Brian Kleiner appointed as Vorster-Kleiner Endowed Director’s Chair
The endowment was established with generous gifts from several construction industry donors.
Brian Kleiner, a professor of construction and industrial and systems engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been appointed as the Vorster-Kleiner Endowed Director’s Chair.
The Vorster-Kleiner Endowed Director’s Chair in the Myers-Lawson School of Construction was established with generous gifts from several construction industry donors. The creation of this endowed chair enables Virginia Tech to generate new interest in the school and in the construction industry more broadly.
Kleiner is a fellow of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. He was formerly the Preston and Catharine White Director and Professor and the Ralph H. Bogle Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering in the College of Engineering.
As director of Myers-Lawson School of Construction, Kleiner oversees an innovative school offering a comprehensive and unified platform for innovation and excellence in construction education, research, and outreach.
In 2022, Kleiner was honored by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society with the A.R. Lauer Safety Award, the society’s highest award for safety achievements. In 2014, he received the Distinguished Professor Award from the Construction Industry Institute. In 2013, he was awarded a U.S. Department of Defense Award for facilitating degree pursuit for active service men and women.
He served on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Construction Sector Council for over a decade. He is the immediate past director for North America of the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction.
Kleiner has authored or co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed papers and led more than $10 million in funded research projects as a principal investigator. He is the founding director of the Center for Innovation in Construction Safety, Health, and Well-being within the Myers-Lawson School of Construction.
Through his research, teaching, and outreach focused on construction health, safety and well-being, Kleiner has provided outstanding leadership and has made significant contributions to Virginia Tech, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the nation.
Kleiner received his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering, both from the State University of New York.