David Ashley

David Ashley is a prominent figure in Property and Construction, having served as Dean of the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University from November 1997 to June 2001, where he held the John C. Geupel Chair in Civil Engineering. During his tenure, he spearheaded curriculum development, implementing a pioneering first-year engineering program that emphasized early engineering experiences and team problem-solving. Ashley's academic journey began at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1973 and an M.S. in Civil Engineering with a focus on Project Management in 1974. He continued at Stanford University, earning an M.S. in Engineering-Economic Systems in 1975 and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering specializing in Construction Engineering and Management in 1977.

Ashley's research specializations center on the development and application of risk-analysis techniques for project management and construction engineering, particularly in large-scale complex projects addressing critical infrastructure resilience, reliability, and sustainability. His influential publications include "Pre-Estimate Cash Flow Analysis" (with Paul M. Teicholz, 1977), "Determinants of Construction Project Success" (with Clive S. Lurie and Edward J. Jaselskis, 1987), "Modeling Project Performance in Decision Making" (with Luis F. Alarcón, 1996), "Risk Management Framework for BOT Power Projects in China" (with Shou Qing Wang et al., 1999), and chairing National Academies reports on Everglades restoration progress (2012, 2014, 2016). Career highlights encompass faculty positions at MIT, University of Texas at Austin, UC Berkeley (as department chair), UC Merced (founding Provost), UNLV (President), and current adjunct professorship at USC Viterbi. Major awards include the National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award (1984), ASCE Construction Management Award (1992), Peurifoy Construction Research Award (2004), Distinguished Membership in ASCE (2007), and election to the National Academy of Construction (2008). Ashley's leadership and scholarly contributions have profoundly shaped construction engineering education, risk management practices, and innovative project delivery worldwide.