Dean Carnegie Mellon University, College of Engineering | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania We are pleased to announce that Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) has appointed Brucu Akinci as its next Dean of the College of Engineering. Akinci assumes her new role on January 1, 2026.Burcu Akinci has been a member of the CMU community for nearly 25 years. She is currently the head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where she fosters a culture of collaboration that encourages the open exchange of ideas across all levels of the department. Akinci has supported initiatives to connect students with industry mentors and opportunities at leading engineering firms. Akinci previously served as associate dean for research, where she played a pivotal role in advancing institutional growth by cultivating large-scale research centers and developing the college’s strategic research plan.Akinci holds prestigious honors as a member of the National Academy of Construction, a distinguished member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2023, she was named a University Professor at Carnegie Mellon, the university's highest faculty distinction. Akcini holds a bachelor's degree from Middle East Technical University, an MBA from Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey, and both master's and doctoral degrees from Stanford University.Read the full press release here.John Muckle led this search with Karen McPhedran, Ethan Thomas, and Amy Gillespie.
