Bio
Dr. Nahid Vesali is the Head of the Department of Engineering Leadership and Program Management (ELPM) in the School of Engineering at The Citadel. Since joining the faculty in 2020, she has taught a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses in project management, with emphasis on cultivating leadership and professional skills for the next generation of technical experts. Her professional background spans academia, industry, and consulting, including roles as project engineer, quality control manager, assistant project manager, and technical design team member. She is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and certified Project Management Professional (PMP), with extensive experience in engineering management education, accreditation, and professional service.
Her research contributes risk management, decision-making under uncertainty, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into project management as well as engineering education. She has published and presented widely at ASEE, PMI, and other venues, focusing on curriculum innovation, critical thinking, and the use of AI-based tools for project planning. She has also played active roles in national service, including membership on NCEES exam development committees for the FE Civil licensure exams, and has delivered presentations and invited talks at major professional events such as PMI’s PMXPO and Global Summit.
Degrees
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering – Florida International University, Miami, FL
M.Sc. in Construction Engineering and Management – Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
B.Sc. in Civil Engineering – Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran