New Leadership. New Opportunities.
From left: Arvind Agarwal, Ph.D. and Kemal Akkaya, Ph.D.
New leadership at the College of Engineering positions the Departments of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering and Computer Science to continue educating the next generation of engineers while conducting impactful research that benefits our world.
Arvind Agarwal, Ph.D.
Arvind Agarwal, Ph.D., is the new chair of the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. A renowned academic and pioneering researcher in advanced materials and manufacturing, Agarwal comes to VCU from Florida International University (FIU), where he held the position of Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME).
During Agarwal’s seven-year tenure as MME chair at FIU, he spearheaded numerous initiatives resulting in significant departmental growth. This includes an increase in the undergraduate graduation rate. Research awards also grew from $1.8 million in 2017 to $24 million in 2024 and Ph.D. enrollment doubled during his tenure as chair.
Kemal Akkaya, Ph.D.
Kemal Akkaya, Ph.D., a distinguished professor and cybersecurity expert, will join the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) College of Engineering as the new chair of the Department of Computer Science. Akkaya comes to VCU from Florida International University (FIU), where he was an Eminent Chaired Scholar Professor in the Knight Foundation School of Computer and Information Sciences.
At FIU, Akkaya directed the Advanced Wireless and Security (ADWISE) Lab, conducting research in cybersecurity, privacy, trustworthy AI, Internet of Things (IoT), cyber-physical systems, and blockchain technologies. His work has garnered over $20 million in research funding at FIU and resulted in approximately 300 peer-reviewed publications. He also holds 10 patents.
Categories Computer Science, Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering