Fernanda Leite

Fernanda Leite is Interim Vice President for Research and Joe J. King Professor in Civil Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, where she bridges advanced research with real‑world delivery of complex academic environments. A recognized expert in Building Information Modeling (BIM), construction engineering, and resilient systems, her work focuses on integrating 3D modeling, data‑driven methods, and artificial intelligence to create infrastructure that is not only innovative, but ready to perform from day one.
As former Associate Dean for Research in the Cockrell School of Engineering, Dr. Leite helped launch major interdisciplinary initiatives in semiconductors, quantum science, robotics, and AI—efforts that required close alignment between academic vision, facilities planning, and operational readiness. She has also led cross‑campus initiatives such as Planet Texas 2050, strengthening collaboration across stakeholders to support long‑term institutional resilience.
Dr. Leite brings a forward‑looking, systems‑based perspective to this session, connecting early planning, digital tools, and research‑driven strategies with on‑the‑ground execution. Her leadership highlights how higher education institutions can better align design, construction, and operations to deliver spaces that fully support research, learning, and future campus growth.