
Professor Ahad Nasab first came to UTC in 2018. Photo by Angela Foster.
Dr. Ahad Nasab has never needed a title to make a difference, just meaningful work.
From improving industrial systems to building academic programs and elevating students, faculty and staff, Nasab finds purpose in leaving things better than he found them.
So when the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga tapped him to serve as interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science in July 2023, Nasab answered the call and quietly got to work.
Now, two years after taking the helm, he’s stepping back, but not away.
As Dr. Kumar Yelamarthi takes the reins of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Nasab remains focused on the work that matters most to him—removing roadblocks, streamlining systems and making it easier for others to do what they do best.
“In a short time, Dr. Nasab made a lasting impact by focusing on solving problems and supporting our people,” said Yelamarthi, who began his role as dean on July 1. “His commitment to action and to clearing obstacles has energized the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and I am thankful for the seamless transition his leadership has provided.”
Nasab, meanwhile, deflects attention away from accolades.
“I didn’t come in to make massive changes,” he said. “I just wanted to clear the way, open the lines of communication and give the next dean a strong foundation to build on.”
Known for launching programs and bridging academics with industry, Nasab joined UTC in 2018 as head of the Department of Engineering Management and Technology, quickly building a reputation for practical leadership and forward-thinking collaboration.
Before joining UTC, he had built a career that bridged high-level research and real-world applications. Nasab earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology and completed postdoctoral work at the UT Space Institute. He also held engineering roles at MAHLE, served as a NASA research fellow and taught mechanical engineering as an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University—experience that continues to shape his systems-driven approach to education and leadership.
As interim dean, he challenged outdated systems, deepened ties with industry partners and made improvement feel practical, not political.
Under Nasab’s watch, the college advanced on multiple fronts. Research momentum continued in areas such as quantum computing, hypersonics and smart transportation. At the same time, new workforce-facing programs took root, including an accelerated BAS-IT cybersecurity degree and microcredentialing options designed to meet local training needs. He also supported the launch of new academic programs and the early growth of the UTC Research Institute.
Beyond programs and research, Nasab restructured internal operations, secured funding and staff support for key roles, and helped unlock lab space and classrooms for cross-disciplinary collaboration.
“We don’t own anything,” Nasab said. “So why lock the doors if someone else can use the space? We’re one University.”
He focused on clearing roadblocks rather than protecting the status quo.
“If someone walks into my office with a problem, they shouldn’t leave with the same problem. Even if we can’t fix it perfectly, we move,” he said. “We don’t stall. We don’t send it to committee. We move.”
Nasab let results speak for themselves.
“I know there were people who had doubts about me coming into this role,” Nasab said. “But some of those people became my biggest supporters. That means a lot.”

Dr. Ahad Nasab stands in the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s mechatronics lab.
He launched Tennessee’s second undergraduate mechatronics program at UTC, having created the first at Middle Tennessee State University five years earlier. Nasab built both from the ground up, shaping them around industry needs in a fast-evolving field that demands innovation and agility.
“It’s not the future—it’s already everywhere,” he said in 2023, as the mechatronics program neared its 100th student. “Our students can actually get in there and redesign these machines. They’re doing the real work.”
Nasab remained hands-on with students even while leading the department. He kept teaching intro courses and, in 2021 through 2023, lived in the UC Foundation Apartments on campus as a UTC faculty-in-residence. He turned a spare room into a student makerspace and hosted casual dinners with homemade lasagna (courtesy of his wife).
“I think students should be able to contact you like they contact a friend when they need help, not because it’s an official thing,” Nasab said in 2021. “They have that already with faculty.”
Ultimately, it was about students knowing someone was in their corner. Nasab made sure his colleagues knew they had a champion in him as well.
Colleagues across campus often point to Nasab’s knack for building partnerships within the University and with outside organizations alike. It’s a strength that shaped his approach across roles from department head to interim dean.
He saw his role not just as an opportunity to lead but also as a way to prepare the ground for whoever would lead next.
Nasab won’t return to his former role as department head, but he’s not stepping away, either. Instead, he will remain a member of the UTC faculty, supporting the work and people he helped set in motion.
“On behalf of the entire College of Engineering and Computer Science, I want to thank Dr. Nasab for his tireless dedication and support,” Yelamarthi said. “His efforts to remove barriers and open doors have empowered our community—and I am honored to continue the work he so passionately advanced.”