Faculty

ENGI 1331 Course Coordinator
Dr. Dan Burleson is an Instructional Associate Professor in the Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston. He has been at the University of Houston since 2010 when he joined as a Graduate Research Assistant, completing his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering in August of 2015. Before coming to Houston, Texas, Dr. Burleson completed B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida. In the First Year Experience, he is the Course Coordinator for ENGI 1331 focusing on instruction, curriculum development, and programming for students and undergraduate teaching assistants. He is the Director for Engineering Student Innovation and Design Experience and Director for the University of Houston Grand Challenge Scholars Program.
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EducationPhD. in Environmental Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TXBachelor’s in Civil Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
TEACHING AWARDS:
- University Teaching Excellence Award: Instructional Track – 2019 (Link)
- William A. Brookshire Teaching Excellence Award – 2019 (Link)
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON COURSES:
- ENGI 1100: Introduction to Engineering (FYE, PROMES, and Honors Engineering Program)
- ENGI 1331: Computing & Problem Solving (FYE, PROMES, and Honors Engineering Program)
- MECE 3336: Mechanics II (Honors Engineering Program)
- ENGI 4198 Classroom Pedagogy & Mentorship Practices for Students in Teaching Assistant Role
- MECE 5397: Advance Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- CIVE 6361: Engineering Hydrology
TEACHING MODES:
- Face-to-Face, Online-Synchronous, Hyflex
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Dr. Burleson’s research interests include developing instructional strategies and programs that will engage students in their subject and improve retention rates in large courses where the subject is difficult. Beyond the classroom, his interest are to identify key factor attributed to student success in the engineering and working with currently engineering programs to develop a framework that will help to identify students who may need additional support and provide the resources that are necessary for success in college and their professional careers.
CURRENT FUNDED PROJECT:
- Planning Grant: Engineering Research Center for Engineering Student Success Initiatives (National Science Foundation) Funded September 2021. (Project Link)
PREVIOUSLY FUNDED PROJECT:
- Creating an active learning classroom with an engaging online platform (UH Teaching Innovation Program (TIP)) Funded October 2017.
- A first year experience for student success in engineering (NACME Scholar Program Renewal) Funded July 2016.
RESEARCH MENTORSHIP:
- Impact of Undergraduate Teaching Assistants in the Classroom on Student Success (Summer Research Experience Fellow (SURF) Mentor) June – August 2017.
- Houston Early Research Experience (HERE) Faculty Mentor May 2018 & 2019.
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS:
- Rifai, H.S., A. Kiaghadi, D.W. Burleson (2020) “Couple Storm Surge and Environmental Models for Assessing Damage to Built and Natural Environments.” Frontiers in Climate. (UNDER REVIEW)
- Burleson, D.W. and E.J. McCave (2018) Work In Progress: Creating an Active Learning Classroom with an Engaging Online Platform. First Year Engineering Education Conference 2018. https://peer.asee.org/31432
- Kiaghadi, A., H.S Rifai, and D.W Burleson, (2018). “Development of a Storm Surge Driven Water Quality Model to Simulate Spills During Hurricanes.” Marine Pollution Bulletin. Volume 129, Issue 2, April 2018, 714-728. DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.10.063.
- Burleson, D.W., H. Rifai, J. Proft, C. Dawson and P. Bedient (2015). "Vulnerability of an industrial corridor in Texas to storm surge." Natural Hazards: 1-21. DOI: 10.1007/s11069-015-1652-7
- Burleson, D.W. and H.S. Rifai., 2012 Vulnerability to Storm Surge of the Houston Ship Channel in Texas. IC EST 2012 Conference Proceedings, Houston, TX, Volume 2, 2012. 498-503. ISBN: 9780976885344.
PEER-REVIEWED TEACHING ACTIVITIES:
- Scurry, S., Bennett, A. and Burleson, D.W. “Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics Project”. Teaching Computation in the Sciences Using MATLAB®. Exemplary Teaching Activities Collection. October 2019.
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Burleson, D.W. “NAE Grand Challenges Project”. Teaching Computation in the Sciences Using MATLAB®. Exemplary Teaching Activities Collection. October 2018.
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Conference PresentationsBurleson, D. W. & E. J. McCave, (2018). Creating an Active Learning Classroom with an Engaging Online Platform in the Engineering First Year Experience, Innovative Teaching & Learning Symposium, Houston, Texas, April 13, 2018.Burleson, D. W. & D. de la Rosa-Pohl, (2017). Engaging First-Year Students through Real-World Project-Based Learning, Innovative Teaching & Learning Symposium, Houston, Texas, April 21, 2017.Burleson, D. W. and H.S. Rifai, (2013). Vulnerability to Storm Surge of the Houston Ship Channel. 2013 Texas Section Fall Conference and Centennial Celebration (ASCE), Dallas, Texas, September 14, 2013.Burleson, D. W and H.S. Rifai, (2012). Vulnerability to Storm Surge of the Houston Ship Channel. International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology, Houston, Texas, June 28, 2012.Burleson, D. W. and H. S. Rifai, (2012). Vulnerability to Storm Surge of the Houston Ship Channel. World Environmental & Water Resources Congress: Presentation, Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 21, 2012.Rifai, H.S., and D. W. Burleson. (2012). Damage Modeling and Cost Estimates in the Houston Ship Channel. Gulf Coast Hurricanes: Mitigation and Response: Session I, Houston, Texas, April 10, 2012.
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Conference PostersDorali, P. and D.W. Burleson (2018) Measuring the Impact of Using Undergraduate Teaching Assistants in the Classroom on Student Success in a First Year Engineering Course. ASEE Gulf Southwest 2018, April 5, 2018.Burleson, D. W. and H. S. Rifai, (2012). Vulnerability of the Houston Ship Channel to Hurricane Storm Surge. Gulf Coast Hurricanes: Mitigation and Response: Poster, Houston, Texas, April 10, 2012.Burleson, D. W. and H.S. Rifai, (2010). Assessing Vulnerability of Critical Infrastructure Along the Houston Ship Channel Outside the 100-Yr Floodplain. National Flood Workshop, Houston, Texas, October 25, 2010.Burleson, D. W. and H. S. Rifai, (2010). Assessment of Surge Zones Versus 100-Yr and 500-Yr Floodplains Along the Houston Ship Channel. Hurricane Ike: What Have We Learned and Steps for the Future, Houston, Texas, September 13, 2010.