment (Fall 2024 was Charlotte’s largest enrollment ever for first-year engineering students).

These new faculty bring expertise in the expanding fields of advanced manufacturing, connected vehicles, computer architecture, applied optics, materials science, quantum mechanical modeling, construction engineering, environmental engineering focusing on natural hazards and more.

Brigid Mullany, professor of mechanical engineering with UNC Charlotte’s William States Lee College of Engineering, has been elected as a 2024 Fellow with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

Tao Hong, Duke Energy Distinguished Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering in the William States Lee College of Engineering, and Harold Reiter, professor emeritus of mathematics in the Klein College of Science, led Team USA’s elementary and middle school-level teams to Grand Champion Team Awards in the 2024 International Mathematics Competition held in July. The wins mark the first time in more than a decade that one country has claimed both championship titles. 

Sukumar Kamalasadan, Duke Energy Distinguished Professor of Electric Power Engineering, has been selected to receive a grant by NCInnovation. He is one of only eight UNC System faculty to receive this award.

Youxing Chen, assistant professor of mechanical engineering with W.S. Lee College of Engineering and the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center, has earned an NSF CAREER Award for his research proposal, “Atomic-level understanding of stability and transition kinetics of 3-dimensional interfaces under irradiation.”

Researchers from across UNC Charlotte who lead initiatives with $1 million or more in active external funding were recognized during a reception on Wednesday, March 27. Almost one quarter of the recognized researchers are PI’s from the William States Lee College of Engineering, including Wei Fan who has more than $5 million in active external research grants.

The National Science Foundation has featured Hamed Tabkhi, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, as its first Featured PI spotlight for the Smart & Connect Communities Virtual Organization.