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An Exceptional Year CEE faculty were honored at the highest levels
from 2019-2020 Annual Report | School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
by School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology
AN EXCEPTIONAL YEAR
It was a banner year for the faculty of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, with several professors earning career-defining awards from top educational and professional organizations. In the following pages, read more about CEE faculty who have been recognized for their accomplishments in research, teaching and leadership.
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TEACHING EXCELLENCE
School Chair Don Webster was honored with a statewide award for his innovative instruction
Professor Donald Webster, the Karen and John Huff Chair of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, was selected as the recipient of the 2020 Felton Jenkins, Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award for the University System of Georgia.
This prestigious teaching award recognizes faculty for their strong commitment to teaching and student success.
Webster is the only faculty member from a Georgia research university to receive this systemwide award.
“Being selected among the many, many outstanding faculty instructors in the University System who are dedicated to teaching and student success is an exhilarating honor,” Webster said. “I am passionate about student-centric instruction and creating pathways for success in challenging engineering courses, so it’s thrilling to be recognized for innovative teaching approaches that improve student achievement.”
In more than 20 years at the Institute, Webster has been widely recognized for his success as a teacher, researcher and administrator.
In particular, Webster has received many accolades for his teaching excellence and use of the “flipped classroom.” In this teaching model, students watch a recorded lecture before class, and use classroom time for more engaging handson learning and interaction with their instructor.
“Dr. Webster has shown that student achievement, engagement, and perceptions in the blended classroom are significantly improved,” said Steven McLaughlin, the dean and Southern Company Chair of the Georgia Tech College of Engineering. “Remarkably, the percentage of students withdrawing or receiving an F or D grade is reduced by half compared to traditional lecture courses. This indicates that the blended classroom format provides effective support for students who otherwise might struggle in these demanding engineering mechanics courses.”
Webster first implemented the flipped classroom model in his undergraduate fluid mechanics course in 2013. In the years since, he has expanded the concept to other courses and shared his findings with fellow faculty at Georgia Tech as well as the larger engineering education community at conferences and published articles in peer-reviewed journals.
“As noteworthy as his teaching innovations is the fact that Dr. Webster assesses his efforts—and then disseminates his findings so that other educators can benefit from what he has learned,” said Rafael L. Bras, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Georgia Tech. “His colleagues have taken notice of his success, and as a result, he is a mentor who has inspired and supported many in their approach to teaching.”
A member of the Georgia Tech faculty since 1997, Webster is recognized as an expert in environmental fluid mechanics. His recent research on sea butterflies has led to a greater understanding of how human activities are changing natural systems.
Webster was named chair of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2018. In his current and previous roles, he has worked with faculty to bring innovative curriculum advances, create undergraduate research opportunities and study abroad experiences, and diversify the student body.
Despite the administrative responsibilities he’s taken on as school chair, Webster continues to teach a large undergraduate engineering mechanics course.
“I believe it is critically important that, while in an administrative role, I stay connected to our current students. It benefits me to know what they are thinking, especially in a technical instructional context, and I think they benefit by having direct access to the school chair.”
Professor Susan Burns was selected as the state’s top engineer for her contributions to teaching, research and the engineering profession
Professor Susan Burns, associate chair of the Engineer of the Year in construction, education, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering government, industry and private practice. at Georgia Tech, has been selected as the 2020 The judging committee also designates an Engineer of the Year by the Georgia Society of overall Engineer of the Year by selecting the Professional Engineers. highest scoring winner from all of the nominated
The society’s annual awards honor licensed categories. Burns was named the 2020 Engineer engineers who have made outstanding of the Year for her tremendous impact on the contributions to the engineering profession, the engineering profession through her research, public welfare and humankind. The awards are teaching and professional service. judged by the Engineering Council of Birmingham, “I am so grateful to have been selected for and winners are selected from five categories: this remarkable honor. I am inspired every day
by the amazing work of my colleagues and students, and I am thankful to work in a profession that is focused on improving the human condition,” Burns said.
