Instructors

Khan Alim, PhD, PE

I have BS, MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering. During my PhD study, my research was focused on nanoscale material characterization for ZnO quantum dots, SiGe quantum dots, Carbon nanotubes, and bio-inorganic templates. I also worked in the Si/Ge quantumdot based infrared sensor design for space to space communication at R&D based defense industry. I was author/co-author of 12 journals/proceedings.

Before joining to Bureau of Reclamation as Electrical Engineer, I spent 9 years as full-time faculty member at DeVry University. During my tenure as full time faculty, I taught Electronics Engineering Technology courses onsite, online and hybride environment. Currently, I also teach Grantham University (online) as Part-time faculty. I received my Professional License (PE) – Electrical from California, December 2018.

Mr. Asala holds a BS in Chemical Engineering, a MS in Petroleum Engineering and is currently a PhD candidate in Petroleum Engineering at Louisiana State University (LSU). He is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Texas. He has been practicing engineering for nine years which includes industry work as a chemical and petroleum engineer.
He has four years of field engineering experience with Baker Hughes executing hydraulic fracturing jobs. His more recent work experiences include process engineering consulting, and upstream technical research for oil/gas Majors. His current research interests are advanced fluid dynamics, wellbore integrity and reservoir geomechanics. He has teaching experience in Unconventional resources, Well logging and Drilling fluids. He has published a few journal papers and given technical presentations at the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) ATCE conference. He has also presented at annual meetings of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). He is also a journal editor for Elsevier’s Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering. Mr. Asala will be teaching the Facilities and Reservoirs subjects.  – P.E. at the School of PE.

Mr. Augusti holds a BS in Civil Engineering and a MS in Business Administration. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Florida, Maryland, and Washington D.C., and is a certified general contractor in the state of Florida. He has over 19 years of engineering experience that includes over a decade of field experience in general contracting and construction management. Mr. Augusti has proven experience teaching construction at School of PE. 

Mr. Bell is an experienced Systems Engineer with a focus on Communication System integrations, system level modeling, and simulation. He has a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering with a focus in Electronics from Clemson University. He was a Teaching Assistant for all levels of Circuits laboratories alongside his automotive research with battery management systems and gasoline particulate filter characterization. He continues to teach topics he is passionate about to help students achieve their Electrical Engineering pursuits.

Mr. Bishop graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a BS in Civil Engineering. After graduation, Mr. Bishop gained experience towards professional licensure in architectural engineering working on higher education and healthcare projects, focusing on the building envelope. Mr. Bishop has experience in historic building renovation, new construction, and forensic engineering, as well as building performance testing

Mr. Bonnett has a BS in Natural Resources and a MS in Civil Engineering. He has been practicing and part-time teaching engineering for over 20 years. Mr. Bonnett teaches hydraulics, hydrology, water resources and environmental at School of PE.

Dr. Chandy holds a MS in Aerospace Engineering from University of Florida and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. He has been a teaching courses at the University of Akron as an assistant professor for more than six years. Dr. Chandy has been conducting research primarily in computational fluid dynamics and teaching fluid mechanics, heat transfer and numerical methods. He has proven experience teaching fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, computational tools and ethics at School of PE.

Mr. Criswell holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University. He has over six years of engineering practice in the oil and gas industry. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Louisiana. Mr. Criswell has two years of experience teaching chemical engineering. Currently, he teaches a course in fluid mechanics at School of PE.

Mr. Cunningham studied civil engineering and transportation systems at the University of Central Florida where he obtained bachelor and master degrees. During his studies, he worked toward the development of strategies for Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) to manage congestion and improve safety on freeways. Mr. Cunningham has worked in private and public industries as a transportation consultant with a primary focus in traffic operations and transportation planning. His other areas of expertise include traffic simulation, travel demand forecasting, and traffic mitigation strategies. Mr. Cunningham has taught the PE Transportation course at School of PE since 2012.

Mr. Danielson holds a BS in Petroleum Engineering from Montana Tech and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Oklahoma and Wyoming.

Cody has worked in various roles over the course of his career, including completions, drilling, operations, and reservoir engineering, as well as being an accomplished wellsite supervisor. Special areas of interest/expertise include reservoir surveillance/evaluation, production troubleshooting, and remedial casing repair. Professional affiliations include AADE and SPE.

He currently serves as Vice President for Petroleum Consultants, LLC, with job duties including business development, engineering design and advisement, and wellsite supervision.  

