CEAE Department News Highlights - Alumni Newsletter — July 2024
Department Headlines
Top 10 ranking for civil and environmental engineering graduate programs
CU °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï's environmental engineering graduate program ranked 7th nationwide among its public university peers, while the civil engineering graduate program ranked 9th.
Alumni News
Briana Santa Ana: 2024 Alumni Engagement Medal Award recipient
The Alumni Engagement Medal (AEM) was established for college academic degree programs and the BOLD Center to recognize highly engaged alumni who impact their areas through volunteerism and philanthropic support.
Faculty News
Women’s History Month: A Conversation with Professor Abbie Liel
Professor Abbie Liel's work focuses on finding new ways to design and assess structures to withstand extreme conditions, aiming to make them safer and more sustainable.
CU °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï professor honored with Pathfinder award for societal impact
CEAE's Amy Javernick-Will received the Pathfinder Award for her research improving disaster response in resource-limited communities.
John Zhai wins CEAS Textbook Recognition Award
CEAE Professor John Zhai won the College of Engineering's Textbook Recognition Award for his well-balanced architectural engineering book.
Student News
CU °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï shines at ASCE Symposium, advances to nationals
CU °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï at ASCE Symposium, advances to nationals for first time ever. "Not every team has as much fun as we do." - Gabi Dunn.
Magnus Boee: Balancing success in athletics and engineering
CEAE grad student and Olympic Nordic skier Magnus Boee balances Division 1 athletics with civil engineering studies at CU °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï.
Unstoppable: Gabrielle Dunn honored as overall Outstanding Undergraduate of the College
CEAE's Gabrielle Dunn earned the 2024 Outstanding Undergraduate of the College award for her academic and peer support achievements.
Research News
CU °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï secures $750K to improve drought preparedness in Western U.S.
CU °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï received $750,000 from NOAA to improve Colorado River drought monitoring, led by CEAE and CIRES scientists and researchers.
Diane McKnight: Climate change increases metals concentrations in streams, study finds
A recent study points the finger at climate change as the cause of increasing metals concentrations in Colorado’s high mountain streams. These findings have implications for local ecosystems and the water supplies of mountain communities.
Grant tackles sustainable alternatives for urban lawn irrigation
CEAE's Aditi Bhaskar received a $296,000 grant to find sustainable ground cover alternatives to replace water-hungry urban turfgrass.
CU °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï leads effort to improve water quality in Rockies’ rivers
A team led by Environmental Engineering Professor Evan Thomas received a $650,000 NSF Convergence Accelerator grant to measure and mitigate pollution in Colorado's Cache la Poudre and Yampa Rivers through new sensor technology, monitoring and a voluntary carbon credits trading system with industry.
In Memoriam
Remembering Hari Rajaram—a legacy of intellect, humility and warmth
CEAE remembers former faculty member Hari Rajaram, known for his intellect, humility and warmth, who passed away in July 2024 at 59.
Remembering Kaspar Willam (1940-2024)
CEAE remembers Professor Emeritus Kaspar Willam, a beloved structural engineering scholar who passed away in January 2024 at age 83.
Remembering 'Doc' Helms: beloved mentor and pioneer in architectural lighting
CEAE remembers Professor Ron Helms, who joined the architectural engineering faculty in 1965 and pioneered illuminating engineering education.