Founding University of Georgia College of Engineering Dean Tapped as 11th President of The University of Alabama in Huntsville

The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Donald J. Leo, PhD, as the 11th president of The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). He will assume the role on June 1.

An accomplished administrator with more than 30 years of experience in higher education, Leo’s leadership journey is largely defined by his 11‑year tenure at the University of Georgia, where he served as the first permanent dean of the College of Engineering. Recruited in 2013 to build the college from the ground up, he oversaw fourfold increases in enrollment and research expenditures, created new academic departments, grew annual giving and external partnerships, and spearheaded major renovations of the College’s instructional and research space.

Dr. Donald J. Leo, the 11th president of The University of Alabama in Huntsville

Michael Mercier | UAH

“Dr. Leo will build on Dr. Karr’s momentum in Huntsville. He has a strong record of establishing quality academic programs, expanding research capacity and fostering impactful partnerships,” said UA System Chancellor Sid J. Trant, who recommended Leo’s appointment to the Board. “Since its founding, UAH’s mission has been to be the strategic higher education partner for North Alabama. Now more than ever, this region deserves a dynamic, comprehensive, technology-focused institution, and Dr. Leo is uniquely positioned to lead UAH.”

Leo currently serves as executive vice president and provost at Ohio University, where he is the institution’s chief academic officer and responsible for overseeing nearly 300 academic programs that enroll over 30,000 students.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as president of UAH at such a pivotal moment in its history, and I sincerely thank the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees for their confidence and trust,” said Leo. “As an aerospace engineer with a deep appreciation for the impact of groundbreaking research, I am excited about the opportunity to lead UAH. I have always been drawn to organizations that can have a tremendous impact, and UAH’s location in the heart of a dynamic innovation corridor uniquely position it for unprecedented success.”

Prior to his appointment as Dean at UGA, Leo spent more than a decade at Virginia Tech, where he was a professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department and focused on applied research opportunities with federal agencies. He served as a program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, where he launched new research programs in biologically inspired materials and systems and advanced technologies aligned with national defense priorities. He also was the Vice President and Executive Director of Virginia Tech’s National Capital Region Operations and responsible for growing research partnerships across the Washington D.C. area.

Dr. Donald J. Leo with his wife, Jeannine

Courtesy of the Leo family

“Dr. Leo brings a thoughtful, results-driven approach to leadership and a clear understanding of the responsibility and opportunity that define The University of Alabama in Huntsville,” said UA System Board of Trustees President Pro Tempore Scott Phelps. “His experience leading academic enterprises through growth, strengthening institutional focus and delivering measurable progress reflects the qualities we were seeking in UAH’s next president. The Board appreciates the leadership of Trustee Evelyn VanSant Mauldin and the presidential search advisory committee for their dedication in conducting a thorough and successful search.”

Leo has established a substantial body of scholarly work, having authored or co-authored over 200 research publications and written one of the first textbooks for advanced engineering courses in smart materials. His research focuses on synthesis, modeling and control of active material systems with an emphasis on electroactive polymers and biomolecular materials. Over the course of his career, Leo has been responsible for nearly $12 million in sponsored research funding and has contributed to research projects totaling more than $20 million. Leo has received multiple awards and honors recognizing excellence in engineering research and academic leadership, including election as a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, receipt of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award and multiple Distinguished Alumnus Awards from the Aerospace Engineering Department at his alma mater, the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Leo holds a doctorate and master’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of Buffalo and a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

A native of Park Forest, Illinois, Leo and his wife, Jeannine, have two sons, Jonathan and Matthew.