Mr. Doan received his MS in petroleum engineering from the University of Southern California and a BS in Chemical Engineering from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of California. Since 2009, Mr. Doan has served multiple positions including simulation engineer, research engineer, field engineer, and project manager. For six years he worked as a senior field professional in well testing for Halliburton Energy Services as well as a research engineer and gas storage field engineer for two years for Southern California Gas. Currently, he works for InterAct PMTI as a petroleum engineer. His areas of expertise include pressure transient analysis, well test design and operations, and well production and surveillance.

Dr. Dong holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University. He is a professional engineer registered in the state of Michigan and also a LEED AP BD+C. He has over six years of practical experience in land development, construction engineering, and structural engineering. Dr. Dong teaches construction and material courses at School of PE.

Mr. Douty, has been a surveyor since 1968, and holds a license to practice as a Professional Land Surveyor in Virginia and has been licensed in five other states.  He is an Army Veteran, holds a B.S. degree in civil engineering, is trained as a mediator, and Geographic Information Systems specialist.  Mr. Douty is a member and past President of the Virginia Association of Surveyors, and the National Society of Professional Surveyors.  Mr. Douty is a frequent lecturer on land surveying topics, and has provided continuing education lectures and seminars for Professional Surveying Societies of North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia.  He is also a member of several college advisory boards, and teaches as adjunct faculty at several colleges and universities. 

Dr. Elaksher holds a BS, MS, and PhD in Civil Engineering. He obtained his PhD from Purdue University in 2002. Dr. Elaksher has more than 20 years of experience in both the academia and industry. He has more than 5 years of distance education experience using different online teaching technologies. He is severing on the editorial boards for several international journals and has been publishing in reputed journals and regional and international conferences. Dr. Elaksher is an affiliated member of ASCE and has been recognized as a professional speaker at different professional events.

Mr. Elgammal holds a BS in Civil Engineering and a MS in Critical Infrastructure. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of New Jersey and New York. He also holds a Project Management Professional certificate. Mr. Elgammal has over 7 years of experience-- which includes material testing and inspection, construction operations, estimating, project control, and site design. In addition, he is also an adjunct professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Mr. Elgammal teaches construction and material courses at School of PE.

Mr. Ermila joined the Petroleum Engineering Department at Colorado School of Mines in 2012 as a Research Assistant professor, and became a full-time member of the faculty in 2015. He teaches introduction to petroleum industry, reservoir fluid properties, reservoir rock properties, production engineering, drilling engineering, well completion, well logging and senior design for undergraduate students, advanced drilling fluid and advanced production engineering for graduate students.
He worked as a production and workover engineer for more than 13 years in different oil fields. He earned his B.S. from University of Tripoli in Petroleum Engineering, and a M.S. in petroleum engineering from university of Miskolc (Hungary) and PhD in petroleum engineering from Colorado School of Mines. His research interests include drilling operation, well completion, stimulation, artificial lift optimization. He is an active member of SPE, AADE, ARMA and Pi Epsilon Tau.

Mr. Esser holds a BS and a MS in Civil Engineering and has been practicing engineering for over 40 years. He has published several technical papers and was admitted to the Academy of Geo-Professionals in 2009. He also serves on four ASTM D-18 subcommittees. He taught graduate and undergraduate courses in soil mechanics and foundation engineering as well as a PE review course for over 15 years. At School of PE, Mr. Esser teaches courses in the geotechnical discipline. 

Mr. Flynn graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, and he received his Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Accounting from the University of Houston. Mr. Flynn has been practicing engineering for over 33 years. He is currently a Forensic Investigator and Professional Engineer licensed in 22 states. In his home state of Texas, Mr. Flynn is listed in the Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical disciplines. Mr. Flynn is also a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH), and a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) by the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI). Mr. Flynn has been teaching coursework for the School of PE since 2008. At School of PE, Mr. Flynn has proven experience teaching Thermodynamics, Power, Heat Transfer and Exchanger, Material Science and Economics.

Dr. Foinquinos holds a BS in Civil Engineering and a MS and PhD in Structural Engineering with a specialization in Structural Dynamics. He has 15 years of structural engineering practice which has been focused on bridge design: concrete, pre-stressed concrete, and steel. Dr. Foinquinos has taught courses in steel design, finite elements, and masonry design along with PE refresher courses at Florida International University (FIU). Dr. Foinquinos has published a chapter in the book titled “Wave Propagation in Continuous Media.”

