Ali Keyvanfar, Ph.D.
Graduate Program Coordinator, MS in Construction Management
Associate Professor (Tenured), Department of Construction Management, Kennesaw State University · Marietta, Georgia
STEM faculty leader with 13 years of post-PhD experience in higher education spanning AI-enhanced pedagogy, student success systems, accreditation, curriculum governance, international program development, and industry partnerships. Architect of a scalable AI-powered formative learning ecosystem serving 300+ students across 7 programs — complemented by browser-based simulation platforms, 100+ AI-generated course materials, and faculty mentorship in AI adoption.
2026 Forward
Construction Case Study Accepted — with The Walsh Group
The AGC of America Education & Research Foundation has accepted a construction case study proposal developed in collaboration with The Walsh Group. The Foundation is preparing the completion agreement, and development will follow the timeline set out in the proposal.
AGC Foundation case studies are written by faculty–contractor teams and built from an actual construction project. They are distributed as free downloads to faculty and industry trainers through AGC’s learning management system, giving construction management students the opportunity to work through real project issues in a classroom setting.
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+Trusted AdvisorFederal & International Advisory ServiceAppointments by U.S. federal agencies, foreign governments and national research foundations.
Selected appointments by U.S. federal agencies, foreign governments, and national research foundations to evaluate distinguished talent, competitive grants, and accreditation programs.
U.S. Federal Government
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Independent expert evaluator for distinguished-talent immigration cases. Multiple engagements (2020, 2022).
Czech Republic · National Research Foundation
Czech Science Foundation (GA ČR)
National grant proposal reviewer. Active appointment since 2022.
Australian Government
Global Distinguished Talent Program of Australia
Independent expert evaluator. Two separate engagements (2021, 2023).
UK Government
Metascience Unit & University of Sussex
Invited expert assessor on the novelty of selected publications (February 2026).
U.S. State Government
Louisiana Board of Regents Grant Review Panel
External proposal reviewer for the Board of Regents Support Fund — a $20M annual research portfolio (2024–25).
U.S. National Accreditation
ABET Program Evaluator (EAC & ETAC)
Active since 2017. Recently completed a 5-year review of the Construction Engineering Technology program at Missouri Western State University (2025–26).
+Invited PlatformsSpeaking Engagements & Invited LecturesKeynotes, invited lectures and panels — Cornell, UMBC, REDU Ecuador, GDOT and KSU.
Selected invited lectures, panel discussions, and government partner presentations across academic, federal, and institutional venues.
Upcoming · 2026 Forward
December 2026 · Invited Lecturer
Cornell University — Lecture Series on AI for Sustainability
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
November 18, 2026 · Opening Keynote Speaker
XIII REDU International Congress — Opening Keynote
“Ethics in Science: Challenges and Responsibilities of Academia,” UTE University, Ecuador
May 6, 2026 · Invited Panelist
KSU Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning — Pre-Tenure Faculty Success Panel
University-wide pre-tenure faculty cohort
May 1, 2026 · Invited Panelist
ASCE Construction Institute, Georgia Chapter — Expert Panel
“Construction Technology & AI: Bridging Research & Industry Practice,” KSU Marietta Campus
April 24, 2026 · NSF AI-Ready TRACE Workshop
The Missing Layer — Making Science Callable
NSF AI-Ready TRACE Workshop · University of Maryland BC + AOK Gallery, Baltimore
External & Government Partner Presentations
October 2024 · Panel Discussion
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) — Digital Twin Panel
“Digital Twin Solutions for Bridge Monitoring and Maintenance” (with Y. Cho and Y. Wang)
September 2023 · Government Partner Briefing
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)
“Development of a Conversational AI for Urban Heat Island Mitigation” (with Jonaidi, Shafaghat, Nasseri)
June 2020 · International Invited Webinar
Post-COVID-19 Urban Planning International Webinar — RUBI & IAP, Indonesia
“COVID-19 and Urban Planning Challenges”
KSU Institutional Invited Talks
May 2025 · Invited Speaker
CMD Industry Advisory Board & Capstone Luncheon
“Construction Education Reimagined: What If AI Is Taking Over?” KSU Department of Construction Management
March 2025 · Invited Lecture
KSU German Studies Lecture Series
“IUPD Playground Analyst: A Tool for the Playground Dilemma” (with Dr. A. Shafaghat) · KSU Marietta Campus
November 2024 · Invited Panelist
KSU Celebration of Teaching Day — “Teaching with AI” Panel
KSU Kennesaw Campus
February 2024 · Workshop Facilitator
KSU Research Foundation (KSURF) — Campus-wide Workshop
“Harnessing AI for Enhanced Research Communication”
December 2021 · Research Conversation Speaker
Research Conversation with Dr. Ali Keyvanfar — KSU
“Your Future Research Life: Lessons Learned in Past 15 Years”
November 2021 · Featured Speaker
PechaKucha Night at KSU — KSU Marietta
“Social Sustainability of Urban Development”
+RecognitionSelected Awards & HonorsGlobal Sustainability Awards, Google AI Faculty Fellowship, Governor’s Teaching Fellow, APEX and more.
