Dr. Robert Bertini, professor and head of the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at The University of Alabama, recently began his term as chair of the American Society of Civil Engineers Department Heads Advisory and Coordinating Council.
The council serves in an advisory capacity to the ASCE Board of Direction and the Committee on Workforce and Education. Its charge includes advancing civil engineering education and research, fostering communication among department heads, faculty, students and practitioners, and representing ASCE in engagement with peer engineering organizations. The council connects a network of more than 260 civil engineering department heads and includes 12 members, ASCE committee liaisons and additional corresponding members.
Bertini succeeds Dr. Peter Dusicka of Portland State University. Bertini has served as the council’s vice chair since 2025 and was first elected to the council in 2022.
“I am grateful to Peter for his thoughtful and dedicated leadership of DHACC,” Bertini said. “I also want to recognize the many past and present council members and leaders who have built this community through their generosity, collegiality and commitment to civil engineering education.”
Bertini first joined ASCE as an undergraduate student at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and later served as a faculty advisor for the ASCE student chapter at Portland State University. He was elevated to the level of ASCE Fellow in 2017.
“As a longtime ASCE member, I believe strongly in the role of civil engineering education in preparing the workforce our communities and nation need,” he said. “Department heads occupy a unique position at the intersection of students, faculty, research, professional practice and the future of the profession. It is a privilege to serve this remarkable network of colleagues and to help strengthen the connections among them.”
Bertini expressed appreciation to ASCE leadership and staff for their continuing partnership with DHACC.
“I am especially grateful to the ASCE Board of Direction for creating a direct advisory connection with DHACC and to Dion Coward and the ASCE staff for their encouragement, guidance and unwavering support of the civil engineering education community,” he said.
During the past year, DHACC supported engagement initiatives through the National Civil Engineering Department Heads Conference, programming for new department heads and chairs, conversations about artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship, the accreditation community, and continuing work arising from the 2025 Civil Engineering Education Summit.
Looking ahead, Bertini said the council plans to continue strengthening the National Civil Engineering Department Heads Conference, develop a nationwide department heads survey, expand conversations involving artificial intelligence, data science, infrastructure and entrepreneurship, and support academic leaders as they navigate challenges affecting higher education, research and funding.
“DHACC’s strength comes from the experience and commitment of its members and from the wider community of department heads we serve,” he said. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation established by Peter and previous DHACC leaders while working with ASCE to support civil engineering education and the workforce of the future.”