2016 New Faculty
The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University is pleased to announce the college’s newest faculty and leadership. The addition of these talented individuals represents the most significant investment that we have ever made in our most important attribute — our people. These faculty and administrators began their appointments within the past year or will be joining our college in spring 2017. They have outstanding research and education credentials, and their expertise will further enhance our impact as we strive to become one of the nation’s premier engineering institutions.
These individuals are undertaking scholarly work in areas of strategic national and international importance that will significantly bolster our college’s research in fields such as energy and the environment, biomedical and pharmaceutical engineering, cybersecurity and information technology, infrastructure and transportation, advanced manufacturing, and engineered materials and nanotechnology. The influx of new faculty will also help us improve our student-faculty ratio and create a more student-centered experience as we aim to educate engineers capable of addressing the world’s greatest challenges.
We are confident our new faculty members and administrators will elevate our academic and research activities to an entirely new level of prominence in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. Please join us in welcoming our new colleagues to Auburn University.
- Christopher Roberts, dean of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
New Leadership
Maria Auad
W. Allen and Martha Reed Professor
Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Faculty Development
Director, Center for Polymer and Advanced Composites
Chemical Engineering
Cordelia Brown
Senior Lecturer
Director of Engineering Academic Excellence Program
Electrical and Computer Engineering
John Evans
Charles D. Miller Chair Professor
Department Chair
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Michael Hamilton
James B. Davis Professor
Director, Alabama Micro/Nano Science and Technology Center
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Gregory Harris
Associate Professor
Director, The Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS)
Associate Director for Digital Strategy, the National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence (NCAME)
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Zhihua Jiang
Auburn Pulp and Paper Foundation Assistant Professor
Director, Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresource Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Shiwen Mao
Professor and Earle C. Williams Scholar Chair
Director, Wireless Engineering Research and Education Center
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Hari Narayanan
John H. and Gail Watson Professor and Chair
Computer Science and Software Engineering
Anthony Skjellum
Affiliate Professor
SimCenter Director and Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Computer Science and Software Engineering
Steven Taylor, P.E.
Professor
Associate Dean for Research
Biosystems Engineering
Brian Thurow
Department Chair
W. Allen and Martha Reed Professor
Aerospace Engineering
New Faculty
Jeremiah Davis, P.E.
Associate Professor
Director, National Poultry Technology Center
Biosystems Engineering
Joel Hayworth
Elton Z. and Lois G. Huff Associate Professor (Environmental)
Civil Engineering
Fabricio Leiva
Assistant Research Professor
National Center for Asphalt Technology
Frances O'Donnell
Assistant Professor (Hydraulics/Hydrology)
Civil Engineering
Jorge Rueda-Benavides
Assistant Professor (Construction)
Civil Engineering
Nima Shamsaei
Philpott-WestPoint Stevens Distinguished Professor
Director, National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence
Mechanical Engineering
Jakita Thomas
Philpott-WestPoint Stevens Associate Professor
Computer Science and Software Engineering
Adriana Vargas
Assistant Research Professor
National Center for Asphalt Technology