A lifelong Yellow Jacket, Burns earned four degrees in civil and environmental engineering at Georgia Tech, culminating with her Ph.D. in 1997.
She served as an assistant professor at the University of Virginia from 1997-2003 before returning to the Institute to join the faculty of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2004.
As a professor, she has been recognized as one of the top teachers at Georgia Tech with many teaching awards over the years and earned the respect of her colleagues for her contributions to the field.
Burns is also dedicated to improving diversity and inclusion within the field of engineering. Roughly half of the masters and Ph.D. students she has advised are from underrepresented groups in engineering. She is also active in outreach at the undergraduate and high school levels.
“Susan is one of those faculty you would like to clone. She does it all, and does it well. She brings talent, creativity, and passion to her teaching, research, and professional service,” said G. Wayne Clough, president emeritus of Georgia Tech.
Burns’ geoenvironmental research focuses on the beneficial use of waste materials including dredged sediments, fly ash and ponded fly ash; interfacial behavior of organic- and inorganic-coated soils; the transport and behavior of microbubbles in saturated porous media; and hydraulic conductivity and consolidation properties of finegrained soils.
Among her many professional recognitions, Burns was elected as a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, served as president of the US Universities Council on Geotechnical Education and Research, and earned a CAREER Development Award from the National Science Foundation.
“Dr. Burns is a highly respected professor of geotechnical engineering, who has distinguished herself in geoenvironmental engineering research and the advancement of the practice. She is an award-winning, gifted teacher and scholar who serves as a positive role model for all young academics and the students she inspires,” said Jean-Louis Briaud, a professor at Texas A&M University and president-elect of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
Adjo Amekudzi-Kennedy named one of the newest members of the National Academy of Construction
Professor Adjo Amekudzi-Kennedy was inducted into the National Academy of Construction, joining the ranks of the nation’s most distinguished engineering and construction professionals.
Election to the academy is reserved for exceptional leaders who represent all sectors of the built environment and whose careers have made a significant impact on the construction industry. The 2019 class includes 39 new members considered from more than 300 industry leaders.
“I am excited and honored to have been elected to the academy,” AmekudziKennedy said. “This is a distinguished group of leaders who have made, and continue to make, extraordinary contributions to the engineering and construction industry. I am especially pleased to join the academy and continue to work with others on infrastructure issues that improve the quality of life of communities, advance the nation’s economy, and protect the natural environment.”
Amekudzi-Kennedy is a professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the School’s associate chair for global engineering leadership and entrepreneurship. She is an internationally recognized authority on infrastructure and sustainable development. The academy recognized her leadership in complex
Adjo Amekudzi-Kennedy (center) with NAC President Tom Sorley (left) and NAC Vice President Maggi Walker (right) at the 2019 National Academy of Construction induction ceremony.
Adjo Amekudzi-Kennedy (top row, sixth from left) with the 2019 class of the National Academy of Construction
infrastructure systems engineering, focused on the integrated built, natural, and social environment, to improve decision making for sustainable development.
Her research has found and continues to find applications in infrastructure planning, evaluation, renewal and reporting, and in undergraduate and graduate education.
Amekudzi-Kennedy also was elected a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2018 and is co-founder of Georgia Tech’s Global Engineering Leadership Minor.
She was officially inducted into the National Academy of Construction during a ceremony on Oct. 24, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. As a member of the academy, Amekudzi-Kennedy joins civil engineering alumni William Calhoun and Leo Vecellio as well as alumnus and Georgia Tech President Emeritus G. Wayne Clough.
“I am grateful for several mentors, colleagues and students over the years who have been invaluable in my development as a scholar, educator and professional,” she said.
CAREER A PROMISING
Sheng Dai won the NSF’s most prestigious award for early career faculty
Assistant Professor Sheng Dai has won a 2020 Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation.
The CAREER Award is the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious award for early-career faculty, recognizing those who have the potential to serve as role models in research and education and to lead advances in their fields.