Global Sustainability Awards 2026 — Educator
Emory University (Goizueta), Atlanta, 2026
Featured Editor's Choice Article — Post-Fire Damage in Concrete Structures
Buildings (MDPI), 2026
APEX Outstanding Research Award
Kennesaw State University, 2024
Governor's Teaching Fellow
Louise McBee Institute, University of Georgia, 2024
CACM Distinguished International Achievement Award
Kennesaw State University, 2024
Elsevier Order of Recognition — UN SDGs
Elsevier Publishing, 2023
Editor's Selected Article of the Year
ASCE J. of Urban Planning & Development, 2022
International Gold Medal
iCAN 2020, Canada (KSU)
World Materials Science Grand Award
World Scientist Awards, Korea, 2016
15+ International Gold Medals & Special Awards
iCAN, CIGIF, ITEX, SIIF, MRC, INATEX (Canada, Korea, Malaysia, 2013–2020)
Best Ph.D. Graduate Award
Faculty of Civil Engineering, UTM, 2013
+Scholarly ImpactResearch Impact & Citation Metrics3,000+ citations, h-index 29, i10-index 50.
Research cited in 100+ major funded projects by NSF, NIH, the European Commission/Horizon 2020, the Korean NRF, UKRI, and agencies in Brazil, China, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia.
+ResearchResearch InterestsCurrent focus across AI-enhanced pedagogy, sustainable construction and urban systems.
AI-Enhanced Pedagogy & Formative Learning Systems
Designing scalable, accountable AI tutor ecosystems for engineering education — including course-specific AI assistants, browser-based simulation platforms, voice-guided learning (VoxProfessor), and responsible AI assessment frameworks. Building tools that make learning data-rich, user-friendly, and effective for student success.
Transparency & Ethics in Architecture and Construction
Creating nonprofit, accessible tools that support impacted scholars, practitioners, and civil society — advancing transparency, strengthening ethical reporting pathways, and enabling communities to respond to misconduct within the built-environment sector.
Computer-Aided Decision-Making & Sustainable Assessment
Developing analytical techniques and assessment tools for material selection, construction processes, and sustainability-driven planning across the lifecycle of the built environment.
+Scholarly ServiceEditorial & Review RolesEditorial boards, guest editorships and grant review panels.
Editorial Board & Guest Editor
- • Editor, Journal of Buildings — MDPI (2023–Present)
- • Associate Editor, Frontiers in Built Environment — Frontiers (2022–Present)
- • Guest Editor, ASCE Journal of Urban Planning and Development — Special Collection “Data Centers as Urban Infrastructure” (2026–Present)
- • Guest Editor, Buildings (MDPI) — Special Issue “AI-Ready Data Centers” (2026–Present)
- • Guest Editor, Sustainability — Special Issue with U. of Kansas
Journal Reviewer
- • Sustainable Cities and Society (IF: 7.6)
- · ASCE J. Architectural Engineering · Energy Policy (IF: 6.1)
- • Materials and Design (IF: 8.0) · Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy (IF: 3.6)
Selected publication:
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews (IF: 15.9) · Journal for Nature Conservation (2023) · KSU Distinguished Course Repository (2023)
+Leadership & ServiceInstitutional Service at KSUUniversity, college and departmental governance roles.
University-Level Governance
- • Associate Chair, KSU Graduate Policies and Curriculum Committee (2024–2025)
- • Member, KSU Curriculum Executive Committee (2024–Present)
- • Chair, KSU Institutional Review Board — IRB (2021–2023)
College-Level Leadership
- • Chair, College Curriculum Committee — CACM (2022–2023)
- • Chair, College Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee — CACM (2022–2023)
- • Elected Secretary, College Faculty Council — CACM (2021–2024)
- • Inaugural CACM Student Success Fellow (2023)
- • Member, Dean Search Committee — CACM (2023)
- • Member, Associate Dean of Research Search Committee — CACM (2022)
Departmental Service
- • Graduate Program Coordinator, MS in Construction Management (July 2026–Present)
- • Chair, Department Curriculum Committee — CMD (2021–2022)
- • Course Coordinator: CM 6901, CM 6600, CM 3400, CM 3910, CM 4512
- • Faculty Advisor: AGC Student Chapter (2019–2023), NAHB Student Chapter (2019–2020)
- • Faculty Advisor: AGC/ACS Commercial Competition, Roofing Alliance Competition, NAHB Competition
+Professional NetworksExternal AffiliationsProfessional networks and standing appointments outside KSU.
+Global ReachInternational EngagementCollaborations and leadership spanning 12+ countries.
Research collaborations and leadership experience spanning 12+ countries: Malaysia, South Korea, Australia, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Nigeria, Ecuador, Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia, and the USA. Developed patented and trademarked award-winning research products, published 100+ publications (50% in high-ranked journals), and was involved in multi-disciplinary international research funds totaling over $4.8 million.
