In civil engineering, numbers are at the heart of our calculations, measurements and formulas. Equally, historical numbers are integral to detailing time, scope and magnitude of events — including Purdue's 150th year, a truly significant milestone that we are celebrating now.

By the time the 2019 Homecoming weekend rolls around, Purdue will be officially 150 years old. However, we have no intention of waiting until the day-of to celebrate our sesquicentennial.

For the entire year leading up to next fall, everyone here at Purdue is celebrating our "Giant Leaps." The commemoration is to recognize our many past achievements and to look forward and ensure we remain at the forefront of research and education for another 150 years.

Of those soon-to-be 150 years, Purdue's Lyles School of Civil Engineering has been around for 131 of them — and we have made many giant leaps of our own — both culturally and academically. In addition to Purdue's first black and female engineering graduates coming from our school, our alumni, staff and faculty have worked on landmark projects around the globe, taking giant leaps on projects such as the Panama Canal, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge.

These giant leaps could not have been possible without the incredible work, innovation and foresight of our amazing alumni. It is through your dedication, mentorship and research that the Lyles School of Civil Engineering remains an international pillar for world-changing academic pursuits.

In our third edition of the revamped Transitions magazine, you have another chance to see what some of our aspirational alumni have been doing. We highlight in this issue more than a dozen alumni who have led influential careers. One story highlights Rodolfo Gedeon, an alumnus who started a multigenerational family tradition of Boilermakers. Another article profiles alumnus Shahin Ariaey-Nejad, telling how opportunities gained as a student translated to a tremendous achievement in engineering practice and research. You will also learn much more about our cover couple, Nancy Uridil and Frank Bossu, and their continued dedication to Purdue and each other.

I invite everyone to stop by my office when visiting campus. I will be more than happy to share with you all the exciting research and incredible work we are doing — and the many accomplishments of our alumni.

All the best,

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