The National Institute for Engineering Ethics (NIEE) announced in August of 2025 the re-election of Nael Barakat, PhD, to its board of directors, along with the election of three new members: Rosalyn W. Berne, PhD, Carlos (Carl) Bertha, PhD, and George Graham, PhD, MBA, PE. All will serve three-year terms. Barakat also was re-appointed as board chair, and Sara Wilson, PhD, as vice-chair. NIEE extends its gratitude to outgoing board members Deborah Johnson, PhD, Byron Newberry, PhD, and Colleen Murphy, PhD, for their dedicated service and leadership.

Continuing Leadership
Barakat, a professor and chair of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Tyler, has a strong record of teaching and scholarship focused on ethics in engineering education and practice. Wilson, an associate professor and graduate program director in mechanical engineering at the University of Kansas, focuses much of her work on biomechanics, engineering education, and preparing future engineers for ethical challenges.

Welcoming New Board Members

• Rosalyn W. Berne, PhD, University of Virginia, chairs the Department of Engineering and Society and co-directs the Online Ethics Center (OEC) for Engineering and Science. She is widely published in the areas of ethics of technology, science fiction and myth, and human–nonhuman relationships.
• Carlos (Carl) Bertha, PhD, retired faculty from the U.S. Air Force Academy, specializes in engineering ethics pedagogy and professional responsibility. He also serves on the ASCE Committee on Anticorruption and Ethical Practice (CACEP) and is an adjunct faculty member at St. Petersburg College.
• George Graham, PhD, MBA, PE, with MFG Chemical, LLC, brings 35 years of leadership in chemical manufacturing and is a licensed Professional Engineer, author, and patent holder.

Strategic Priorities
NIEE’s updated 2024 Strategic Plan affirms its mission to improve understanding, promote education, build community, and inspire advancements in engineering ethics. Its vision is to serve as an initiator, connector, and catalyst for advancing ethical awareness and practice. The plan identifies six strategic goals: expanding education and training; partnering with other organizations; hosting and contributing to conferences and workshops; developing sustainable finances; strengthening ties with Purdue University; and building national and international recognition. With renewed leadership and a clear strategic roadmap, NIEE is poised for a productive year advancing engineering ethics education, practice, and collaboration.

About the National Institute for Engineering Ethics (NIEE)
The National Institute for Engineering Ethics (NIEE) is dedicated to advancing the understanding and practice of ethics within the engineering profession. Administered by the Purdue University School of Engineering Education, NIEE develops resources, promotes education, and fosters dialogue to strengthen ethical responsibility across engineering education, research, and practice. For more information visit: https://www.niee.org/.