Board Member

SUCAN Foundation for Peace and Development

Professor Jamal Abdalla is a Sudanese civil engineer, a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Virginia, USA, and a globally recognized expert in structural engineering with over four decades of experience in academia, research, and professional consulting. He currently serves as Professor of Civil Engineering at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), where he previously held senior academic leadership roles including Department Head and Director of Graduate Programs within the College of Engineering. His expertise spans structural design, earthquake engineering, sustainable construction materials, and the application of artificial intelligence in civil engineering.

Professor Abdalla earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Khartoum, Sudan, a Master of Science degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of California at Berkeley, all in civil engineering with a focus on structures. He completed postdoctoral research at Stanford University. His academic career includes faculty and leadership appointments at the American University of Sharjah, the University of Qatar, and the University of Khartoum, as well as visiting researcher positions at Stanford University and Clemson University in the United States.

A prolific researcher, Professor Abdalla has secured numerous competitive research grants and published extensively on fiber‑reinforced polymers, engineered cementitious composites, and seismic vulnerability assessment. He has been recognized among the World’s Top 2% Scientists for five consecutive years and has received multiple excellence awards and fellowships, including the Khalifa Award for Distinguished University Professor and fellowships from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI).

Beyond academia, Professor Abdalla has collaborated with and advised government agencies, industries, academic institutions, and international organizations, including UNESCO. He serves on the editorial boards of several engineering journals and remains deeply committed to mentoring future engineers through teaching, research, and international collaboration.