UA_Engineer_25_FINAL_spreads (1) - Flipbook - Page 16
DEPARTMENT UPDATES
Leading the Charge: New Department Heads Advance
Engineering Education at the Capstone
by NATALIE CROUSE
Dr. Robert Bertini
AFTER COMPLETING HIS FIRST
YEAR at The University of
Alabama, Dr. Robert Bertini is
hitting his stride as professor
and department head of civil,
construction and environmental
engineering, and he’s just
getting started. With decades
of experience in academia,
government and transportation
innovation, Bertini applies a
research-driven and studentcentric approach to leadership. His background spans
both technical depth and national policy, including a
presidential appointment as deputy administrator for
research and innovative technology at the U.S. Department
of Transportation under former President Obama.
Before joining UA, Bertini served as professor and head
of the School of Civil and Construction Engineering at
Oregon State University. He was the founding director of the
Portland State University Intelligent Transportation Systems
Laboratory and the Oregon Transportation Research and
Education Consortium. He has led or co-led five major
national and tier one transportation research centers and
has been invited to deliver lectures across the globe.
Bertini is a National Science Foundation CAREER
Award recipient, a fellow of the American Society of Civil
Engineers and the Institute of Transportation Engineers,
and a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers. He currently serves as chair of the
Safety and Operations Group of the Transportation Research
Board and was recently appointed chief transportation
science research and development officer for the Alabama
Transportation Institute.
Bertini earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering
from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis
Obispo, a master’s from San José State University and a
Ph.D. from UC Berkeley.
Upon his arrival at the College in August 2024, Bertini
outlined a bold vision to grow undergraduate and graduate
enrollment in the civil, construction and environmental
engineering department, boost research productivity and
funding, and create a welcoming environment for students.
“We’re already doing excellent work in teaching,
research and service,” he said. “My goal is to build on that
foundation and amplify our collective success.”
Throughout his first year as department head, Bertini has
fostered that success through the implementation of various
new programs and initiatives.
“We’ve launched several new student organizations,
including the Graduate Student Association of CCEE, the
Undergraduate Leadership Council and a new student
chapter of the Architectural Engineering Institute. We
also revived our student chapter of Associated Builders
and Contractors,” Bertini said. “Our department recently
launched a new early career faculty mentoring program and
invested in updating our undergraduate teaching labs. We
had unprecedented success in the area of research, with
more than $56 million in research awards.”
As he looks ahead, Bertini remains focused on the
College’s mission: to serve the state, nation and global
community by advancing the boundaries of knowledge
through innovative research and education of the next
generation of leaders.
16 | CAPSTONE ENGINEER | FALL 2025
“We aim to strengthen our undergraduate programs and
their hands-on elements, continue to help students to be
successful through experiential learning, and grow our Ph.D.
program,” he said.
With a solid foundation in place, Bertini is poised to lead
the CCEE department into a new era of growth
and accomplishments.
Dr. Shahram Rahimi
DR. SHAHRAM RAHIMI IS SETTLING IN
as the new head of the department
of computer science after joining
the College on Jan. 1, 2025. With
an accomplished career spanning
academia, industry and federal
research, Rahimi brings a strategic,
visionary approach to his new role.
He previously served as the Gloria
& Douglas Marchant Endowed Chair
Professor and department head at
Mississippi State University, where he secured more than $24
million in research funding. There, he led major initiatives,
including new degree programs in artificial intelligence,
cybersecurity and data science. He also raised multiple
endowments and oversaw a $5 million renovation of the
computer science building.
A recognized expert in artificial intelligence, Rahimi has
published over 300 peer-reviewed articles and holds several
patents. He has served as editor-in-chief for two major AI
journals and sits on the editorial boards of several others.
Rahimi also co-founded Potentia Analytics, an AI healthcare
company recognized among HealthTech magazine’s top 10
AI companies in healthcare.
Reflecting on his first semester at UA, Rahimi is proud of
two milestones: the hiring of seven new tenure-track faculty
members and the Pledge of the Computing Professional
ceremony. Both moments, he said, reflect the department’s
commitment to excellence and serve as a powerful reminder
of our mission at the Capstone.
He credits the UA community for its collaborative
and student-centered spirit, noting that it has shaped his
leadership style in beneficial ways.
“There’s a strong culture of support from faculty
and staff to University leadership, which has been both
encouraging and energizing,” Rahimi said. “This spirit of
collaboration has shaped my leadership approach to be
even more inclusive and relationship-driven. I’ve focused on
listening first, building trust and creating shared goals that
align with the broader mission of the University.”
Looking ahead, Rahimi plans to expand the department’s
research footprint in areas such as AI and cybersecurity,
strengthen industry partnerships, and enhance the student
experience. As the chief computational science advisor to
the Alabama Cyber Institute and a former NASA and IBM
consultant, he brings the experience and foresight needed
to elevate UA’s national profile.
“Ultimately, my goal is to position our department
as a national leader in computer science education and
research,” Rahimi said.
With momentum building and a strong vision, Rahimi
is leading the department toward a future defined by
innovation and impact.
