Overcoming Obstacles, Onward and Upward

Civil engineering alumnus Michael Hobbs defies odds to emerge successful

Michael Hobbs (BSCE 19) is a shining example of tenacity and triumph. Faced with seemingly insurmountable problems such as financial obstacles as an undergraduate, the University of Mississippi alumnus overcame all the odds to finish college and build a successful career. The Clarksdale native decided to attend Ole Miss because the engineering program was wellRead the story …

Biomedical Engineering Professor Researches Causes Behind Heart Disease

Nikki Reinemann receives three-year grant from American Heart Association to pursue groundbreaking work

Nikki Reinemann, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Mississippi, has received a prestigious three-year grant from the American Heart Association for her research into the underlying causes of heart disease. Reinemann is hoping that her work may help physicians better understand the origins of heart disease, the nation’s No. 1 cause ofRead the story …

Ole Miss Engineering Launches Industry Affiliates Program

School establishes strategic relationships with five industry partners to shape future workforce and research aspirations

Ole Miss Engineering recognizes the importance of strategic relationships with industry. That’s why it has launched its Industry Affiliates Program. The school and each industry partner find mutually beneficial outcomes – from on-campus awareness and student recruitment to research opportunities and economic empowerment. “Throughout my career, I’ve learned that university-industry partnerships are critical in ever-changingRead the story …

Alumnus Recognized for Service to Engineering Geology Profession

Charlie Wildman receives AEG Piteau Outstanding Young Member Award

A University of Mississippi engineering alumnus is the recipient of a rare honor from the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists in recognition of his exceptional professional service. John C. “Charlie” Wildman (BSGE 09) was presented the Douglas R. Piteau Outstanding Young Member Award during the association’s annual meeting. Wildman is only the 31st personRead the story …

Geologists Investigate Geological History of Nation’s Capital

Researchers from MMRI gather data for fault history, risks

No one foresaw the 2011 earthquake that shook Washington, D.C., but better maps of the structural geological history of the area will help seismologists understand the potential risks. Researchers and graduate students from the University of Mississippi’s Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute recently spent two weeks in the nation’s capital studying the Adams Mill fault to determine ifRead the story …

Cristiane Surbeck: Mississippi Engineer of the Year

Civil engineering chair recognized by Mississippi section of American Society of Civil Engineers

Cristiane Surbeck, chair and professor of civil engineering at the University of Mississippi, has been named Engineer of the Year by the Mississippi section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Surbeck is a published author and part of the team completing research on green stormwater infrastructure funded by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. SheRead the story …

Mechanical Engineering Major Gains Hands-on Experience at Nissan

Emily Robinson makes most of co-op experience, on-campus education

Emily Robinson is gaining lots of hands-on experience – thanks to both her on-campus education and a cooperative internship at Nissan in Canton. Robinson, a junior mechanical engineering major at the University of Mississippi, said she was well prepared for her internship at Nissan through what she learned in UM’s Haley Barbour Center for ManufacturingRead the story …

Back to Teaching

After 9 years as department chair, Jacob Najjar rejoins civil engineering faculty

Nine years ago, Jacob Najjar assumed the duties of chair and professor of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Mississippi. Following two successful terms as chair and achieving several of his goals for the department, Najjar will return to the faculty full time to continue teaching the next generation of civil engineers.Read the story …

UM Remembers Julius M. Ridgway

Geological engineering alumnus succeeded in oil, gas industry, supported alma mater

University of Mississippi faculty, staff, alumni and students are remembering the contributions of Julius Mosal Ridgway (BSGE 56), a geological engineering alumnus who became a titan in the oil and gas industry and later generously supported his beloved alma mater. A lifelong Jackson resident, Ridgway, 87, died peacefully at his home in the early morningRead the story …

From UM to the Moon and Mars

Engineering faculty, students assist NASA with fundamental research toward building structures in space

OXFORD, Miss. – As NASA resumes its prepandemic missions to return to the moon and place an astronaut on Mars, some University of Mississippi engineering faculty and students are assisting these efforts through several futuristic research projects. “A Particle-Based Numerical Framework for Continuum-Level Modeling and Simulation of Titanium Alloys in In-Space Additive Manufacturing,” grant No.Read the story …