Dr. Fulkerson holds a BS in Environmental Engineering as well as a MS and PhD in Civil Engineering with specialization in Water Resources. He has been practicing engineering for 15 years, including hydraulics, hydrology, and surface water modeling. Dr. Fulkerson also has 10 years of teaching undergraduate courses in water resource. He teaches courses in environmental topics, geometric topics and water resource topics at School of PE.

Dr. Brian J. Galli works as an Assistant Professor of Project Management and Management Engineering at Long Island University – Post. He holds a PhD in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University. He also holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Binghamton University (SUNY Binghamton), as well as MS in Engineering Management from Missouri University of Science & Technology. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York state and holds a certification as a Lean Bronze, Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt, Project Management Professional (PMP), Professional in Engineering Management (PEM), and an Improvement Advisor (IHI).

Mr. Galli's  work has been published in a variety of publications, and it has been presented at several venues and professional organizations including Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE), American Society for Quality (ASQ), American Quality Institute (AQI), Society for Health Systems (SHS), American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM), Project Management Institute (PMI).

Mr. George holds a BS in Applied Science and Technology (Electrical Technology major), a MS in Electrical Engineering (Power Specialty) and a MA in Management. He has over 35 years of experience that includes maintenance, engineering, and project management in the following industries: power utilities, steel making, telecommunication, and railway transportation. Mr. George is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Currently, he works Senior Substation Engineer supporting the Maintenance and Operations departments for Exelon.

Trent is an adjunct professor teaching oilfield midstream courses at the Colorado School of Mines. Additionally, Trent is a managing director of a domestic upstream oil and gas operator and a senior production advisor for a private Delaware Basin operator. Prior experience includes Vice President of Production for Matador Resources, Chief Operating Officer for NGH, LLC (now HEYCO Energy Group), Rocky Mountain Division Manager for BOPCO, L.P., and Division Manager for Pinnacle Technologies. Prior to Pinnacle, Trent owned and operated his own oilfield service business that provided specialized in-situ reservoir testing services world-wide to coalbed methane and shale operators. Prior to forming his own business, Trent was the Rocky Mountain Division Manager for S.A. Holditch & Associates, Inc. He also worked seven years for Amerada Hess performing many production, reservoir and completion engineering duties throughout North America.

Trent is a registered professional engineer in Colorado who earned his B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering from Montana Tech in Butte, Montana in 1989 and an MBA from the University of Denver in 2007. Trent is an active member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers serving as chairman for several different chapters. He is also active in the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, Denver Geophysical Society, Denver Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists and Rocky Mountain Chapter of GPA Midstream. Trent has authored and co-authored many technical papers and articles for various industry periodicals on the topics of production enhancement and optimization. Trent lectured extensively and taught professional education courses such as hydraulic fracturing, NODAL Analysis, well testing, production operations, decline curve analysis, and various other topics for NExT, LLC, an industry training company.

Hobbies include woodworking, fishing (fly, deep sea and ice), high altitude outdoor activities, golf, and boxing.

Dr. Gurung holds a BS, MS, and PhD in Civil Engineering with specialization in Geotechnical Engineering. He has over 20 years of experience practicing civil engineering and has been teaching geotechnical engineering for five years. Dr. Gurung has proven experience in teaching geotechnical enginerring at School of PE. 

Mr. Harvey has a BS in Engineering Physics with a concentration in Civil Engineering. He is a Professional Engineer registered in the state of Florida and is also a Certified Bridge Inspector (CBI). He has experience is in operations management, and project management for bridge rehabilitation, as well as asset management projects in the state of Florida.

Mr. Haygood has taught for the School of P.E. since 2007.   He specializes in Mechanical Engineering topics such as Statics, Dynamics, Mechanics of Materials, Thermodynamics, and HVAC.  Mr. Haygood is a Consulting Mechanical Engineer in the fields of product testing and forensic engineering.  As an engineer accident investigator, Mr. Haygood has performed reconstructions and given testimony regarding ATV, Personal Watercraft, Heavy Trucking, motorcycle, and other vehicle accidents.  Mr. Haygood is a private pilot, motorcycle rider, and mechanic on his own time.

Mr. Hoffman is originally from San Diego, studied at California Polytechnic State University, Pomona for his Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering emphasizing in Power and then began studies for his Master in Electrical Engineering with a dual emphasis in Power and Systems Engineering at California State University, Los Angeles. Once completing his masters focus was placed on the Professional Engineering Licensing for Electrical Engineering in Power. Focusing on his career, Mr. Hoffman has held positions in some reputable companies such as AECOM, Southern California Gas Company and the City of San Diego, some lesser known companies Mr Hoffman has spent time working at where California Steel Industries, originally Kaiser Steel which started Kaiser Permanente, and Henderson Engineers a small company which with his help established a presence in Los Angeles in 2014. As of late Mr Hoffman has also begun teaching at Power Electronics at University of San Diego Extension program.

