David R. Gutierrez

About

David R. Gutierrez is an Assistant Professor of Engineering at the University of Virginia’s First Year Engineering Center.

Prof. Gutierrez is committed to fostering more harmonic interactions between engineers and socio-technical systems, particularly between construction actors and the built environment. He is dedicated to achieving that goal by raising the awareness of engineering students and practitioners on how their cognition, emotions, and behavior in project organizations affect engineering outcomes and their sustainability.

Before starting his academic career, he gained experience in the design and construction of plumbing, sewage, and fire protection systems for buildings, managed two major environmental planning projects, and co-founded a company that integrated multiple building-design disciplines to streamline the design process for its clients.

Before his appointment at UVA, Prof. Gutierrez taught undergraduate and graduate courses in project management, strategy and innovation, and leadership for engineers and architects, as well as several foundational engineering courses. He also served as a university-industry liaison, co-leading and helping secure international funding for award-winning sustainability initiatives at the industry-cluster level in his native and beloved Colombia.

The classroom is Prof. Gutierrez’s special place and helping students identify their purpose is what he loves the most about his job. He is a father, a husband, a Christian, and the founder of the UVA Construction student team!

Education

Ph.D. Civil Engineering, University of Virginia (2024)

MBA, Universidad Industrial de Santander (2017)

B.Sc. Civil Engineering, Universidad Industrial de Santander (2012)