Mumtaz A. Usmen
Honorary Board MemeberProfessional Biography
The distinguished career journey of Mumtaz A. Usmen
Mumtaz A. Usmen, Ph.D., P.E.
Dr. Mumtaz Usmen is currently Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. In addition to teaching and research, he held several administrative positions at Wayne State including Chair of CEE (5 terms), Associate Dean for Research and Interim Dean of the College of Engineering. He also had a two-year stint as the Interim Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering, after which he returned to the CEE Department. Prior to coming to Wayne State, he was a professor of civil engineering at West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, where he stablished and directed a NIOSH sponsored Center for Excellence on Construction Safety. Dr. Usmen specializes in geotechnical, materials, and construction engineering/management with emphasis on construction safety, quality, productivity, ethical leadership, organizational improvement, and project management. He has been an active researcher supervising many MS and PhD students, and postdoctoral scientists, producing well over 100 publications. He has organized/chaired conferences and technical sessions; taught short courses; and has made numerous invited presentations worldwide on construction project management, quality, safety, and professional ethics. He has done considerable forensic and expert witness work on geotechnical failure investigations and construction safety/injury cases.
Dr. Usmen has been very active professionally serving national, state and local committees of technical and professional societies. He is a fellow of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), Past President of the Detroit Metro Chapter of the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE), past State President of MSPE, and is a fellow of MSPE. He served two three-year terms on NSPE’s Board of Ethical Review (BER), and was the vice chair of this Board for one year. In addition, Dr. Usmen was chair of the Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD) Awards Committee for many years, is an ESD Fellow, a long-standing member and past chair of the ESD Construction and Design Committee, a past member of the ESD Board of Directors, and a past chair of the College of Fellows Executive Committee. Dr. Usmen has been involved with the Associated General Contractors (AGC), American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), and Project Management Institute (PMI) as an advisor. In early career, he was quite active with, and chaired several geotechnical committees of the Transportation Research Board (TRB).
Dr. Usmen has received many academic and professional recognitions, including seven awards for university teaching excellence, the Outstanding Engineer in Education and the Engineer of the Year awards in Michigan from MSPE, and Outstanding Council/Committee Leadership and Distinguished Service awards, as well as the Affiliate Council Gold Award from ESD.
Dr. Usmen holds a BSCE degree from Robert College, Turkey, and a PhD from West Virginia University.
Dr. Mumtaz Usmen is currently Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. In addition to teaching and research, he held several administrative positions at Wayne State including Chair of CEE (5 terms), Associate Dean for Research and Interim Dean of the College of Engineering. He also had a two-year stint as the Interim Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering, after which he returned to the CEE Department. Prior to coming to Wayne State, he was a professor of civil engineering at West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, where he stablished and directed a NIOSH sponsored Center for Excellence on Construction Safety. Dr. Usmen specializes in geotechnical, materials, and construction engineering/management with emphasis on construction safety, quality, productivity, ethical leadership, organizational improvement, and project management. He has been an active researcher supervising many MS and PhD students, and postdoctoral scientists, producing well over 100 publications. He has organized/chaired conferences and technical sessions; taught short courses; and has made numerous invited presentations worldwide on construction project management, quality, safety, and professional ethics. He has done considerable forensic and expert witness work on geotechnical failure investigations and construction safety/injury cases.
Dr. Usmen has been very active professionally serving national, state and local committees of technical and professional societies. He is a fellow of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), Past President of the Detroit Metro Chapter of the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE), past State President of MSPE, and is a fellow of MSPE. He served two three-year terms on NSPE’s Board of Ethical Review (BER), and was the vice chair of this Board for one year. In addition, Dr. Usmen was chair of the Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD) Awards Committee for many years, is an ESD Fellow, a long-standing member and past chair of the ESD Construction and Design Committee, a past member of the ESD Board of Directors, and a past chair of the College of Fellows Executive Committee. Dr. Usmen has been involved with the Associated General Contractors (AGC), American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), and Project Management Institute (PMI) as an advisor. In early career, he was quite active with, and chaired several geotechnical committees of the Transportation Research Board (TRB).
Dr. Usmen has received many academic and professional recognitions, including seven awards for university teaching excellence, the Outstanding Engineer in Education and the Engineer of the Year awards in Michigan from MSPE, and Outstanding Council/Committee Leadership and Distinguished Service awards, as well as the Affiliate Council Gold Award from ESD.
Dr. Usmen holds a BSCE degree from Robert College, Turkey, and a PhD from West Virginia University.