Dr. Howell has a BS, MS, and PhD in Civil Engineering with a Structural Engineering focus. He has been practicing structural engineering for over 16 years which includes nine years of teaching experience. At School of PE, Dr. Howell has proven experience in teaching Seismic and Structures.

In his 32^nd year with Braun Intertec and 37^th in the industry, Mr. Hubbard consults on complex geotechnical projects involving slopes and embankments, flood and impoundment, retention, and failure. He is experienced in the interpretation of seepage, deformation and failure mechanisms through finite element modeling, and assists with document, procedure, best practice, and technical development for Braun Intertec professional staff. Chuck has also been a PE exam preparation instructor for the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers, a content developer for Professional Publications, Inc. (Kaplan), and an adjunct Civil Technology instructor for Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minnesota.

Mr. Hume has a BS in Electrical Engineering. He has seven years of experience in the construction, telecommunications, and IT industries. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in multiple states and a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). He is a member of the IEEE Communications Society. At School of PE, Mr. Hume has proven experience in teaching signal processing, communications, digital systems and elect magnetic field theory. 

Mr. Joshi has a Bachelor of Engineering Science Degree in Mechanical. He has been practicing engineering for over 27 years which includes five years of teaching experience. Mr. Joshi has proven experience in teaching Statics and Dynamics, Mechanics of Materials, and Strength of Materials at School of PE.

Dr. Mehrad Kamalzare is an Assistant Professor in the Civil Engineering Department at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He received his Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), located in Troy, New York. He is the author of a book, and more than 50 technical papers in the area of geotechnical engineering. His primary areas of research include deep foundations, experimental soil mechanics, geosynthetics reinforcement, embankment dams, and numerical modeling. Dr. Kamalzare is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Geotechnical and Transportation Engineering (JGTTE) and the Associate Editor of the International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. Dr. Kamalzare is a register Professional Engineer (P.E.) in The States of California, New York, and Connecticut, and in the past few years has been involved in a number of consulting projects such as New York city subway system expansion (MTA), Port Authority Trans-Hudson inspections (PATH), Doha Red line metro construction, and California High-Speed rail project.

Mr. Kappers graduated from Ohio University in 2010 with a BS in Civil Engineering along with certification in Construction Management.  Kevin is a licensed Civil Engineer in the state of Ohio. He has been working in the water resources and utility industry for eight years. He currently serves as a Senior Engineer in the Watershed Planning and Asset Management group for the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati. 

Ms. Kelly is an experienced structural engineer with a focus on earthquake engineering. She has extensive experience in structural failure investigations, seismic structural design, and seismic risk assessments, and has practiced structural engineering in New York, California, and Christchurch, New Zealand. She is an active member of the structural engineering community, and participates in mentorship programs for younger engineers, as well as on a committee working towards improving the structural engineering profession for practicing engineers. Through the School of P.E., she is excited to teach fellow structural engineers about seismic engineering, and help students obtain their engineering certifications. She has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Masters of Engineering in Structural Engineering from Lehigh University

Margaret Kirk is an award-winning designer educated in New York City and Florence, Italy, with extensive experience in design, construction, and project management. She is a Certified Passive House Consultant and is the Regional Representative for the California/ Pacific Region for PHIUS (Passive House Institute US). An architecture faculty member at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, she is a former faculty member at the Pratt Institute and the School of Visual Arts in New York City.  She teaches building technology and construction, media and communication technology, design studios and interdisciplinary design courses.  She currently has her own consultancy practice, studio 341-b.

Dr. Kommalapati holds a BS  in Civil Engineering and a MS and PhD in Environmental Engineering. He has more than 18 years of teaching and research experience at a public university. Dr. Kommalapati has proven teaching experience in fluid mechanics, environmental-water and wastewater, chemistry, and ethics at School of PE. 

