Dr. Zofia K. Rybkowski Appointed Interim Head of Construction Science
As a professor and graduate program coordinator, Rybkowski brings extensive leadership and service experience to the department’s top role.
Dr. Zofia K. Rybkowski will serve in the role as the search for a permanent department head begins.
Dr. Zofia K. Rybkowski has been named interim head of the Department of Construction Science at Texas A&M University, effective July 1.
Rybkowski is an endowed professor in the department and serves as coordinator of its Master of Science in Construction Management program.
“Dr. Rybkowski has provided thoughtful leadership and dedicated service to the Department of Construction Science and the College of Architecture,” said Dr. Lingqian “Ivy” Hu, dean of the College of Architecture. “We are grateful for her willingness to serve in this role and appreciate her continued commitment to the department during this transition.”
Her service includes chairing the department’s Promotion and Tenure Committee and contributing to faculty search committees, graduate committees and strategic planning efforts. At the college level, she has served on the College of Architecture Promotion and Tenure Committee, Academic Affairs Committee and Graduate Program Committee.
Rybkowski has also helped lead interdisciplinary initiatives, including the Harold L. Adams Interdisciplinary Competition for Undergraduates, a charrette-style event that brings together students from across disciplines.
An Interdisciplinary Leader
Rybkowski, who joined Texas A&M in 2009, is an internationally recognized scholar in construction science and interdisciplinary systems thinking.
Rybkowski holds several degrees in civil engineering, architecture and biology from Stanford University, Brown University, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned her Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering.
Her research explores ways to improve building design and construction processes, including the use of simulation tools, Lean project delivery methods, target value design and sustainable construction strategies.
She previously earned the Harold L. Adams Interdisciplinary Professorship in Construction Science, the J. Thomas Regan Interdisciplinary Faculty Prize and Texas A&M’s Presidential Impact Fellow designation. She is also a Fulbright Fellow and legacy LEED-accredited professional.
Rybkowski said she has seen the department grow over the past 17 years and is honored to serve alongside faculty and staff who care deeply about preparing the next generation of professionals.
“The role of an interim department head is to provide a steady hand and maintain our strong foundation,” Rybkowski said. “However, it is also a wonderful opportunity to listen to and learn from the aspirations of our colleagues, students and supporters. I look forward to the meaningful work we will do together during this chapter as we continue to generate new knowledge through both teaching and research — and push our field forward.”
Rybkowski will serve in the role as the search for a permanent department head begins.
