Civil Engineering welcomes our alumni and friends.
Since Purdue's opening in 1874, Purdue has spurred the advancement of the civil engineering profession, pioneering in transportation, materials, structures, land surveying, construction, and environmental engineering. The Lyles School of Civil Engineering continues to lead as we take up the challenges of the 21st century. New technology, industry's demand for design and team experiences in the curriculum, the increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary research, along with other changes, affect how we educate our students and perform our mission of discovering new knowledge.
Getting involved is your opportunity to give back to the school in ways that further our mission and vision, connect with fellow alumni, enhance our communities, and reach out to students. Contact the Civil Engineering main office at (765) 494-2166 for information on how you can support your school. We look forward to hearing from you.
Alumni Spotlights
September 23, 2022
Willis "Rick" Conner, PE, SE (BSCE 1976) has been elected to the National Academy of Construction. Established in 1999, NAC recognizes industry leaders from across the U.S. who demonstrate exceptional leadership and service with a continued commitment to innovation.
August 25, 2022
Benesch President and CEO Kevin Fitzpatrick, PE (BSCE 1985) has been elected to the National Academy of Construction. Established in 1999, NAC recognizes industry leaders from across the U.S. who demonstrate exceptional leadership and service with a continued commitment to innovation.
August 16, 2022
Dr. Siddharth Saksena (MSCE '14, PhD '19), Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech, has received the A. Ivan Johnson Award for Young Professionals presented by the American Water Resources Association.
August 12, 2022
A multidisciplinary team of researchers led by Claudia Gunsch (BSCE 1998), Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University, will undertake an ambitious endeavor to understand and improve the microbial communities that inhabit the structures in which we live, work and play — what scientists call the "built environment."
August 5, 2022
Ersal Ozdemir (BSCE 1997), Chairman & CEO of Keystone Group and 2022 Civil Engineering Alumni Achievement Award recipient, has been named to Indiana Business Journal's inaugural Indiana 250 list of leading state influencers.
June 20, 2022
Erin Flanigan (BSCE '87), P.E., PMP has joined Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) as a principal for Transportation Operations and Safety. In this role, she will support clients nationwide in the advancement of transportation systems management and operations (TSMO), safety, emerging technologies, and infrastructure.
June 14, 2022
Alumnus Kenneth Beache (MSCE '94), President of Metric Environmental, LLC, discusses how his Purdue degrees and experiences have helped his career.
April 27, 2022
Charles K. Nmai (Ph.D. 1987), 2012 recipient of the CE Alumni Achievement Award, has been elected to serve as president of the American Concrete Institute for 2022-2023. He is Head of Engineering at Master Builders Solutions Admixtures US LLC in Cleveland, OH.
March 30, 2022
Purdue University's Lyles School of Civil Engineering recognized six passionate, influential and visionary graduates during the 28th annual Civil Engineering Alumni Achievement Awards banquet.
March 11, 2022
Dr. Kasey Faust (MSCE '10, MSIE '13, PhD '15), Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, has received the Daniel W. Halpin Award for Scholarship in Construction. The award is presented by the ASCE Construction Institute.
March 3, 2022
Lesley Sneed (PhD '07), Professor of Civil, Materials, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has been selected as one of the 2022 Distinguished Women Scholars for her exceptional leadership and significant contributions to her field.
February 28, 2022
CE alumnus Daryl Knip (BSCE '94) has been promoted to President/CEO of Abonmarche Consultants. Daryl is responsible for managing Abonmarche operations that include nine offices in Indiana and Michigan.
February 28, 2022
CE alumnus Hardik Shah (MSCE '03/'05) has received the inaugural 2021 Transportation Professional of the Year Award from the Indiana Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). The award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the ITE Indiana Section through achievements in the transportation/traffic engineering profession.
January 31, 2022
Daniel Castro-Lacouture (PhD '03), a professor and administrator at Georgia Institute of Technology, will be the new dean of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, effective June 1.
January 27, 2022
Dr. Matthew W. Witczak (Ph.D. 1969), Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the University of Maryland, passed away at his home on Tuesday, January 18th.
January 12, 2022
CE alumnus Hani Mahmassani (MSCE '78) has been awarded the Transportation Research Board’s 2021 Roy W. Crum Award for outstanding achievement in transportation research.
January 7, 2022
Tim Gunn (BSCE '91), Vice President of Construction for Alberici Constructors, Inc., along with the SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital campus renewal project team, has been recognized by Engineering News-Record with the Health Care Award of Merit for their innovative approach to modular design and off-site construction.
November 29, 2021
Wentworth Institute of Technology Civil Engineering Professor and Lyles School of Civil Engineering alumnus James Lambrechts (MSCE 1976) was honored earlier this year by the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section (BSCES) of the American Society of Civil Engineers with two recognitions of distinction: the BSCES Honorary Member Award and the BSCES College Educator Award.
September 30, 2021
CE alumnus Chris Burke (BSCE '77, MSCE '79, PhD '83, HDR 2010) has received the honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering from the University of Illinois Chicago for his contributions to the field of civil engineering.
September 14, 2021
Paul Mlakar (PhD '75) is an ASCE distinguished member with more than 40 years of service with the United State Army Corps of Engineers, now in the role of Engineer Emeritus for the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. And 20 years ago, he led the ASCE team investigating the damage done by the Sept. 11 attack at the Pentagon. In episode 85 of ASCE Plot Points, Mlakar looks back on that investigation, Sept. 11, and how the profession has changed.
