UA College of Engineering Names New Civil and Enviromental Department Head

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama College of Engineering recently named Dr. Thomas Novak head of the department of civil and environmental engineering (CEE).

Novak began his academic career at UA in 1983, when he was appointed assistant professor of mineral engineering. He received his doctorate in mining engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1984. In 1988, Novak was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor. Eight years later, he was named full professor.

For the 1998-1999 academic year, Novak served the College as interim head of the aerospace and engineering mechanics department. In 1999, he was named the Drummond Endowed Chair of Civil Engineering, and in 2000, he was appointed interim head of the civil and environmental engineering department.

Novak has been very active in numerous professional societies, including the Industry Applications Society (IAS), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Inc. (SME). He served as a member of the IAS Executive Board from 1994 to 1998 and on the board of directors of the Alabama section of SME from 1993 to 2000. He is also an active member of the College’s Capstone Engineering Society.

Novak has received several awards, including the Mineral Engineering Outstanding Teacher Award in 1988 and 1992 and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Outstanding Teacher Award in 1998. He co-authored research reports that won the U.S. Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh Research Center’s Publication of the Year award for both 1983 and 1984, as well as several papers that won second and third place honors in the Mining Industry Committee Session of the IAS-IEEE Annual Meeting.

“Tom Novak is internationally recognized in the civil engineering profession through his work with the mining industry,” said Dr. Timothy J. Greene, dean of the College of Engineering. “Tom, along with the CEE faculty, will set a direction for the department which will allow it to grow its research and to continue to offer excellent education to our students.”

Contact

Kathryn Adams, Engineering Writer, 205/348-3051 Janice Fink, 205/348-6444