Dr. Alice Smith will join The University of Alabama Styslinger College of Engineering as an Endowed Shelby Distinguished Professor in January 2026. Recognized for her significant and leading-edge contributions in engineering education and research, Smith is one of four eminent scholars selected as members of the College’s inaugural cohort of Shelby Distinguished Faculty.
Established through congressionally directed funding, the Shelby Endowment for Distinguished Faculty embodies the commitment of Senator Richard Shelby and his late wife, Dr. Annette Shelby, to strengthening Alabama’s higher education system. This permanent $100 million fund is designed to elevate UA’s influence in STEM fields by attracting and retaining top-tier faculty and providing comprehensive support for their teaching, research and service. As a result, the endowment will play a crucial role in enhancing the development and security of Alabama and the United States.
“The Shelby Endowment is truly transformational,” Smith said. “A group of senior and mid-career top scholars in STEM is being assembled, and it is exciting to be part of this group. The resources of the endowment will allow my efforts in education, research and service to be more impactful.”
Smith is a National Academy of Engineering member and was named in the top 2% of scientific researchers based on publishing impact by Stanford University. She is a fellow of multiple leading professional societies and is a four-time Fulbright Scholar. Her research focuses on the analysis, modeling and optimization of complex systems with emphasis on computation inspired by natural systems integrated with traditional operations research and statistical approaches.
Her work on artificial intelligence and its applications to complex systems, including advanced manufacturing, is directly applicable to economic health.
“We are honored that NAE member Dr. Alice Smith, a globally recognized leader in industrial engineering and complex systems engineering, will be joining our Styslinger College of Engineering as an Endowed Shelby Distinguished Professor,” said Dr. Clifford Henderson, dean of the Styslinger College of Engineering. “Her expertise and scholarly contributions align with strategic research and the direction of education program growth in our College and with the expansion of advanced manufacturing and high-tech industries here in Alabama.”
Shelby Distinguished Faculty members are appointed for a five-year renewable term and are expected to demonstrate continued productivity and excellence in scholarly and creative endeavors.
“I love teaching and being in the classroom. My courses generally appeal to and benefit a wide range of technical and scientific students, so I expect to help encourage a culture of interdisciplinary study. These are priorities of this next phase of my career,” Smith said.
Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Rice University, a Master of Business Administration from Saint Louis University, and a doctorate in engineering management and systems engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology.
“Dr. Smith’s research efforts and the students she will be instrumental in educating will have a significant, positive impact on our competitiveness as a state and nation in a wide variety of fields. Scholars like Dr. Smith will help our College continue to fuel the innovation economy of Alabama and our nation,” said Henderson.
“The University of Alabama is the flagship institution of the UA system. Having lived in the state since 1999, I have witnessed the growth of UA and have been impressed with its progressiveness in continuous improvement in education and in scholarship,” Smith said. “In particular, the administrative leadership commitment to significantly advance STEM fields at the institution was an important factor in my decision to join UA.”
Learn more about the Shelby Endowment for Distinguished Faculty.