Profile Photo: Michael McGinnis, Ph.D.

Michael
McGinnis, Ph.D.

Email: MichaelMcGinnis@letu.edu

  • Dean, School of Engineering & Engineering Technology


Education

  • Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Lehigh University - 2006
  • M.S., Civil Engineering, University of Connecticut - 1998
  • B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Connecticut - 1996

 

I am one of those rarities: an adult convert to Christianity. Through the writings of C.S. Lewis and Tim Keller, I encountered a compelling vision of faith that ultimately led me to Christ. That journey continues today, sustained by God's grace and faithfulness.

Since 2023, I have served as Dean of Engineering and Engineering Technology at LeTourneau University. Prior to coming to LeTourneau, I served at The University of Texas at Tyler as Interim Dean, Associate Dean of Engineering, and Chair of Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management.

My professional background is in structural engineering. My disciplinary research includes dozens of publications in nondestructive evaluation of structures, particularly the application of digital image correlation, structural system behavior, and sustainable civil engineering materials. In recent years, however, my scholarly interests have increasingly focused on the future of engineering education, especially within Christian higher education.

I am particularly interested in how emerging technologies, changing cultural conditions, and artificial intelligence are shaping the formation of engineers. My work explores how educators can cultivate engineers who possess not only technical excellence, but also relational wisdom and Christ-centered purpose. These ideas are captured in my framework of the t-Shaped Engineer, which emphasizes technical depth, relational breadth, and vocational alignment.

In support of this work, I have authored The t-Shaped Engineer in the Age of AI (Wipf and Stock 2026), presented nationally on engineering formation and vocational education, and have been invited to speak at universities, conferences, and professional gatherings on the future of Christian engineering education.

My wife, Alison, and I are the parents of three children, and we make our home in East Texas.