Anna L Koosmann is an architect, educator, and Fulbright scholar with award-winning experience working in U.S. architecture firms and teaching internationally. Receiving a cum laude for BS in Architecture and Art History Minor from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, her career began at SOM Chicago, before moving to the Pacific Northwest for graduate school. At the University of Washington in Seattle, she enrolled in the HUD-awarded, community futures design-build studio, working closely with the Yakama Nation Housing Authorities to design and construct energy efficient, culturally relevant, affordable homes on the reservation. After receiving a Master of Architecture, Anna worked professionally for a Seattle-based firm for several years, and co-founded a grassroots design-build coalition, before moving overseas to co-teach and establish the first Filipino-led, design-build university program in the Philippines. Her Fulbright research received an EDRA CORE award in 2018 for her work spanning nearly 3 years living and teaching in the Philippines. As a former Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona, Anna taught professional practice courses and co-instructed design-build studios. She has initiated design-build collaborations with culturally-diverse and economically-challenged communities in the U.S. and abroad. She has also consulted on small, community projects, like a mobile art gallery, and an organic juice bar and community space. In addition to her architectural practice, she is an active artist with exhibited artworks and temporary, site-specific installations, domestically and internationally.

Mr. Lane has a BS degree in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Structural Engineering. He is licensed as an Structural Engineer in the state of California and Washington and is licensed as a Professional Engineer in the state of Idaho. Mr. Lane’s experience includes providing structural engineering consulting and designing services for project types: infrastructure, industrial, commercial, educational, governmental, and health care facilities. Mr. Lane has worked on several airport projects throughout the country, including the LAX Airport in Los Angeles, CA and the McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, NV. He has served as a seismic consultant on international projects in several countries in Africa and in Afghanistan. Mr. Lane is currently a member of the SEAW.

Dr. Lawrence is a licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Florida and Georgia with over 19 years of experience in civil engineering industry and research. He currently is the Structural Materials Consultant to the Florida Department of Transportation’s State Materials Office, and is also a Principal Investigator for research in concrete at the University of Florida.

Dr. Lawrence received his B.Sc. from Howard University in Washington D.C., his M.Sc. from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, and completed his doctoral studies at the University of Florida, Gainsville, Florida. He has conducted research in Portland cement and supplementary cementitious materials, the hydration process of mass concrete, the distribution of concrete internal temperature and its effects on thermal cracking, and the non-destructive testing of concrete  substructures such as footings, drilled shafts, and end bents. 

Mr. Lewyta has over 40 years of engineering experience in design and contract/construction management. He worked as a Resident Engineer and project manager for industrial, municipal water, wastewater, and energy/power clients. He has a broad skill set in environmental, health and safety, and regulatory compliance with over 14 years of various experiences from major New York City agencies. Mr. Lewyta holds a NYSDEC 4A Wastewater Operator Certification and is also an AAEES Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE) in water supply and wastewater treatment. After taking a School of PE class to prepare for the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam, Mr. Lewyta passed and became a licensed Professional Engineer in New York. Currently, he teaches both FE and PE refresher courses in civil, environmental, chemical, mechanical, and industrial engineering as well as surveying and architecture classes. Mr. Lewyta teaches several NYS approved continuing education courses offered by the School of PE. He also is a NYSDEC certified wastewater trainer and a NYSERDA certified trainer in energy conservation and sustainability. Mr. Lewyta holds a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Union College in Schenectady, New York.

Dr. Liu has over ten years of experience in structural design and analysis. His extensive design experience includes buildings, highway and railway bridges, and industrial structures in fossil plants and nuclear power plants. He is currently a licensed Professional Engineer in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and some other states. 

Ryan Longshore is a 15 year veteran of both the Electric Utility and Defense industries. His utility experience includes distribution systems, protective relaying, and SCADA communications. He currently leads a diverse team of engineers and technicians integrating new technologies onto vehicles. Ryan earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University and a MS in Systems Engineering from Southern Methodist University. In addition to formal education, Ryan is committed to continuous professional development. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of South Carolina, an INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP), and an OMG Certified Systems Modeling Professional. When not working, Ryan enjoys cooking with his wife, fishing/swimming/anything outdoors with his elementary age twins, playing video games, watching sports, and reading.

Mr. MacKay has a BS in Civil Engineering and an MS in Civil Engineering with a focus in Water Resources. He is a principal/owner of an engineering firm in Pennsylvania and has been practicing water resources engineering for 18 years.  He developed and instructs courses for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, including Stormwater Design and NPDES Permits, Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Design, Stormwater Control Measure Inspections, and several others.  Mr. Mackay has served as an instructor for the School of PE since 2006.

