Khamal Fisher is no stranger to flooding in Hampton Roads. He grew up in Campostella, one of Norfolk’s most flood-prone neighborhoods, and walked to school and the Boys & Girls Club.
“When it rained, and the streets flooded, sometimes I had to find another way to get there,” he said.
Today, he is part of a senior design team with Old Dominion University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering working to implement methods, such as rain gardens, pervious pavement, tide gates, wetland mitigation, underground storage systems and redesigned stormwater infrastructure, to make neighborhoods in and around Campostella more flood resilient.
“It’s a very rewarding project because it’s in an area that affects me and my community,” he said.
The soon-to-be college graduate has also become an unofficial liaison for the community through attending civic league meetings and helping residents understand the partnership with Old Dominion University.
“In these neighborhoods, they see people coming out to mitigate the issues and feel like they are just out here for their jobs — that their heart isn't really in it. Having someone from the community working on this project gives them a sense of security and shows that they really care,” he said.
Khamal’s interest in engineering began in childhood by building with Legos and playing Minecraft. In elementary school, he participated in an underwater robotics program, called SeaPerch, where he built underwater robots that had to navigate obstacles in a pool.
“Looking back, those experiences solidified my passion for building things and wanting to be an engineer,” he said.
He comes from an academically-oriented family, with relatives working and studying in fields like psychology, engineering, medical research and computer science. After high school, Khamal pursued biology and computer science at Virginia Commonwealth University, but soon found his heart wasn’t in it. He transferred to Old Dominion University and discovered his calling in civil engineering.
“Roads, bridges and buildings are fascinating, because they impact so many lives,” he said.
At the University, he found a supportive community. “I could truly tell that faculty, staff, TAs and tutors wanted you to succeed,” he said. “It felt like a family here.”
He was especially inspired by Shahin Nayyeri Amiri, Ph.D., a master lecturer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
“He doesn't judge based on our grades; he judges us based on the potential engineer he sees us to be,” Khamal said.
Although Dr. Amiri’s classes were the most challenging in his coursework, they also pushed him to grow. After earning a low grade on his first exam, Khamal remained determined.
“I went to his office hours, watched YouTube and lecture videos, and made sure I understood the material,” he said.
Working through difficult classes taught him resilience and persistence.
“One bad grade doesn’t define a whole semester,” he said. That mindset has paid off — he now holds a 3.87 GPA.
That effort and determination didn’t go unnoticed.
“Khamal is one of those students who truly represents what engineering is about – resilience, growth and a genuine commitment to improving his community,” Dr. Amiri said. “What stands out most is not just his strong academic performance, but his determination to overcome challenges and continuously improve. He has developed into a thoughtful and capable future engineer, and I am confident he will make a meaningful impact in the field.”
Khamal received numerous scholarships during his time at Old Dominion University, including the William M. Boone Memorial Scholarship and the American Society of Highway Engineers – Greater Hampton Roads Section Scholarship.
After receiving his first award, he thought, “They see something in me and believe in my academics, so I’m going to believe in myself.”
As a commuter, he made a point of building a strong support network by joining the National Society of Black Engineers and The Summit.
“These organizations have helped me be more in tune with campus and with my peers,” he said.
In his free time, Khamal works out, plays basketball and enjoys video games, photography and videography.
“It’s all about balance,” he said, which can be tough while juggling two part-time jobs and a full course load.
He is an undergraduate research assistant focused on helping autonomous vehicles operate more like humans.
“We're using large language models to help these vehicles build upon experiences like a human brain so they can adapt to any situation,” he said.
He also serves as a teaching assistant for a computer programming engineering course, where he enjoys helping students and watching them grow as future engineers.
In the summer of his junior year, Khamal completed a project engineering internship with Archer Western, a construction contracting company.
“It was amazing. I learned so many things and met a lot of great people. I did sub-contracting, looked at design plans, and went out into the field,” he said.
After graduation, he will start his career with McLean Contracting in Chesapeake. He hopes one day to build homes in his neighborhood of Campostella, where he has been invested in making it more flood resilient.
“In my neighborhood, there has been a lot of rebuilding of older houses, turning them into beautiful new homes, and I've seen how it positively impacts the community,” he said.
Beyond his career, Khamal hopes to travel, mentor others, invest in his community, have a family of his own, and most importantly, support his mother.
“She’s worked so hard her whole life, and I want to be in a position — financially and mentally — to take care of her the way she’s taken care of me. She’s the main reason I’m here today,” he said.