Burcu Akinci, head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), has been appointed the next Dr. William D. and Nancy W. Strecker Dean of the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, effective January 1, 2026.
A member of the CMU community for nearly 25 years, Akinci is an exceptional leader who brings the strategic vision, research impact, and collaborative spirit necessary to lead the College of Engineering. Akinci served as associate dean for research for six years, driving institutional-level growth by helping to establish the “moonshot initiative” to cultivate large-scale research centers, developing the college’s strategic research direction, and increasing the value of new research awards.
As department head, Akinci fostered a culture of collaboration among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and external partners, encouraging shared learning and the open exchange of ideas across all levels of the department. Through initiatives such as the alumni-to-student and Ph.D.-to-Ph.D. mentorship programs, as well as the Industry Partnership Program that connects students directly to opportunities at more than 20 leading engineering firms, she helped drive innovation by creating pipelines for meaningful engagement.
