As we approach the end of another year, I am both astonished at how swiftly the past 12 months have gone by and incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished.

From educating and preparing the next generation of leaders to our globally impactful research endeavors, we are persistently pursuing the next giant leap in civil and construction engineering. One event in particular that I am looking forward is the 50th anniversary celebration of the Construction Engineering and Management program. For the past five decades, this program has seen thousands of construction students graduate from Purdue University and become leaders in their fields.

Now, as part of our school, we share and celebrate this incredible program and invite you to do the same. In the coming months, expect to receive news and information of upcoming 50th anniversary celebrations. We hope you will join us and share in this momentous occasion.

When the Construction Engineering and Management program joined our school in 2024, the Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering began a new era. With 763 undergrads, 381 graduate students and 147 online graduate students, our program is one of the largest in the country. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, we were able this year to look beyond the merger and integration and once again set our sights fully on greater efforts and achievements. Together, as one, unified school.

In addition to the work on the merger and the excellent education of our students, our school has been the site of groundbreaking research. Our research efforts have global significance, encompassing the development of wireless charging technology for electric vehicles, deeper insights into indoor air quality and its effects on human health, and the creation of concrete embedded with strength-sensing capabilities. We have also seen a significant rise in AI applications, particularly in data collection, professional training and advancements in autonomous vehicle technology.

We have also seen wonderful stories of achievements and growth from our alumni — some of which will be shared in this edition of Transitions. Of course, there are many other stories of success that happen every day, and I encourage you to share them with us.

Rao S. Govindaraju
Bowen Engineering Head of Civil Engineering
and the Christopher B. and Susan S. Burke Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering