Charles L. Karr

Dr. Charles L. Karr is the tenth president of The University of Alabama in Huntsville, joining the university on December 1, 2021.

Karr comes to UAH after an extended period at The University of Alabama (UA). A native of Gulf Breeze, Fla., Karr is a three-time UA graduate, earning a B.S. in mechanical engineering and an M.S. and Ph.D. in engineering mechanics. He spent seven years as a research engineer with the U.S. Bureau of Mines before joining UA’s faculty full time. Karr, who has received numerous recognitions for his teaching and leadership achievements, was head of UA’s aerospace engineering and mechanics department before becoming associate dean for research and graduate studies and ultimately dean of the College.

During Karr’s 16-year tenure as dean, UA’s College of Engineering ascended in national rankings and saw significant growth. Undergraduate enrollment more than tripled with the recruitment of high-quality students, raising the College’s freshman class mean ACT score from 24.8 to 30, and the faculty size grew substantially. Research activity flourished under Karr’s leadership, with research awards increasing by more than $45 million, and innovative academic offerings expanded to meet the demand of industry and society. In addition, Dr. Karr supported the construction of approximately $250 million in new facilities to bolster research and learning opportunities.

Karr’s academic work was student-centered. He regularly received recognition for his teaching efforts in the classroom. His research was focused on applications of genetic algorithms and fuzzy logic, and incorporated students to study applications in the aerospace, mineral processing, manufacturing, and steel industries. He has published three books, forty-four journal articles, and holds several patents.