Mr. Marchesseault is originally from Montana where he obtained his BS in Electrical Engineering from Montana State University (MSU) in 1988.  Upon graduating from MSU, he spent six years as an officer in the US Navy operating nuclear power plants on aircraft carriers.  Following his Navy career, Mr. Marchesseault worked in Silicon Valley for 13 years in the high tech industry developing semi-conductor capital equipment.  After getting married and starting a family, he wanted to move to the country, and he shifted careers to the electric utility industry. After working nearly three years in the wind industry managing wind parks in  California, he moved to a municipal utility in Lodi, California where he manages the engineering and operations department for Lodi Electric Utility. While at Lodi Electric Utility, Mr. Marchesseault obtained his Professional Engineer license in Electrical and Computer: Power.

Dr. Ahmed Cherif Megri, tenured Associate Professor of Architectural Engineering (AE). He teaches capstone, lighting, electrical, HVAC & energy design courses. He is ABET Coordinator for the AE Program. Dr. Megri holds a Ph.D. degree from INSA at Lyon (France) in the area of Thermal Engineering and an ”Accreditation for Supervising Research" called Habilitation (HDR) degree from Pierre and Marie Curie University - Paris VI, Sorbonne Universities (2011) in the area of Engineering Sciences. Prior to his actual position, he was the Director of the AE Program at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). He played a major role in the development of the current architectural engineering undergraduate and master’s programs at IIT. During his stay at IIT, he taught thermal and fluids engineering (thermodynamics, heat transfer, & fluid mechanics), building sciences, physical performance of buildings, building enclosure, as well as design courses, such as HVAC, energy, plumbing, fire protection, and lighting. He supervised many courses in the frame of interprofessional projects (IPRO) program. Overall, he taught more than 30 different courses at the university level.

Mr. Mousa has a BS in Civil Engineering and MS in Structural Engineering. He has over 35 years of experience in practicing engineering. He is an adjunct professor and has taught different structural subjects since 1984. Since 2012, Mr. Mousa has taught exam review courses. At School of PE his proven teaching experience is in structural engineering. 

Dr. Nguyen holds a PhD degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa. He worked as a drilling engineer for PetroVietnam for five years and as a post-doctoral research associate at University of Tulsa Artificial Lift Project for two years. He is currently an associate professor and department head at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Dr. Nguyen was the founder and director of the Production and Drilling Research Project at New Mexico Tech. His current research projects focus on directional and horizontal drilling, rheology of drilling fluid, multiphase flow, well completion, well stimulation and artificial lift methods. Over the years, Dr. Nguyen has taught many courses for universities and industries. Dr. Tan Nguyen has also served as a technical editor for Sustainable Energy & Environmental Sciences (SEES) and is a member of Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

As Electrical Engineering Discipline Leader in the Detroit office, Mike has practical and demonstrated expertise in diverse building types within the higher education, healthcare, workplace, industrial, science & technology, sustainability and government markets. Responsibilities at SmithGroup range from project electrical engineering, business development, thought leadership, project management and general administration.

Technical capabilities include developing overall building electrical system design concepts, including primary and secondary power distribution, emergency and standby power, grounding, lighting and controls, renewable energy technologies, fire alarm systems, telecommunications and security systems.

Mike possesses a bachelors in electrical engineering degree and a masters in alternative energy technology degree both from Wayne State University in Detroit.  He is also a registered professional engineer, certified renewable energy professional and LEED accredited professional.

Dr. Ofoli earned his BS in electrical and electronic engineering and MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering. He is an active member and officer of the IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS) and has served on the IEEE/IAS Industrial Automation and Control Committee (IACC) for over eight years. Dr. Ofoli, a registered Professional Engineer in Tennessee, has been practicing engineering for over nine years which includes five years of teaching experience in the following subject matters: electronics, control systems, circuit analysis, measurement, instrumentation, safety and design at School of PE. 

Ms. O'Toole has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).  She is a registered New York State Engineer (NYSPE).  She is an Associate DBIA (Design Build of America) Professional. She has over 10 years' experience with electric utilities.

Mr. Oyatayo is a licensed professional engineer and has a BS in Mechanical Engineering, an MS in Systems Engineering, and an MBA. He has ten years experience working across different industries such as petroleum, aerospace and defense, and theme park entertainment. At School of PE, Mr. Oyatayo has proven teaching experience in multiple subjects.

Bharat Patel PE, LEED AP, CEM

Location: California
Online only

My name is Bharat Patel and I will be teaching Mechanical Engineering for the ARE. I have a passion for the subject matter and like to depart my knowledge so others can benefit from my experiences and technical expertise. For the past 30 years, I have taught and continue to teach at various Universities both in a classroom setting and online.  Online teaching provides me with the convenience and flexibility that I require. My engineering career has taken me around the world working with world renowned architects that include Sir Richard Rogers, Renzo Piano, Sir Norman Foster, and have taken me to countries that include UK, France, Middle East, France, Sweden and North America.

