Merging Math and Management - Profile Nasiha Muna

Tucked into a quiet corner on the fourth floor of the Oden Institute of Computational Engineering and Sciences is Nasiha Muna - a Senior Research Administrator. Faculty, staff, and students alike know her as the author of perfectly detailed emails, the always-cheery owner of the best candy jar in the building, and the invaluable expert who juggles managing Principal faculty members’ Omar Ghattas and Clint Dawson, along with their respective research center and research group: Optimization, Inversion, Machine Learning, and Uncertainty for Complex Systems Center (OPTIMUS) and the Computational Hydraulics Group (CHG).

Nasiha’s pathway to research administration was far from conventional. As an undergraduate at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, she double majored in biology and mathematics. “I’ve always been such a STEM person, and I really loved my math major,” she shared. After graduation, Nasiha pursued a master's degree in mathematics and worked as a teaching assistant, honing her skills in breaking down complex ideas for new, undergraduate learners. She went on to teach mathematics at The University of Alabama in Huntsville and Alabama A&M University as a Lecturer, teaching foundational courses such as precalculus algebra, precalculus trigonometry, Calculus I,  and Calculus II. “I enjoyed interacting with students, and finding new ways to get the information we were talking about to resonate with them,” Nasiha said. 

Following the COVID pandemic and the impact of the transition to online learning, Muna leveraged her background in education to work as a program manager at UT Austin’s Quest Learning and Assessment Services, within the College of Natural Sciences. The online tool is ubiquitous in undergraduate mathematics and physics classrooms. There, she worked to develop content, manage the platform, and create exams - an experience that served as a deep dive into the complexity and problem solving skills that lie behind academic administration. 

Nasiha honed in on these abilities as she transitioned into her role as senior research administrator here at the Oden Institute, bridging these skills with her strong foundation in mathematics. Described as a ‘supernatural force’ by Omar Ghattas, Nasiha’s involvement and impact is clear. “It’s like she lives in one higher dimension than the rest of us,” Ghattas added. “She doesn’t just solve problems. She anticipates them and nips them in the bud, before they become problems.” 

This praise underscores Nasiha’s unique ability to navigate complex research administration challenges with remarkable foresight and efficiency. “My faculty experience and shared STEM background with Clint and Omar help me see things from their perspective,” Nasiha shared. “That makes it easier to streamline proposal logistics and efficiently manage their grant portfolios. Since I like to stay in the loop, I also keep up with their latest research publications on Google Scholar. I love being part of an interdisciplinary community that brings together people from so many niches and fields.” 

Outside of the office, Nasiha is a passionate nonfiction reader. “I went to the Texas Book Festival last year, and it was one of the best experiences I’ve had in Austin,” she shared. Nasiha’s love for storytelling stems from her youth - a longtime writer, her office is decorated with newspaper clippings featuring her published articles, which hang alongside her published papers in mathematics, materials science, and STEAM education– and a prized copy of Matthew McConaughey’s memoir. When she’s not immersed in a story, you can find Nasiha exploring Austin’s coffee shops, museums, and concerts. Through her diverse experiences in academia, research administration, and storytelling, Nasiha has built a career—and a life—rooted in curiosity, connection, and a passion for learning, both inside and outside the office.