Dr. DeAnna Leitzke, P.E. has been named chairperson of the Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management Department (CAECM) at Milwaukee School of Engineering. She most recently served as the university’s associate vice president of academic excellence and founding director of the CREATE Institute.
With the recent announcement of the new Kendall Breunig Center for the Built Environment at MSOE, this is an exciting time for the CAECM Department. The new facility will be home for the department and Leitzke will help guide the renovation and build-out of classrooms and laboratories to ensure they meet the needs of students today and in the future.
“I look forward to working with faculty and students to maximize the impact of this generous gift from Kendall Breunig. As an educator and construction professional, I value the significance of place. Our new home will create an environment that inspires current and future students to reach their potential while preparing for a lifetime of meaningful work,” said Leitzke.
Leitzke earned her undergraduate degree in architectural engineering from MSOE and went on to earn her M.S. in Engineering Management from MSOE. She holds a Ph.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service in Higher Education from Cardinal Stritch University. Prior to serving as associate vice president of academic excellence, she founded the CREATE Institute at MSOE in 2018, taught as an associate professor in MSOE’s Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management Department, and was the Pieper Family Endowed Chair for Servant-Leadership. Leitzke has industrial experience as an architectural engineer with Reserve Advisors Inc. and as an architectural engineer with Affiliated Engineers. She currently lives in Whitefish Bay with her three teenage sons and husband of nearly 20 years.
“It is an exciting period of transition for the CAECM Department and DeAnna is uniquely positioned to lead the department at this pivotal moment in its history,” said Dr. Eric Baumgartner, executive vice president of academics. “The university’s new innovative semester-based program curricula along with the development of a new home for the department will enhance the learning experience for all CAECM students. DeAnna has demonstrated her ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff and the administration to enhance and improve the institution’s academic enterprise. I am looking forward to working with DeAnna as she continues her strong contributions to the success of MSOE.”
“It is an honor to serve as chair of the department that shaped me as a construction professional. When I was an undergraduate student, my department chair, Dr. Matthew Fuchs, was always there for me as a mentor and coach. My goal is to provide that same level of exceptional leadership alongside our outstanding CAECM faculty. Together, we are 100% committed to supporting our current and future students as they develop as responsible professionals, passionate learners, leaders of character and value creators.”
As a lifelong resident of Milwaukee County, Leitzke is dedicated to serving the community. She is a board member of SHARP Literacy Inc., program quality committee member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, and committee member of the Wisconsin Servant-Leader Group. Leitzke looks forward to nurturing and growing the CAECM department’s mutually beneficial relationships with industry and community partners to provide all students with the opportunity to learn from real-world experiences that help them develop the skillset and mindset they need to solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow.
