Southern Methodist University, Lyle School of Engineering, Dean

Southern Methodist University named Nader Jalili, PhD as the next Dean of the Lyle School of Engineering. 

Jalili has served as professor and head of mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama since 2018. 

Before joining the University of Alabama, Jalili led the Northeastern Piezoactive Systems Laboratory at Northeastern University in Boston, which was formed in 2010 to model and study micro nano-electromechanical sensors and actuators. He later became associate department chair for graduate studies and research, where he facilitated the creation of several new degree programs in areas such as mechatronics, robotics and human-machine interface, while leading graduate student recruitment and admission and overseeing department research activities. Jalili has been PI or Co-PI on more than $17 million in external funding, including grants from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Defense in the domain of vibration, control and robotic-based manufacturing.

He is the author or co-author of more than 350 peer-refereed technical publications, including 135 journal papers, two textbooks, five book chapters and two U.S. patents. A fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Jalili has chaired numerous society committees and edited several engineering academic journals. In addition, he is the recipient of more than 30 international, national and institutional awards for his research, leadership, teaching and service. Jalili received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran, and his PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Connecticut.

Greg Esposito led this search with Debbie Scheibler and Victoria Castillo.