Dai will receive $540,362 over five years for his proposal, “Transforming Multiphase Flow in Porous Media from Passive Pore Fluids to Active Suspensions of Motile Bacteria.”
“It’s an honor and a recognition of the potential of this idea to transform the way we think about flow in porous materials,” Dai said. “It gives us tremendous flexibility and resources to explore this topic with lots of potential applications relevant to energy and environmental issues.”
To put it simply, Dai’s research will focus on the use of active particles, like motile bacteria, to alter the flow of fluids through porous media, like soils and rocks.
The active particles Dai will be using in the lab are benign strains of E.coli bacteria. Dai says that altering the motility of the bacteria in water has the potential to change its natural flow patterns.
The active particles can also be used to achieve what’s known as stable displacement. Take for example oil that is lodged underground. Because it is heavy and viscous, the oil industry often injects a large amount of water into the ground to force the oil out. However, this process has low efficiency and also creates polluted water.
By using active particles, Dai says a process known as stable displacement could be achieved. This would require less water to force the oil out at an even rate, despite water being much lighter than oil.
While Dai’s research will focus on the fundamental
fluid mechanics of these processes, other potential applications include energy and resource recovery, contaminant treatment and medical science.
As part of the NSF CAREER Award, Dai is also developing an educational component related to his research. He will create teaching materials for high school students and teachers to learn about flow processes, porous media, subsurface energy and minerals. He will also create an app to allow users to visualize and contrast flow of various fluids in different porous materials.
Dai has been an assistant professor in geosystems engineering at Georgia Tech since 2015. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering at Tongji University in China, as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. in civil engineering at Georgia Tech. After graduation, he worked in the Predictive Geosciences Division at the National Energy Technology Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy before returning to Georgia Tech to join the faculty.
A LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT
President Emeritus G. Wayne Clough selected for two lifetime achievement awards
President Emeritus G. Wayne Clough received two prestigious awards in recognition of his lifetime of achievements.
Clough, CE 64, MS CE 65, was honored with the University System of Georgia’s Elridge McMillan Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership and service to public higher education. The Elridge McMillian Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor the USG bestows. The award is given in recognition of extraordinary service to higher education in Georgia.
He was also named the recipient of the 2020 Lifetime Achievement in Engineering Award by the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers. The award recognizes those who have made significant contributions throughout their careers to the engineering profession, the public welfare and humankind.
His myriad achievements in the field of engineering are unique. He has been not only a leading civil engineer, but a visionary educator, institutional leader and author.
Clough served as the 10th president of Georgia Tech and as the 12th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
Clough is regarded as one of the leading geotechnical and earthquake engineering academicians and practitioners in the U.S. He has served as an expert consultant on many high-profile projects, including a seismic retrofit of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system in San Francisco. He has also authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed technical papers related to his areas of expertise.
President Emeritus G. Wayne Clough (center) with members of the USG Board of Regents and Gov. Brian Kemp (right).
He served on the geotechnical engineering faculty at Virginia Tech, Stanford and Duke before returning to Georgia Tech, his alma mater, to serve as president of the Institute from 1994 to 2008.
During his tenure, the Institute’s national rankings rose into the top 10 among public universities. The student population increased by 38 percent, funding for external research more than doubled, and Georgia Tech served as the Olympic Village for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Two successful national fundraising campaigns resulted in increases in endowed faculty positions, support for student leadership programs, and new crossdisciplinary research initiatives.
The G. Wayne Clough Georgia Tech Promise Scholarship was created, allowing financially disadvantaged students to graduate without accruing debt. The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University was created. More than $1 billion was invested in campus improvements, including the Biotechnology Complex, Technology Square, the Marcus Nanotechnology Building, the Campus Recreation Center, and the Undergraduate Learning Commons, which was subsequently named in honor of Clough.
As Secretary of the Smithsonian, Clough brought focus to the diverse activities of the world’s largest research and museum complex. His tenure brought an institution-wide commitment to sustainability, formation of an Office of Smithsonian Education, creation of an office for crossdisciplinary research, and more.
