Leading By Design – Ali Hatefi’s SMU Story

Long before leading large-scale infrastructural engineering projects at one of the nation’s top consulting firms, Ali Hatefi was commanding the stage at SMU, directing the annual Persian New Year celebration amidst an audience of thousands. For the young boy in Iran who once dreamed of seeing his name in lights, this moment intersected dual passions for creative expression and scientific curiosity — a blend that would one day define his success as a civil engineer.

For Hatefi, his path to engineering evolved organically. His childhood was defined by natural curiosity and an endless desire to create. He fondly recalls dismantling his model cars and learning how to put them back together: “I was always interested in building things, to know how things work,” Hatefi explained.

That curiosity stayed with him, as did a love for connecting with and learning from others, leading Hatefi to explore theater, drama, and the arts alongside his scientific pursuits. Although his interests seemed worlds apart, they led him to pursue civil and environmental engineering, a field where creative and analytical strengths come together to impact real people and their communities, creating a safer and stronger world for all.

Hatefi first followed his engineering aspirations to Shiraz University in Shiraz, Iran, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering. When it came time to decide his next steps, Hatefi sought a graduate program where he could further develop his technical strengths while benefitting from a supportive student community. At SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering, he found both.

“The time I spent at SMU Lyle was truly transformative, both professionally and personally,” Hatefi shared.

As a master's student in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Lyle, Hatefi had the opportunity to engage in coursework that strengthened his analytical curiosity. He excelled academically, encouraged by the guidance of professors and peers alike, who served as mentors throughout his academic journey.

For Hatefi, faculty support at Lyle was accessible and personal. Leaders and educators like Dr. Bijan Mohraz and Julie Ellis, former Chair and Assistant to the Chair of the Lyle Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, stand out in his memory as guiding forces in his success.

“Dr. Mohraz was a listener,” Hatefi recalled. “He made time to connect with each of us individually. He left an impact on me from the moment I met him.”

For Hatefi, who thrives on working with and learning from others, the chance to build meaningful connections with strong leaders was a driving force in his academic journey.

Outside of the classroom, Hatefi was thrilled to find a community of passionate learners, immersing himself in student organizations like the SMU Persian Society and the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. By engaging with campus organizations, his creative instincts and engineering strengths began to come together.

“SMU has an incredible diversity of organizations to take part in,” Hatefi explained. “They taught me how to lead, connect with my community, and approach problems in new ways – skills I still use today.”

“At Lyle, many of the design courses I took were grounded in real-world examples and project-based learning," Hatefi shared. "These courses required me to collaborate closely with small teams to solve specific design problems, which helped me understand the importance of communication, adaptability, and shared responsibility. Working with teammates who had different perspectives and opinions challenged me to listen actively, compromise when needed, and contribute my own ideas thoughtfully. Through this experience, I developed strong teamwork skills and learned how diverse viewpoints can lead to more effective and creative solutions."

On the stage, Hatefi’s two worlds came together, and he watched as late nights of planning and preparation — skills honed in Lyle classrooms, where project-based learning encourages a hands-on skill set — brought his vision to life. For Hatefi, impact isn’t just about leading a team, guiding a project from inception to completion, but building something that makes a difference. Involvement in student organizations at SMU Lyle taught him something classes and calculations couldn’t — how to see the people beyond the project.

“Engineers tend to think in black and white,” Hatefi explained. “Getting involved at Lyle taught me how to see beyond equations and facts — to understand people and their perspectives. As a leader, that’s where true impact lies.”

Hatefi came to find that his two passions — creativity and engineering — weren’t as dissimilar as he once believed. Real-world engineering challenges aren’t purely technical; instead, engineers must harness equations and analytical thinking to approach complex problems affecting real people and their communities. The most impactful work stems from engineers who are willing to think outside of the box, approach problems creatively, and listen to the needs of others.

“Art is a different mindset than engineering,” Hatefi shared. “When you combine the two disciplines together, you have the ability to learn analytically, to analyze, but also how to learn from others, and that takes you further.”

Armed with a newfound perspective, Hatefi graduated with strengths not limited to his technical skills. He left Lyle empowered as a leader, communicator, and community-builder — identities that proved vital in catalyzing his postgraduate career. Now the Vice President and Director of Public Works with Halff, one of the nation’s leading engineering consultancy firms, Hatefi credits the interdisciplinary skill set he gained at SMU Lyle as a defining feature in his professional success.

“SMU Lyle gave me the tools to succeed in my current job,” Hatefi shared. “More than just technical skills, Lyle gave me a vision.”

Founded by SMU Engineering Alum Dr. Albert Halff, the consulting firm’s 75-year legacy centers around harnessing infrastructural engineering to impact meaningful change for individuals and their communities. With Halff, Hatefi leads other changemakers in fostering a safer, more sustainable world for all.

“Civil and environmental engineers are not just problem solvers — we are community builders,” Hatefi elaborated. “It is our job to build resilient infrastructure, and in doing so, we have the power to improve lives.”

“Lyle did a great job of promoting this mindset in its initiatives and curriculum,” Hatefi continued. “It is a mindset I carry with me in every project, every leadership decision.”

With the recent influx of faculty and students to call Lyle home, Hatefi is thrilled to see what lies ahead for the next generation of civil and engineering students at SMU Lyle. With strong faculty, evolving opportunities, and a supportive network of high-achieving alumni, he remains optimistic that Lyle students will learn to embrace their individual strengths, as he did, to engineer a better world.

“What you learn at Lyle isn’t just the skills to succeed in your first job, it’s how you will shape the future,” Hatefi expressed.

“I can always look back and be proud of how much our school and its students have accomplished,” Hatefi elaborated. “The future is bright for SMU Lyle.”

About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering

SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, SMU Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees.

About SMU

SMU is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. SMU’s alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, community and the world.