I currently live in the California with my family

When I am not working I am helping my son who is autistic in life skills so when I am not around he can cope with life.

Mr. Payeur received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire, and his M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).  He is currently pursuing his PhD at WPI while working as a protection and control engineer at Unitil, an electric utility company.  Before working at Unitil, Mr. Payeur was an electric distribution engineer at Eversource Energy.  He is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of New Hampshire.

Dr. Petracca has a BS in Electrical Engineering, a MS in Telecommunication Engineering, and a PhD in Computer Engineering. He has been teaching undergraduate and graduate courses for nine years. At School of PE, Dr. Petracca has proven teaching experience in Mathematics and Probability and Statistics.

Dr. Povitsky received his B.Sc., M.Sc., and PhD in Mechanical and Metallurgical Engineering from Moscow Institute for Steel and Alloys (Technical University), Moscow, Russia. He was a full- time researcher in NASA Langley research Center for four years. Since 2003, he has been a full-time, tenured professor at the University of Akron. He is an AIAA Associate Fellow. He received 11 Air Force Summer Faculty Awards between 2005-2018. His research is supported by NSF, NASA, ARO, AFOSR, AFRL, ARDEC, DAGSI and the industry. At School of PE, Dr. Povitsky has proven teaching experience in Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, and Heat Transfer.

Dr. Proctor is a graduate of Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana with BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering. In his 19 year tenure as professor at the University of Florida, Dr. Proctor taught thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, gas dynamics, heat and mass transfer, combustion, instrumentation, finite element methods, vibrations, mechanical design, biometrics, codes and standards, analytical methods, and machine analysis and design. At UF, Dr. Proctor performed research in laser ignition, holography, flame structure and emission analysis, and biomechanics. Dr. Proctor served the state of Florida as member of the Board of Directors for the Florida Engineers Management Corporation. Dr. Proctor is Past-Vice President of Professional Practice for ASME, and he currently serves as Commissioner to ABET representing SAE and has been involved in the review of over 30 programs. Dr. Proctor was an ex-officio member of the NCEES Committee on Examinations for Professional Engineers, and member of the NCEES Task force on Engineering Licensure Qualifications. Dr. Proctor is currently a forensic engineering consultant with 30 years of testifying experience. Dr. Proctor’s has proven teaching experience in Hydraulics and Fluids, and Mechanical Systems and Materials at School of PE.

Mr. Santos holds a BS in Civil Engineering – Summa Cum Laude and a MS in Business Administration- Magna Cum Laude. In New Jersey, Mr. Santos is a Professional Engineer and a Professional Planner.  He has over 10 years of experience practicing engineering and project management. Mr. Santos serves as an adjunct professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He teaches Water Resources and Water Sources & Related Topics at School of PE.

Dr. Sezen is a professor of structural engineering. He has a BS in Civil Engineering and MS and PhD in Structural Engineering. He has been teaching PE and SE courses for the School of PE since 2004. As a professor, he has been doing research and teaching courses on Principles of Structural Engineering, Reinforced Concrete Structures, Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design, Bridge Engineering, Structural Analysis, and Prestressed Concrete Design. He has received several teaching awards. At School of PE, Dr. Sezen has been teaching structural engineering courses related to PE breadth and depth exams, and SE Vertical Forces and Lateral Forces exams.  

Dr. Shah holds a BS, a MS, and a PhD in Civil Engineering with specialization in Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. Dr. Shah has nearly 15 years of practical experience in geotechnical engineering, as well as site remediation, construction oversight, and project management across a large banner of civil infrastructure projects. Dr. Shah has been recognized by ASCE as the “Face of Civil Engineering” for 2013, and was also selected as one of ENR’s Top 20 Under 40 in Metropolitan New York. Dr. Shah manages the geotechnical department of an ENR Top 40 consulting engineering firm headquartered in New Jersey and is also an adjunct professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and New York University. Dr. Shah is the past President of the New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers and holds active posts on several engineering and professional organizations.

