Viola Acoff

Viola L. Acoff is an American metallurgist. She is the dean of the school of engineering at the University of Mississippi. She is the current president of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) for 2026.

Early life and education Acoff received her bachelor's of science in materials engineering from the University of Alabama Birmingham in 1989. She continued her graduate education at this institution, completing both a master of science in materials engineering with a thesis titled “The effect of Postweld Heat Treatment on the Fusion Zone Microstructure and Microhardness of Ti-14.2 Wt% Al-21.3 Wt% Nb Titanium Aluminide” in 1991 and a Ph.D. with a dissertation titled “An Analysis of constitutional Liquid Film Migration in Nickel-Base Alloy 718” in 1994. She was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2000 and full professor in 2004, a title she held until she left the University of Alabama in 2023. During her time there she served as the department head of the department of metallurgical and materials engineering from 2009 to 2014, and also the department head of chemical and biological engineering from 2008-2010. She was appointed the Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Graduate programs for the college of engineering in 2014 and served in that role until leaving the University of Alabama in 2023. Acoff was appointed as the Dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Mississippi with a full professorship in mechanical engineering in July of 2023.

Inaugural Ellen Swallow Richards Award from The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) in 2014. T. Morris Hackney Endowed Faculty Leadership Award Fellow of the Southeastern Conference Academic Leadership Development Program University of Alabama Alumni Association Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award for 2014 Recognized as one the Most Influential Corporate Directors by Women Inc. and as one of the Most Influential Black Corporate Directors by Savoy magazine.