CEE Professor Follows in the Footsteps of Her Father, a Former CEE Professor
When Alexander Dematracopoulos joined the School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) as an assistant professor with an expertise in water resources engineering in 1980, little did he dream that one day he would have a daughter, Vassiliki Demetracopoulou, who would herself become a Rutgers CEE assistant professor.
“I was born six years after my dad left Rutgers in 1988 as an associate professor to become a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering in the University of Patras, Greece,” says Demetracopoulou. “This is where I grew up and I was constantly around his office at the university and his colleagues – and this is where I gained my undergraduate diploma."
“I wanted to be a civil engineer since childhood,” she adds. “However, pursuing an academic career like my dad’s was solidified as a goal during my undergrad and graduate studies when I discovered an area of civil engineering that I wanted to explore further – construction management.”
She says her father “always valued knowledge and scholarship and that instilled the value of higher education in me. These are qualities that supported my career choice.”
Demetracopoulou, who joined the CEE faculty in September 2023, values ongoing guidance from her father, who says, “My advice is to always work hard and nurture her relationships with her students and colleagues as the nature of the work is very collaborative.”
A Return to Campus
Demetracopoulos, who is a professor emeritus at the Greek university, recently visited his daughter in April – and revisited the SoE campus and CEE department.
Rutgers has grown a lot over the last 40 years, so Demetracopoulou reports that her father was excited to see what the campus looks like now.
Together, the father and daughter toured the old engineering building where they found his old C-Wing office, as well as Richard Weeks Hall and her office. They also enjoyed lunch with some faculty members. “It was particularly nice that we met with CEE Distinguished Professor Perumalsamy N. Balaguru, who was here the same time as my dad and who was a great friend.”
Demetracopoulos takes note of their likely being the only SoE father-daughter faculty members. “It is touching, and it makes me very proud.”