Mr. Stankiewicz has two undergraduate degrees and a Master’s degree in management with over 35 years’ experience in the construction industry. Specializing in general building construction, he has played an active executive role in the construction of nearly a billion dollars of projects within the public and private sectors. His broad background in projects engaged with the Federal, State, and Local governments, Universities, and major corporate clients have strengthened his skills as a leader. As an adjunct instructor for the Graduate School of Engineering at a major East Coast Technology Institute, he taught courses in Construction Management, Systems in Building Design (Civil-M/E/P/F), and Project Scheduling. He has over seven years teaching experience. At School of PE, Mr. Stankiewicz has proven teaching experience in Surveying, Construction, Materials, Engineering Economics, and Project Management. 

Mr. Taylor is a licensed Professional Surveyor with a Juris Doctorate degree.  Mr. Taylor is an Associate Professor at East Tennessee State University where he teaches several courses including Surveying and Mapping.

Dr. Thompson has a Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. He has been practicing engineering for over 25 years which includes eight years of teaching experience. At School of PE, Dr. Thompson has proven teaching experience in Mass Energy Balances, and Thermodynamics. 

Mr. Tumu has a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He has over 33 years of significant and successful experience in pharmaceutical production management, plant start-up, project management, engineering field, operations, chemical process development, process scale-up, technology transfer from pilot plant to bulk production and trouble shooting, sales support, customer relations, design and implementation. He also has several years of experience in developing, teaching, coaching and training Chemical Engineers, Process Engineers, and Chemical Operators in custom Pharmaceutical/Chemical Manufacturing from Pilot scale to Bulk production. Mr. Tumu has proven teaching experience in Plant Design and Operations at School of PE. 

Mr. Vargas has a BS in Civil Engineering and a MS in Structural Engineering. He has been practicing engineering for over 18 years which includes four years of teaching experience. At School of PE, Mr. Vargas has proven experience teaching structural engineering courses.

Dr. Vargas has a BS, a MS, and a PhD in Civil Engineering with specialization in Structural Engineering. He has 30 years’ experience in structural engineering, including concrete and steel bridge design, concrete segmental and pedestrian cable-stayed bridges for highway and railroad bridges.  Dr. Vargas is a past member of the PCI-ASBI Joint Committee for Precast Segmental Standards and development of the 2nd Ed. of the AASHTO “Guide Specifications for Design of Segmental Concrete Bridges.  He is a former member of ASCE National Technical Committees on Seismic Effects and LRFD, and a reviewer of scientific papers for the Journal of Structural Engineering.  Dr. Vargas has been a Lecturer at ASBI Seminars on the Design and Construction of Cantilever Segmental Bridges in 1998, 1999 and 2004.   Dr. Vargas is currently involved in the four most significant transportation/structures projects in the Miami area, amounting to $ 3 Billion of construction cost. At School of PE, Dr. Vargas has proven teaching experience in the following areas:

• Bridges Fundamentals
• Lateral Forces- Design & Details of Structures
  • General Structural  Considerations (Bridges, Buildings)
  • Structural Steel (Buildings)
  • Masonry
  • Foundations
  • Columns & Footings (Bridges)
• Vertical Forces- Design & Details of Structures:
  • Structural Steel (Bridges)
  • Other Elements (Bridges)

Rick is a Senior Consultant with the Capital Projects group of Deloitte Advisory where he provides Infrastructure, Engineering, and Construction Consulting services for federal agencies. Rick works with clients to build confidence in their capital asset portfolios, individual project delivery, and digital capital projects. His unique experience in engineering, management consulting, and project management provides for broad advisory capability. Rick has worked on both private and public sector projects and programs of various size and scope, from $5K building envelope repair projects to $500M federal construction and equipment acquisitions programs. 

Mr. Yamashita has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. He is a professional engineer registered in the state of Pennsylvania and also a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control (CPESC). He has been practicing engineering for ten years, which includes four years of teaching experience. He specializes in water resources engineering with an emphasis in stormwater management, erosion and sediment pollution control, hydrologic and hydraulic studies, and drainage systems.

Mr. Yoo last presented at National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) conference in 2016.  Since 2005, Mr. Yoo has been employed as a Senior Fire Protection Engineer with the United States Federal Government.  In 2017, Mr. Yoo started his own company called Columbia Fire Protection, LLC that specializes in fire protection seminars related to IBC, IFC, and NFPA codes. Mr. Yoo earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Protection Engineering at the University of Maryland and his Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Houston.  Mr. Yoo is a Professional Engineer and a Certified Fire Protection Specialist, Mr. Yoo has also served as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) since 2007.  He teaches courses in statistics and Algebra to undergraduate students since 2015 and taught fire dynamics from 2007-2014.