FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
- Chip Mansfield
- Dec 9, 2025
- 4 min read
Dr. Jacob P. Kovel
In Depth: Dr. Jacob P. Kovel
Paving the Way for Tomorrow’s Construction Leaders
From engineer to educator: a career built on foundations of practice and purpose
Few in the world of construction education can match the breadth of real-world experience and academic leadership embodied by Dr. Jacob P. Kovel. A retired professor (Professor Emeritus) in the Manufacturing & Construction Management Department at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), Dr. Kovel holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering/Construction from Georgia Institute of Technology.
At CCSU, he taught courses including “Heavy/Highway Construction Practices,” a subject that underscores his specialization in heavy and civil construction operations — a field demanding not only technical knowledge but also managerial, logistical, and safety-conscious leadership.
His background is rooted not just in academia: before devoting himself entirely to education, Dr. Kovel served as an engineer in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve. That depth-of-field experience gives him — and, by extension, his students — a tangible understanding of construction projects in challenging, real-world environments.
This blend of engineering background, practical experience, and academic credentials gives Dr. Kovel a unique perspective: not simply on how to build structures — but how to build teams, manage resources, navigate contracts, and lead complex heavy-civil projects with discipline and safety at the core.
Leading the way in construction education and accreditation
One of the most significant aspects of Dr. Kovel’s legacy is his long-term role with the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE). He is a lifetime member of ACCE.
ACCE serves as the primary accrediting and standard-setting body for construction management and construction education programs in the U.S. Through that membership (and the responsibilities that come with it), Dr. Kovel helped ensure that CCSU’s Construction Management program met — and continued to meet — the high standards expected by industry and academia alike.
At CCSU, the Construction Management program is nationally accredited by ACCE. This accreditation ensures that graduates hold credentials recognized across the industry, and it reflects a curriculum aligned with evolving industry needs. Dr. Kovel’s stewardship played an essential role in maintaining that alignment over many years.
Building relationships: education, industry, and the evolving demands of construction
Dr. Kovel has long stressed that construction management is not just about building structures — it’s about building people. As he states:
“There are two things we tell students that construction managers must be able to do: solve problems and communicate, neither of which are specific construction skills, but are life skills.”
This emphasis on interpersonal, analytical, and decision-making skills speaks to his broader vision: construction managers need to understand scheduling, cost, safety, legal, and contractual issues — but also leadership, communication, and ethics.
Thanks in part to this philosophy, CCSU’s program has developed deep relationships with industry, offering a steady pipeline of talent to contractors and ensuring high job placement rates for graduates.
Dr. Kovel has also spoken of how the program evolved, including expanding faculty so that each faculty member has fewer advisees, allowing for more meaningful mentorship. He recalled starting with over 140 advisees at once — “almost impossible” to meet individually — but as the program grew and matured, student-to-faculty ratios improved.
Beyond technical instruction, the program under his watch emphasized hands-on learning, practical training, and industry-ready skills — bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world construction demands.
Recognition by peers: Educator of the Year
In 2024, Dr. Kovel was named Educator of the Year by The Construction Institute — a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting excellence and collaboration across architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals.
This honor underscores his influence not only within CCSU, but across the broader construction-education landscape — recognizing his decades-long commitment to preparing future construction professionals and shaping the standards of their training.
Guiding the future: visions for growth and continued impact
Even as industry demand rises — with more job opportunities than ever for qualified construction managers — Dr. Kovel articulated thoughtful caution: growth is valuable only if academic quality and personal mentorship remain intact.
“If we can do more things for the students, that ends up doing more things for industry…”
He pointed out the need to avoid over-expansion, which could dilute quality and compromise course delivery:
“The newer generation has different skill sets and hopefully these will enhance the education process for the kids that are coming out; they’ll bring their new skill sets to the industry.”
Looking ahead, CCSU — with foundations laid under Dr. Kovel’s leadership — has even contemplated expanding its graduate program into a doctoral-level Construction Management degree. The aim: to prepare not only industry professionals, but also future educators. This reflects a long-term vision for the sustainability of construction education itself.
Final thoughts
Dr. Jacob P. Kovel’s career at CCSU is a portrait of what dedicated, thoughtful, and experienced leadership can achieve in higher education. His influence stretches far beyond classrooms and syllabi — touching the construction industry as a whole, shaping standards, mentoring professionals, and safeguarding the future of construction education through his involvement with ACCE.
For anyone interested in how universities can effectively serve both student aspirations and industry demand — primarily in fields as practical and essential as construction — Dr. Kovel’s story is instructive and inspiring.
