Joined The Citadel Faculty: August 2024
Bio
Dr. Heath Kaufman joined The Citadel as an Assistant Professor in August 2024, bringing extensive experience in both structural engineering practice and academic research. His work focuses on structural fire engineering, steel connection behavior, and innovative engineering education methods.
Before joining The Citadel, Dr. Kaufman served as a part-time faculty member at Miami University (2017-2024) and as a graduate assistant at the University of Cincinnati (2020-2023), where he taught courses in structural design, statics, and strength of materials. His industry experience includes five years as a Structural Engineer at Schaefer Inc. in Cincinnati, where he designed complex projects ranging from large-scale Amazon distribution facilities to multistory military structures and commercial buildings across multiple states.
As a licensed Professional Engineer in Kentucky (License No. 34572), Dr. Kaufman has managed diverse structural engineering projects involving steel, concrete, masonry, wood, and cold-formed building materials in moderate to high seismic, wind, and snow regions.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Civil Engineering, University of Cincinnati, 2024
- M.S. Civil Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, 2014
- B.S. Civil Engineering, Tennesse Technological University, 2012
Professional Registration
PE – Kentucky
Courses
Statics, Mechanics of Materials, Structural Analysis, Reinforced Concrete Design, Steel Design, Materials Lab, and Engineering Practice and Professional Licensure.
Expertise
Dr. Kaufman’s research centers on the fire performance of steel structures, particularly the behavior of bolted moment connections subjected to post-earthquake fire scenarios. His doctoral dissertation examined bolted flange plate special moment connections under combined seismic and fire loading through experimental testing and finite element modeling. He has also contributed to research on slip coefficients of metallic coatings for the Research Council on Structural Connections (RCSC) and investigated the rating and analysis of reinforced concrete box culverts for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Scholarship & Service
Dr. Kaufman is the co-author of Fire Protection Through Modern Building Codes (AISC, 2024). He has published research in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, with additional papers currently under review.
Dr. Kaufman is currently developing a comprehensive FE Civil Exam Study Manual and related educational materials.
At the moment, Dr. Kaufman actively contributes to the engineering community through several leadership roles:
· Treasurer, Charleston Engineers Joint Council (CEJC) Executive Committee (2025-present)
· Instructional Secretary, ASEE Southeastern Section Special Interest Division (2025-present)
· Faculty Advisor, ASCE Student Chapter 3D Printed Bridge Competition