Marc Veletzos

Marc Veletzos is a Professor of Civil Engineering at Merrimack College, specializing in earthquake engineering, disaster recovery, and resilient infrastructure design. He holds additional roles as a Fulbright Senior Scholar (Nepal, 2018), Director-at-Large of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s New England Chapter, and Structures Specialist with FEMA’s Massachusetts Task Force 1.

Veletzos earned his Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Structural Engineering from the University of California, San Diego. His research focuses on three core areas: 1) improving bridge resilience in extreme events through emergency response planning and rapid restoration techniques, 2) developing earthquake-resistant designs for vernacular buildings in developing countries (e.g., Nepal), and 3) advancing understanding of seismic behavior in segmental bridges through large-scale testing and simulations. His work is supported by organizations like Caltrans and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP).

His publications highlight contributions to bridge assessment guidelines, smart app development for emergency situations, and innovative seismic retrofitting methods. Recent work emphasizes global collaboration, including workshops in Hawaii and Nepal to transfer knowledge to local communities. He has also pioneered service-learning initiatives linking academic programs with real-world disaster response efforts.

• Awards:
  • BSCES College Educator of the Year (2023)
  • McKniff Service Award (2017)
  • ExCEEd Teaching Fellow (2009)
  • James Cooper Best Paper Award (2008)
• Grants & Partnerships: NCHRP, Caltrans, U.S. Education Foundation/Nepal, FEMA

Veletzos leads Merrimack College’s efforts in STEM education innovation, integrating national best practices into a liberal arts environment to enhance student retention and engagement. His work bridges academic research, community service, and policy development to create sustainable solutions for global challenges.