Dr. Mustafa Mashal will lead the university's next phase of research growth following its R2 designation.

East Texas A&M University today announced the appointment of Dr. Mustafa Mashal as Vice President for Research and Economic Development. He will begin his new role on August 3, 2026, and will also serve as a professor in ETAMU's College of Science and Engineering.

Mashal joins East Texas A&M at an important moment. Since earning R2 research classification in 2025, the university has continued to grow its research profile, expand doctoral education and strengthen its role as an economic engine for Northeast Texas. In his new role, Mashal will lead long-term research strategy, support faculty and staff pursuing external funding, build partnerships and advance economic development through applied research, workforce development and technology transfer.

“I am honored and excited to join East Texas A&M University at such a pivotal moment in its history,” Mashal said. “ETAMU's rapid growth, its R2 designation, and its deep commitment to serving both rural and urban Texas communities present a tremendous opportunity to build a research enterprise that is both nationally competitive and regionally impactful.”

Mashal comes to ETAMU from Idaho State University, where he most recently served as Associate Vice President for Research, Innovation Partnerships and professor of civil engineering. Over 18 years of experience spanning academia, national laboratory partnerships and private industry, he has built a record of expanding research enterprises, forging high-value partnerships and translating research into regional economic impact.

“Research matters most when it helps people solve real problems,” said Dr. Mark Rudin, ETAMU President. “Dr. Mashal understands that. He has built partnerships, supported faculty and students, and helped turn research into work that strengthens communities. At East Texas A&M, that kind of leadership will help us build on our R2 momentum in a way that is practical, ambitious and deeply connected to the needs of Northeast Texas.”

Mashal succeeds Dr. Brent Donham, who is retiring as Vice President for Research and Economic Development.

At Idaho State, Mashal served as the primary liaison for the university's Strategic Understanding for Premier Education & Research Agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory. He helped establish the Critical Materials and Energy Systems Innovation Center and expanded ISU's joint faculty appointments with national laboratories. He is the founder of Idaho State's Disaster Response Complex and Structural Laboratories, two of the most distinctive research and training facilities in the Pacific Northwest. His record also includes more than $7.4 million in grant funding, including $4.15 million as principal investigator, and more than 200 authored or co-authored scholarly outputs.

Mashal earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with a focus on Structural Engineering from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Idaho, as well as a Chartered Professional Engineer and International Professional Engineer in New Zealand. He is also a Fellow of both the American Society of Civil Engineers and its Structural Engineering Institute.