+Latest NewsCurrent HighlightsDated news, most recent first — starting with the AGC case study acceptance.
- Aug 2026Case study proposal accepted by the AGC of America Education & Research Foundation — a faculty–contractor case study developed with The Walsh Group, to be distributed free to faculty and industry trainers for classroom use in construction management programs nationwide.
- Jul 2026Appointed Graduate Program Coordinator of the MS in Construction Management — leading a full, stakeholder-driven rebuild of Georgia’s only ACCE-accredited, STEM-designated CM master’s program (curriculum, delivery, enrollment, and industry partnership)
- Jul 2026Named Winner, Educator Category, Global Sustainability Awards 2026 (North America); award ceremony at Emory University (Goizueta Business School), Atlanta, September 12, 2026
- May 2026Selected as a 2026 Google for Education Higher Ed Faculty AI Fellow — the inaugural Higher Ed Faculty AI Fellowship cohort for North America
- May 2026Selected through CEDIA Fondo Avante 2026 (Ecuador) as International Instructor to deliver “Vibe Coding for Research and Education,” an intensive hybrid faculty program with UTE and UTPL universities (Sep–Oct 2026)
- 2026Appointed Guest Editor for two special collections: ASCE Journal of Urban Planning and Development — “Data Centers as Urban Infrastructure,” and Buildings (MDPI) — “AI-Ready Data Centers” (with collaborators at KSU and UCF)
- Feb 2026Invited by the UK Government Metascience Unit and the University of Sussex to provide expert assessments on publication novelty
- Nov 2025Completed 5-year ABET Program Evaluator review of the CET program at Missouri Western State University
- Oct 2025Invited to join the McGill University Sustainability Academic Network (45 academic leaders advancing AI and sustainability research)
- Sep 2025Invited to the UN Association of the USA Educators Affinity Group — contributing to an AI/SDG memorandum for the UN General Assembly
- Jul 2025Invited by Fulbright for the 2026–27 U.S. Scholar Award (Multi-country ASEAN Research Program)
- Jul 2025Invited by Springer Nature to serve as Guest Editor for Discover Civil Engineering — "Generative AI in Construction"
- Jun 2025Springer Nature accepted peer-reviewed Handbook of Using Virtual Exchange Across Disciplines; co-authoring "Harnessing Generative AI for Task Design in Virtual Exchange Programs"
- May 2025Concluded $3.05M U.S. Department of State programs (IREX GSC & IIE HIVER), graduating 150 students with DOS Alumni Certificates
- May 2025Inaugural CM 6901 Generative AI in Construction cohort graduated — 18 AI agents with startup business models, posters & pitch decks unveiled at Capstone Day
- Apr 2025Hosted EDT, Inc. in CM 6901 for AI-in-construction recruitment and internship engagement
- Mar 2025Hosted Joachim Herz Foundation research seminar on GenAI models and binational student research posters
- Feb 2025High-impact publication in Journal of Buildings with CEE faculty and graduate student co-authors — Read paper
- Jan 2025Launched CM 6901 — Generative AI in Construction Management, supported by Department Chair Dr. Moore — Listen to podcast
- Dec 2024Joined the Louisiana Board of Regents Grant Review Panel ($20M annual research fund)
- Nov 2024Received APEX Outstanding Research Award at KSU Presidential Reception
- Nov 2024Panelist for "Teaching with AI" at KSU Celebration of Teaching Day
- Sep 2024Elected Associate Chair of KSU Graduate Policies and Curriculum Committee
- May 2024Completed Governor’s Teaching Fellows Program (AI in education), nominated by Provost, endorsed by Governor Kemp
- 2024Accepted into NSF-CMMI Game Changer Academy — deliberative democracy in NSF review processes
- 2024KSU team won 1st place in Sustainable Demolition Competition (ahead of Florida State, FIU, Georgia Tech)
- Apr 2024Session on Generative AI in the Built Environment at Emory University
- Mar 2024Joined MassChallenge Venture Capital Expert Network — mentoring early-stage startups
- Feb 2024Tenure and promotion to Associate Professor approved by President, effective Fall 2024
- Feb 2024Facilitated campus-wide workshop on Harnessing AI for Research Communication
- Jan 2024Partnered with $3M U.S. Department of State programs (IREX & IIE) for international leadership and entrepreneurship education
- Dec 20232 PCT patent filings — Patent #1 · Patent #2
- 2023Launched AI Chatbot for personalized education — Try XYZ EduOwl
- 2023Featured in Georgia Newsbreak
Curriculum Vitae & Online Profiles
📄 Download Full CV (PDF, 2026)
📊 Google Scholar 🔗 ORCID 🔬 Scopus 📋 NSF SciENcv 🔭 ResearchGate 📚 Books
KSU Office: Building H, Room 331 · Phone: 470-578-7289
KSU Email: akeyvanf@kennesaw.edu
For inquiries beyond KSU: alikeyvanfar@gmail.com
