College of Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering
CONNECTIONS
Bridges Between Past & Future
Civil Engineering
Departmental Newsletter
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(Spring 2006) (#8)
Note from the Department Head
We are about to complete another great year for civil engineering at New Mexico State University. Several items that you will find in this edition include the fine work that our students and faculty continue to contribute to the profession. I am really proud to be a part of this great team and look eagerly toward the future.
We again have the Outstanding Senior for the College of Engineering (Andrea Solis), the Outstanding International Senior (Hyunsik Moon) and the Bromilow Award for Excellence in Teaching (Dr. David Jauregui). Much of the success of our students is the result of a great faculty and especially the advisors of the Student Chapter of ASCE (Dr. Craig Newtson and Kenny Stevens). The demand for civil engineering graduates is the highest I have seen in my 36 years here; perhaps our greatest challenge in the next few years will be to attract more students into our program.
We are working hard to establish stronger ties with industry and employers to develop programs such as pre-engineering in the high schools and middle schools to accomplish our goal.
We are certainly pleased with the great gift provided by the Foreman brothers that will assist us in attracting and retaining a great faculty. I look forward to continuing the work with the students, faculty and alumni of the CE Department.
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Kenneth R. White, Ph.D., PE
Professor and Department Head
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Distinguished Alumni
In this issue of Connections, the careers of Ed and Harold Foreman, two of our distinguished alumni, are highlighted.
The Foremans were born and raised on a peanut and sweet potato farm in Portales, NM. Harold (Chub) Foreman’s career began in heavy construction and led to real estate brokerage and management. He is currently president and co-owner of Valley Leasing & Development, Inc., a property management and asset holding company in Las Cruces. In 1984 he was elected to the New Mexico State Senate, where he served for eight years. In 1988, Harold was selected as one of the top 100 alumni from the NMSU College of Engineering.
While working as an oil field hand, Ed Foreman launched a successful business that made him a millionaire by age 26. He also had a successful political career and is the only person in the past 100 years to be elected to the U.S. Congress from two states: New Mexico and Texas.
Ed has been a leader in executive development programs since 1960. Today, Ed is one of the country’s top motivational speakers and positive thinkers, counting the late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale as a friend, teacher and mentor as well as renowned motivator Zig Ziglar, a former student.
A dynamic business entrepreneur and active civic leader, Ed has developed numerous programs and products and persuasively "sells" the success formula he lives by. His "successful daily living" message teaches business leaders how to reduce stress and anxiety, turn worry into success, and have more fun! Few speakers, if any, are better qualified to motivate, inspire and educate by their own examples than Ed Foreman. Ed Foreman holds the Council of Peers Award for Excellence (CPAE), the highest honor bestowed by the National Speakers Association, held by fewer than 100 people worldwide and is one of only eight people to receive the Distinguished Faculty Award of the Institute for Management Studies.
In support of the NMSU “Doing What Counts” comprehensive campaign, brothers Ed and Harold “Chub” