Dr. Kristen Donnell, Woodard Associate Professor of Excellence and director of the Microwave Sensing Laboratory in electrical and computer engineering, has been named the interim director of the Center for Infrastructure Engineering Studies (CIES). The center is an interdisciplinary research center that provides leadership in research and education aimed at solving the problems affecting the nation’s aging infrastructure. 

“I am delighted to have Dr. Donnell step into this role, and I look forward to working with her,” says Dr. Kamal Khayat, vice chancellor for research and innovation. 

Donnell earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Colorado State University and master’s and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Missouri S&T. 

Her research interests include thermography, frequency selective surfaces, materials characterization, and microwave and millimeter wave nondestructive testing. Her research program has interdisciplinary connections with applications in structural health monitoring and infrastructure/aerospace inspection, among others. She is also active in the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society and currently serves as the Vice President of the Finance Committee and Distinguished Lecturer Program Chair.