Klamath Falls, Oregon – At a time when engineers are being asked to solve problems that stretch far beyond blueprints and machines, one Oregon Tech leader is stepping into a national role focused on a simple but serious question: how should engineers make the right call when the stakes are high?
Neslihan Alp, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Management at Oregon Institute of Technology, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the National Institute for Engineering Ethics. Her three-year term will begin July 1, 2026, and run through June 30, 2029.
The appointment places Alp in a national conversation about ethics in engineering education, professional responsibility, and the kind of leadership expected from future engineers. The National Institute for Engineering Ethics works with educators, students, industry professionals, and professional societies to strengthen ethics education and support better decision-making across the profession.
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For Oregon Tech, the election is also a point of recognition. Alp has spent more than 25 years in engineering education and leadership, bringing a long record of academic and professional experience to the board. In addition to serving as dean of Oregon Tech’s College of ETM, she is an ABET Engineering Accreditation Commissioner, a Professional Engineer, and an ASEM Fellow.
“I am deeply honored to be elected to the NIEE Board and to have the opportunity to contribute to an organization that plays such an important role in advancing engineering ethics,” Alp said.
“This appointment is not only a personal honor but also a recognition of Oregon Tech’s commitment to excellence in engineering education. I am proud to represent Oregon Tech at the national level and look forward to working with colleagues across the country to promote ethical leadership and professional responsibility in engineering.”
Her new role comes as ethics has become a larger part of the engineering discussion, from public safety and infrastructure to emerging technologies and industry accountability. Engineers do not simply design systems; their work can shape daily life, public trust, and community well-being.
As a member of the NIEE Board, Alp will help guide the organization’s strategic initiatives and support its mission to promote integrity within the engineering profession. For students at Oregon Tech, the national appointment also sends a clear message: technical skill matters, but judgment, responsibility, and ethics are part of the job too.
