Kacie C. D鈥橝lessandro, Ph.D., P.E. is a native of South Carolina, where she received her B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from Clemson University. She then earned her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Dr. D鈥橝lessandro joined the VMI faculty in 2020, but has been teaching since 2010, when she first taught Reinforced Concrete Design as a graduate student at Virginia Tech. She taught for seven years at Washington and Lee University before joining VMI and has been a Visiting Professor at John Cabot University in Rome, Italy.
With an expertise in structural engineering and materials, Dr. D鈥橝lessandro is intrigued by the connection between structures and the materials used in their design and construction. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Virginia, and she has extensive experience working with specialty concretes, including ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) and other high strength fiber-reinforced concretes. Her research in structures and materials typically involves experimental testing in the laboratory, but has included in-situ field testing of structures. She is a member of leading engineering organizations, including the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Society of Women Engineering (SWE), and the American Concrete Institute (ACI), where she serves as an active member of ACI Committee 239-C: Structural Design on UHPC. Dr. D鈥橝lessandro is also invested in advancing the field of engineering education, where she publishes on various topics, including experiential learning, engineering ethics, and international experiences. Within the Lexington community, Dr. D鈥橝lessandro enjoys sharing her expertise of engineering with local elementary and middle school students through outreach programs.
At VMI, Dr. D鈥橝lessandro enjoys mentoring cadets both in and out of the classroom. She has worked with numerous cadets on independent projects, including Honors Thesis projects and Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) projects. She is also one of the advisors for the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), where she is the lead advisor for the concrete canoe team.