National Academy of Engineering member Maria Lehman joins UB

By Mylous Hairston

Election to the NAE is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions in engineering practice, research or education.

Lehman was formally inducted during the NAE's Annual Meeting on Oct. 5, 2025 in Washington, D.C. She was honored for her leadership in public service and business engineering management focused on the sustainability and resilience of critical civil infrastructure. 

“UB is one of the best engineering programs in the United States,” says Lehman on her decision to join the faculty at UB. “The school is adaptive, innovative and able to pivot. You see that across disciplines, from biomedical advances to cybersecurity to new resilience and functional recovery planning. We have it all and it is future forward.”

“Having Professor Maria Lehman, a distinguished and visionary leader, join the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences faculty reflects the growing national prominence of our school and UB's steadfast commitment to educational excellence,” says Dean Kemper Lewis. “As a member of the National Academy of Engineering, Professor Lehman brings extraordinary expertise and experience to the classroom, enriching the learning experience for our students and inspiring the next generation of engineers, innovators, and leaders.”

It’s a point that Lehman echoes, “I am at the point in my career that I want to share the stories, both successes and failures to the new generation of engineers, so they can succeed faster.”

There is confidence that Lehman’s success will have a positive impact on the department and its students.

“The Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering is excited to have Maria Lehman join our faculty,” says Robert Dell, department chair. “Her industry and leadership experience will help strengthen all our degree programs and will be vital for the launch our new BS in Engineering Management degree.”

Lehman is a renowned leader in civil infrastructure. Her career spans more than four decades of work across private and public sectors. She has worked on over 700 projects, including the $4 billion replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge near Manhattan, N.Y.

Prior to joining UB, Lehman was the director of U.S. infrastructure for GHD. Her previous roles include vice president for critical infrastructure at Parsons, chief operating officer and executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority, and commissioner of public works for Erie County, N.Y. 

Lehman is a fellow and former president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and is an elected member of the National Academy of Construction.

Over the course of her career, she has received numerous honors, including the ASCE President’s Medal and the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences’ Engineer of the Year Award.

A UB alum, Lehman earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. She served on the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council from 2005-16.

Lehman states that her primary goal at UB is to attract individuals that aspire to be leaders in the infrastructure sector. She also aims to inspire female engineers to enter and advance in the field.

“Many engineers are happy with being technical experts and do not want to lead organizations,” says Lehman. “For those who want to lead, a degree in engineering management balances a technical foundation with a managerial foundation.”