College of Computing Engineering and Construction - 2026
College of Computing, Engineering and Construction
Soaring to New Heights
Celebrating the growth of CCEC · Fall 2026 Newsletter
From AI research to space exploration, see what is happening across the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction.
Message from Dean Klostermeyer
Dr. William Klostermeyer
Dean and Professor
College of Computing, Engineering and Construction
University of North Florida
As we begin another academic year, I am grateful for the continued growth and momentum of the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction.
CCEC will welcome more than 500 students for the first time this fall, contributing to our largest enrollment ever of 2,454 students. UNF also saw record enrollment this year with total enrollment surpassing 18,300 students.
CCEC has grown in many ways over the past several years. We have added more than 500 students, expanded our faculty, launched new degree programs at every level and received more than $23 million in philanthropic support. We have also seen strong gains in student success, with our four-year graduation rate increasing from 31% to 49% and the three-year graduation rate for Associate of Arts transfer students growing from 36% to 69%.
In recognition of our growth and success, CCEC received $366,600+ in recurring funding through UNF’s new performance-based funding model this year, the highest share among the university’s five colleges. The funding will support two new instructor positions, graduate students, faculty research and equipment.
I am also pleased to report UNF has received the first round of state funding for the renovation, and possible expansion of the building, the Mathews Computer Science Building, and an architecture firm has been selected to begin the design process.
This progress is possible because of the dedicated work of our faculty and staff. It also reflects the pride and support of our alumni, partners and friends, whose continued investment helps strengthen the college and shape what comes next.
Thank you for being part of the CCEC family.
CCEC by the numbers
Thanks to all our CCEC donors and partners for supporting our students so generously.
Enrollment growth
2,470+ CCEC students enrolled this fall. That is a 5% increase compared to last fall and 21.7% enrollment growth since fall 2020.
580+ new CCEC freshmen enrolled this fall, a 36% increase compared to last fall (427 students last fall). UNF enrolled more than 18,300 total students this fall, the university’s largest class ever.
Student success
527 degrees awarded last year (2025–2026).
85% freshman-to-sophomore retention rate last year (2025–2026).
49% 4-year graduation rate (2025–2026), 4% above the national average.
67% 6-year graduation rate (2025–2026), 3% above the national average.
Career connections
205 employers participated in STEM and Construction Career Fairs last academic year.
$70.8k average starting salary for the Class of 2025.
300+ CCEC students completed internships for academic credit.
$22/hr median internship wage.
Research and student support
$2.84M awarded in research and grant funding last academic year.
80% of CCEC faculty hold a Ph.D.
$217.5K awarded in CCEC scholarships to students this year.
Feature story
CCEC students apply AI to real-world challenges
As industries adopt artificial intelligence, CCEC faculty and students are using emerging technologies across computing, engineering and construction management, including construction workflows, health information, advanced manufacturing, robotics, sustainability and smart systems.
Through industry partnerships, research funding and applied learning experiences, CCEC is helping students and faculty connect classroom knowledge with the technologies shaping today’s workforce.
CCEC has expanded its AI and advanced computing resources by adding a high-performance GPU server with four NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs and larger memory capacity. The new resource gives students and faculty greater capacity to work with larger datasets, complex AI models, simulations and data-intensive research.
In construction management, graduate students Sneha Ganupa and Alekhya Seelam are working with Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors through a three-year industry research partnership led by Dr. Vamsi Kalasapudi, assistant professor of construction management. The team is helping develop AI-powered tools that support estimating, productivity analysis and document workflows.
Graduate computing student Vishwaa Shah is using large language models, sentiment analysis and natural language processing to help detect nutritional misinformation on social media. With faculty mentorship from Dr. Indika Kahanda, associate professor in the School of Computing, Shah is connecting technical AI skills with a public health challenge. Her research examines how nutrition claims are framed and shared online, helping identify patterns that may make misinformation more persuasive or harder to recognize.
In engineering, Dr. Longfei Zhou, assistant professor of advanced manufacturing engineering, and student researchers are beginning work funded by the National Science Foundation to improve metal 3D printing through automation, data and digital-twin tools. The NSF-funded project, announced in May 2026, aims to help printers detect and correct flaws as they occur, reducing waste and improving reliability for industries such as aerospace, medical devices and energy.
Dr. Gökan May, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Dr. Pallavi Singh, assistant professor of electrical engineering, received a $20,000 UNF Foundation Board Grant to develop an open-source internet of things and machine learning framework for real-time carbon tracking in smart manufacturing systems. The project will use sensors, data tools and machine learning to track energy use and carbon impact in an automated manufacturing cell, giving advanced manufacturing and data science students applied experience with smart manufacturing technologies.
Computing students Ros Maria E.F. Stanly and Irene Ramirez are applying AI to robotics through research on robotic path replanning in unknown environments. Developed with Dr. Ayan Dutta, associate professor in the School of Computing, their work explores how robots can quickly adjust their route when they encounter unexpected obstacles, a challenge that matters for autonomous systems operating in changing or unfamiliar spaces.
The research was presented at the 39th International Florida Artificial Intelligence Research Society Conference (FLAIRS). Stanly and Ramirez also received the Outstanding Poster Presentation Award in the Engineering and Computing category at UNF’s 2026 Student Research Symposium.
With support from faculty, industry partners and applied research opportunities, CCEC students are using emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence, to address real challenges and innovate solutions in industries across computing, engineering and construction management.
Upcoming events
College of Computing, Engineering and Construction · Fall 2026
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First day of fall 2026 classes
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UNF closed for Labor Day
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UNF Convocation
View UNF’s full event calendar at events.unf.edu.
Alumni and industry spotlight
NASA Pathways start in CCEC
NASA’s connection to CCEC reflects the growing demand for engineers and technology professionals who can support aerospace, research and mission operations. Through research, alumni engagement and industry partnerships, UNF is helping build talent for Florida’s expanding space economy.
Robert Hirner, a 2023 mechanical engineering graduate, is supporting NASA’s Artemis II mission through his role with the Landing and Recovery Group. Hirner began his NASA path through the agency’s Pathways Internship Program while studying at UNF and now helps manage operations for returning spacecraft, including shore operations after Orion’s splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
NASA also visited UNF this year to connect students with space technology careers and the Pathways Internship Program. The event featured Joseph Maldonado, a 2022 electrical engineering graduate and NASA avionics engineer at Kennedy Space Center, who returned to campus to share his career path with students. Maldonado works in NASA’s Launch Services Program, where his team supports launch vehicle guidance and navigation systems for NASA payloads.
For CCEC students, opportunities in aerospace and space technology can begin through research, mentorship and alumni connections that help them see where their work can lead. Partnerships with organizations like NASA expand those opportunities, supporting student learning while helping build the workforce needed on Florida’s Space Coast.
Welcome Director of Development Karissa Rodriguez
We are pleased to welcome Karissa Rodriguez as the Director of Development for the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction at the University of North Florida.
Karissa brings extensive experience connecting people with meaningful opportunities that need support. She recognizes that student success and real-world impact depend on strong partnerships with alumni, friends, and community and industry leaders.
Whether your support is large or small, your investment makes a difference. Karissa looks forward to getting to know you and working together to create opportunities that shape a stronger future for our students and for our community.
Give to CCEC · Karissa.rodriguez@unf.edu · 904-620-5136
Get involved
Partners and alumni
Future Ospreys
Phone: 904.620.1350
Email: ccec.info@unf.edu
Website: www.unf.edu/ccec