CEEBAR Civil & Environmental Engineers Building Alumni Relations SEI & VT 2 VT becomes home to the first SEI Graduate Student Chapter. Outreach 3 Philanthropy programs from alumni, student groups and more. Keep in touch 4 Information on how to keep in touch with us. Via Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering Continuing to advance education and research at Virginia Tech. With the beginning of the New Year the department would like to recap a few outstanding moments from 2012. In September, Dr. Hesham Rakha, the director of the Center for Sustainable Mobility, was highlighted for his work with driver behavior in relation to traffic lights. Dr. Rakha hopes to determine signal times for intersections that are safer, yet still efficient. In November, Dr. Andrea Dietrich was invited to the National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan to join a team of international water quality experts in editing the book, Our Exponential Phase of Understanding Taste and Odor Problems. Dr. Amy Pruden was awarded $250,000 in November by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to lead a project to determine the effects of pipe material, water flow, and chemistry on the building plumbing microbiome. The research will determine if the right microbes are being selected in the building environment. December was an equally as busy month with Professor John E. Taylor s recognition for his lab and work in the impact of globalization dynamics on design and construction project performance. Taylor has identified two key advancements for companies to become and stay globally competitive: a Global Self-Assessment Tool of G-SAT and the hiring of a person to span the cultural boundaries. Professor Panos Dr. Linsey Marr in the lab. Diplas was featured in an article for his work regarding stream flow during floods, highlighting the groundbreaking work being done in the Kelso Baker Hydraulics Laboratory. Also in December Dr. Linsey Marr (above) and Dr. Deborah Young- Corbett were both recognized for their research programs, Marr for studying the effects of humidity on the flu virus and Young-Corbett for her new approach to reduce construction risks. Both articles were featured on the College of Engineering website and can be found at www.cee.vt.edu.
Inaugural meeting of the Graduate Student Chapter of the Engineering Institute (SEI) By Allie Rubio January 29, 2013 The Engineering Institute (SEI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is a professional organization with a mission to advance and serve the structural engineering profession. According to its website, SEI offers a vibrant community of more than 20,000 structural engineers, and provides opportunities for professional growth, development and peer interaction. Hosting many activities throughout the year, SEI s annual Structures Congress will be held in Pittsburgh this coming May. The conference is the largest annual gathering of the structural engineering profession and includes many activities to engage students and young professionals. Dr. Roberto Leon, past SEI President and David H. Burrows Professor of Construction Engineering in the Via Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering in conjunction with Jennifer Goupil, P.E., the Director of SEI and proud Virginia Tech alumna, worked to establish the first graduate student chapter of SEI at Virginia Tech this spring. William Collins a doctoral student in the department assisted in the process by applying with the university to become a registered student organization. Collins will also serve as the 2 first SEI student chapter President, aided by fellow graduate students Johnn Judd and Lauren McAnallen. On Wednesday, January 23 rd, Goupil visited Virginia Tech to present a seminar titled: Professional issues within structural engineering: From professional ethics and licensure to codes and standards. The seminar was not only part of the 2013 Engineering and Materials (SEM) Graduate Seminar series but it was also a benchmark event for SEI and Virginia Tech. Goupil presented William Collins, with a founding plaque from SEI marking the moment. Goupil s seminar also offered students information about professional development opportunities within SEI. She discussed the importance of professional licensure in engineering and how it can benefit and advance career opportunities. All of which corresponds with the SEI Graduate Student Chapter charge, The mission of SEI-VT is to develop the leadership skills and enhance the education of students who are preparing to become structural engineering professionals. By linking SEI student members with professional members, and providing opportunities for professional and educational development, SEI-VT will facilitate a successful college to career transition. Goupil s presentation and interaction with students certainly fulfilled the mission statement and provided a strong start to the semester. Dr. Leon presented Goupil with a gift from the department and concluded the presentation, marking the beginning of the SEI-VT Graduate Student Chapter. For more information about joining please contact William Collins at wncollins@vt.edu. Jennifer Goupil, P.E. is currently the Director of The Engineering Institute of ASCE, formerly the editor of Engineering & Design magazine.
