Posted on June 22, 2026 by Sean M. Wood
One of the most impactful professors from the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, Dr. Mohammed “Mo” Jamshidi, passed away recently. He was 82.
Jamshidi was a professor of electrical and computer engineering and the Lutcher Brown Distinguished Endowed Chair. Known for his friendly personality and his sense of humor, Jamshidi retired in 2022 after 51 years in academia; the last 16 years at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
“Dr. Jamshidi joined UTSA at a time when the university was positioning itself for greater research recognition and growth,” Electrical Engineering Professor Dr. Chunjiang Qian said. “As a senior faculty member, he brought not only deep technical expertise but also broad academic experience, strong professional connections, and a clear vision for building research excellence. His presence helped strengthen the school’s research culture, especially in robotics, automation, control, AI, and engineering education.”
Jamshidi was born in Shiraz, Iran in 1944. He came to the United States in 1963 for “an ocean of opportunities,” and found it as an engineering professor.
Upon arrival at UT San Antonio in 2006, he and Jila, his wife of 52 years, created the Mo and Jila Jamshidi Graduate Fellowship for students approaching the end of their doctoral studies. The money, which came from Jamshidi’s endowed professorship, allowed students to conduct more research and focus on completing their doctorates versus taking time from academic pursuits to find a job.
“He was an exemplary mentor in our department who supervised 31 Ph.D. students,” Electrical Engineering Professor and Interim Department Chair Dr. Yongcan Cao said. “He was also very generous by establishing the Mo and Jila Jamshidi Graduate Fellowship that will continue impacting our students for many years to come.”
Jamshidi was a fellow of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the American Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the World Academy of Sciences. He wrote 79 books and written articles for more than 800 publications.
Jamshidi was a pioneer in systems of systems engineering, autonomous control engineering, robotics and control. He was founding director of the NASA Center for Autonomous Control Engineering (ACE).
“His ACE Lab continues to bear his name and spirit,” Qian said. “Robots and equipment he brought in are still in use.”
Jamshidi’s accolades and accomplishments did not dull his enthusiasm for the students, his wonder at the science, or his sense of humor. His colleagues called him a great mentor who emphasized the importance of caring for each other and maintaining a young mindset.
“No matter how old we are, there is no stopping point for us to stay young mentally,” Cao said. “He often said, ‘I am a 70-year-old young boy,’ which I reminded myself to think frequently in that way.”
Qian said he was reminded of Jamshidi’s 2022 retirement party. Numerous former students, colleagues and friends traveled from around the country, “to celebrate his remarkable career and contributions,” he said. “It was truly meaningful to see how many lives he had touched throughout the years.”
Jamshidi was especially happy and proud, according to Qian, while showing the retirement gift presented by the department. It was a bobblehead in Jamshidi’s likeness.
— Sean M. Wood
