Herff College of Engineering

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) approved a new concentration in Applied Artificial Intelligence at the University of Memphis. The concentration will be part of the Bachelor of Applied Science program offered through the Polytechnic@UofM starting this fall semester.

“Given the rapid movement in artificial intelligence and workforce needs as communicated to us by a variety of stakeholders, we moved very assertively in this space to develop the Applied Artificial Intelligence undergraduate concentration,” said Provost Dr. David Russomanno. “We were thrilled to have the support of THEC, the Academic Affairs team and THEC Executive Director Dr. Steven Gentile to approve our request to add this additional concentration under our highly innovative Bachelor of Applied Science degree.”

The offering will expand the need for trained graduates with AI competency, regardless of discipline.

Rather than training students as AI developers or systems architects, the concentration prepares graduates as practitioners who can deploy, evaluate and govern AI tools within their industry domains. This applied, workforce-centered model is designed for access and flexibility serving community college and Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) transfer students, working professionals seeking credentials that produce immediate value for employers, and traditional four-year students seeking workforce-ready skills.

See how the degree at the Polytechnic@UofM can open up new career pathways >> https://tinyurl.com/mv6446p

THE MYSTERY OF THE STEEL STRUCTURE 🔍 🐯 Several historic engineering achievements still baffle modern-day researchers: the Great Pyramids, Stonehenge and the mysterious steel structure that sits outside of the Herff College of Engineering.

A hodgepodge of steel beams, the blue-and-white structure welcomes visitors to the Herff College of Engineering. But who welcomed the structure itself, and what purpose does it serve? Speaking with students as you walk down the Herff hallways reveals conspiracy theories rooted deeper than the structure itself.

Did aliens place it here as a homing beacon for when they return to Earth? Is it used to harness the power of electricity to create some type of “Frankenstein’s Monster” or worse? Is it a ruin left by the ancient Mayans or Aztecs?

The Herff College of Engineering Marketing and Communications team set out for answers. Setting out from our office in Engineering Administration, our quest for truth took us literally dozens of feet away to the Engineering Science building. There, we found Dr. Charles Camp, professor of Structural Engineering in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, and a story that dates back decades, starting in the Florida swamps and spanning across our entire country.

Unravel the mystery behind Herff's steel structure and find out the one question that still has Dr. Charles Camp searching for answers >> https://tinyurl.com/HerffsSteelStructure

GO FURTHER WITH HERFF'S GRADUATE PROGRAMS 🐯

Lead with confidence through a master’s in engineering management,
where technical expertise meets strategic leadership.

Our program equips engineers with the skills to manage projects, teams, and innovation across industries.

Learn from experienced faculty and prepare to lead in today’s
fast-paced, tech-driven world.

Explore the program and apply today:
https://www.memphis.edu/herff/departments/engr-mgmt.php

HERFF HERO 🦸 The Herff College of Engineering is proud to recognize the heroes who help us advance STEM and research in the Mid-South and around the world, from the students in our classrooms to the faculty and staff dedicated to instructing tomorrow's leaders and alums who continue to give back to the college and our students.

Today, Herff is highlighting Ashely Woodall, a scheduling manager at Flintco and mentor in the Herff Horizons program.

Ashely, who graduated from Herff's Department of Engineering Technology with her bachelor's degree in 2020 and her master's degree in 2026, landed her first internship with the City of Memphis through the Urban Fellows Program, then secured her first job in the construction industry through connections she made at a Herff College of Engineering career fair.

Today, she oversees the construction of two 15-story towers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, leaving her mark on the Memphis skyline and contributing to the hospital's crucial work.

“This project will help provide more space for research and care to the children and doctors working on campus. The campus is constantly growing. I look forward to the future,” Woodall said.

See how Ashely is building up Memphis and the next generation of its engineers >>
https://tinyurl.com/HerffHeroAshelyWoodall

INDUSTRY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT 🌟 The Herff College of Engineering is proud to call RAPAC an industry partner.

RAPAC sponsored Team Frostbite Fabricators during last semester's Senior Design Expo. The team developed a Strand Tank Cooling System for RAPAC, the largest polystyrene recycling company in the United States.

Effective cooling is required to maintain safe operating temperatures, protect equipment, and sustain production efficiency. Team Frostibite Fabricators' design aims to replace empirical operation with an analytical, data-driven approach to optimize coolant temperatures and overall chiller performance.

"We had a problem that needed solving, and the engineering students at the University of Memphis seemed to be the team that could help us. The students provided us a calculator that would allow us to determine the loading of our water chillers to ensure we have an effective and efficient design," Stephan Doorley of RAPAC said.

GO FURTHER WITH HERFF'S GRADUATE PROGRAMS 🐯 Accelerate your future with a graduate degree in mechanical engineering, where design meets discovery.

Our MS and PhD programs offer hands-on research in robotics, advanced manufacturing, thermal sciences, and more.

Learn from accomplished faculty and contribute to innovations that shape
the world. Explore the program and apply today: https://www.memphis.edu/me/

EARN YOUR DEGREE IN AI 🐯 The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) approved the University of Memphis’ request to offer a concentration in Applied Artificial Intelligence through the Polytechnic@UofM’s Bachelor of Applied Science program.

The premise is straightforward: every future worker will need AI competency, regardless of discipline. Rather than training students as AI developers or systems architects, the concentration prepares graduates as practitioners who can deploy, evaluate, and govern AI tools within their industry domains. This applied, workforce-centered model is designed for access and flexibility, serving community college and TCAT transfer students, working professionals seeking credentials that produce immediate value for employers, and traditional 4-year students seeking workforce-ready skills.

The design of the curriculum begins with a core that provides AI literacy, AI tools and prompting, and AI ethics and risk mitigation, as well as computer literacy and MS Office applications with Copilot, data storytelling, project management, and quality control. Students then choose electives to build domain expertise to advance their careers.

Classes in Applied AI begin on August 24. Talk to a University of Memphis advisor to enroll.

Learn more about the Bachelor of Applied Sciences program at the Polytechnic@UofM >> https://www.memphis.edu/herff/news/polytechnic_bas_program.php

The future of natural energy is being harnessed at the University of Memphis ☀️🐯

Dr. Hasan Ali, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Herff College of Engineering, recently received a patent for a triple-function battery energy storage system designed for hybrid microgrids.

Dr. Ali explained that the storage system serves three functions: improving the transient stability in a hybrid AC/DC microgrid (HMG) system during any fault; improving power quality in the HMG during any sudden load change; and mitigating power and frequency fluctuations due to variations in wind speed and solar irradiance in the HMG.

Learn more about Dr. Ali's patent here >> https://tinyurl.com/3kwxmtwc

Dr. Rouzbeh Nazari, Chair and Professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Memphis, has been selected to receive the 2026 Journal of Hydrologic Engineering Best Research Paper Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI).

The award recognizes his paper, “Improving Long-Term Flood Forecasting Accuracy Using Ensemble Deep Learning Models and an Attention Mechanism," which presents a significant advancement in predictive modeling for flood events.

Read more about the honor and Dr. Nazari's research here >> https://tinyurl.com/yrjhb5ur