CEEBAR MARCH 2013 Vol. 4 Issue 1 CEE Philanthropy: Bringing students and Alumni together to do more. Written by: Allie Rubio In a world where technology is fast paced and human interaction is sometimes few and far between, outreach and philanthropy are increasingly essential. Self, national and international awareness can help save a life, a family or a community. Virginia Tech s motto Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) supports and recognizes the need for involvement in our departments and beyond. The Via Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering has multiple programs that embody the values of Virginia Tech and its motto: Ut Prosim. Do you like to ride motorcycles? Join Hogs 4 Hokies this April and ride for a cause. CEE 83 Alumni Frank Salzano gives back every year by organizing the Hogs 4 Hokies ride in which proceeds go directly to the 32 Named Memorial Endowments and ensures deserving students receive necessary support to thrive at Virginia Tech. Join Frank and other Alum this spring by visiting hogs4hokies.org. One soon to be alumna CEE 12, Alley Heffern, has decided that she wants to do more. Teaming up with her friend in Mechanical Engineering, they hope to support education in Uganda. Taaluma Totes is an up and coming project in which backpacks handmade in Uganda will create fair trade jobs for locals and also provide revenue to support education. Another endeavor interested in supporting education here in the U.S. is The Three Birds Foundation. Founded and run by a Virginia Tech alumni, Joseph Plummer, Three Birds is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that uses renewable energy to engage and inspire students in low-income communities in the National Capital Region. The partnership is formed with schools, and Three Birds develops renewable energy initiatives that promote students interests in science and technology that will last a lifetime. For partnership opportunities please contact Joseph Plummer at Joseph.Plummer@threebirds.org. Let s build something that matters together; please join Bridges to Prosperity at Virginia Tech (B2PVT) in their most recent project to bring a footbridge to Tibi, Haiti. The bridge will connect Tibi to the town of Camperrin, and serve an estimated 20,000 people. B2PVT is a student led organization that aims to empower developing communities through footbridge construction, and over the past three years, it has grown to over 30 students across multiple disciplines and has built bridges in three different sites in Haiti: Ti Peligre, La Chambre, and Lougou. Combined the three bridges allow thousands of Haitians access to essential needs when the rainy season makes for treacherous water levels. Tibi will be the largest bridge built so far, and in order for B2PVT to continue their work they need your help. Bridges to Prosperity is always looking for people interested in helping the cause either financially or through volunteerism. Visit their website at Partner with us to help make these organizations a success! www.b2pvt.org to learn more. 3
Are you CEE Alumni from 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 or 2012? We need your input. Every two years we have the past five-class years vote on their teaching experience with CEE at VT, honoring one faculty member with the title of STAY IN TOUCH CEE Alumni Teaching Award. Nominate your favorite professor here: https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1361982972887 Or just click the Hokie Bird to jump directly to the site.
1 2 CEEBAR MARCH 2013 Vol. 4 Issue 1 2013 CEE Alumni Events: May: Charlotte, NC: Thursday, May 23rd 5pm to 8pm at Bravo, Northlake Mall June: Golf event at Bull Run Golf Club in Haymarket, VA, Thursday, June 6th 2013 June: Summer newsletter will be mailed out September: Richmond, VA: exact date and place details to follow CEE would like to welcome Allie Rubio as the new Coordinator of Alumni & External Relations. She joined the department in November 2012. She has experience in the College of Engineering and brings energy to her position. Please feel free to contact her with updates and news to share. New Address? Phone number change? Tell us so we can keep in touch. We want to hear from you. Awards, certificates? Where are they now? Let us know and you might be the next feature in our newsletter. Allison Rubio Coordinator of Alumni & External Relations 200F Patton Hall (540) 231-0981 arubio@vt.edu Engineering is a great profession. There is the satisfaction of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a plan on paper. Then it moves to realization in stone or metal or energy. Then it brings homes to men or women. Then it elevates the standard of living and adds to the comforts of life. This is the engineer s high privilege. Herbert Hoover 5