Component Style Guide

Elizabeth Orwin

Dean, School of Engineering and Computer Science

Email: eorwin@pacific.edu

Phone: 209.946.3068

Since July of 2021, Elizabeth Orwin has served as dean of the School of Engineering and Computer Science at University of the Pacific.

Dean Orwin is a biomedical engineer who, prior to joining Pacific, served as chair of the Department of Engineering and the James Howard Kindelberger Professor at Harvey Mudd College. A graduate of Harvey Mudd, Dean Orwin served on the college’s faculty and as an academic leader for over 20 years.

Orwin earned a BS in engineering in 1995 from Harvey Mudd, where she also served as student government president, before earning her MS and PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Minnesota. 

After graduation, she worked for Gel-Del Technologies in St. Paul, Minnesota, working on the research and development of a novel protein matrix for wound-healing applications. Orwin continues to be an active researcher, focusing on tissue engineering. 

Dean Orwin was also an American Council on Education fellow, a program that prepares participants for senior-level leadership positions in U.S. higher education. Her ACE fellowship was at the California Institute of Technology.

Dean Orwin’s husband, Paul Orwin, is a professor of biology at the University of Pacific. They have three children and live in Lodi, CA.

Mehdi Khazaeli

Associate Professor, Engineering Management Program

Email: mkhazaeli@pacific.edu

Phone: 209.946.3074

Mehdi Khazaeli, PhD, PE, PMP, is an Associate Professor in School of Engineering and Computer Science at University of the Pacific. He also serves as Assistant Dean of Innovation and Professional Development. He oversees the corporate affiliates program including CO-OP, sponsored research and career services in the School of Engineering and Computer Science. He teaches courses in Design and Innovation, Decision Making and Data Analytics. He has consulted with and taught seminars for a variety of clients, including those in R&D-based industries, venture capital, research organizations, and educational institutions. His research interest is in machine learning, natural language processing, sport analytics and system engineering.

Khazaeli earned his Ph.D. in Engineering Science with concentration in Information Technology Engineering form LSU and his M.S in Product Design and Management from the University of Liverpool. He also is a California-licensed professional engineer in the Industrial Engineering discipline and certified Project Management Professional. Upon completion of his studies he won the outstanding innovation product in product design and development project expo. Prior to joining Pacific he worked as a Data Analyst for the Department of Health & Hospitals and the Center of Business and Information Technology.

He was a star athlete player for Isfahan University of Technology and University of Liverpool and won letters in three sports. His passion for sport and his background in Information Technology led him to research in areas such as performance analysis using image and video processing, biomechanics and Human Computer Interaction.

In his personal time Dr. Khazaeli enjoys spending time with his family and playing different sports.

Abel Fernandez

Professor

Email: afernandez@pacific.edu

Phone: 209.946.3061

Abel Fernandez is Professor and Director of the Engineering Management Program at the University of the Pacific, Stockton, California.  He holds the PhD degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida, ME and BS degrees in Electric Power Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and an MBA also from RPI. 

Dr. Fernandez has over 12 years of system engineering and project management experience with TRW, Inc. and the Harris Corporation. His final position at Harris was Director of Product Marketing, a executive level position in which he was responsible for all applications engineering and strategic planning for the Controls Division of the Harris Corporation, a Division with over U$S 60 million (then dollars) in annual sales. 

He obtained his PhD degree under sponsorship of a NASA Graduate Student Research Fellowship, working at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.  His general field of interest is the analysis of project management problems.  Of particular interest is project risk analysis, stochastic project scheduling, modeling of decision analysis problems in project management contexts, and allied problems within project management. These are areas in which Dr. Fernandez has published 2 book chapters, 15 journal articles, numerous technical reports and 27 refereed conference articles.  Dr. Fernandez is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas. 

Camilla Saviz

Professor

Email: csaviz@pacific.edu

Phone: 209.946.3077

Dr. Camilla Saviz is Professor and Chair of the Civil Engineering Department. She received BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson University, an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology, and a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Davis in the area of hydrodynamic and water quality modeling. She joined the University of the Pacific in 1999 and is a registered Professional Engineer in California. Her teaching, research, and professional interests include water resources engineering, sustainable engineering, and engineering education.

Dr. Saviz started her teaching career as a Calculus 2 tutor for one of her Calc 2 classmates in junior college. She couldn't believe that she got paid for doing something that was so much fun, which is also true of her job at Pacific. Her interest in Fluid Mechanics and Water Resources led her along a wandering path that has included work as a Hydrologic Engineer, a Hydraulics Lab Teaching Assistant, a sea kayaking instructor, and a bar tender, among others. Dr. Saviz has been active in service to the profession as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). She has had the privilege of learning from colleagues and serving on various ASCE committees, as a Region 9 Governor, an ABET Program Evaluator, and as a Mentor at the ExCEEd Teaching Workshop.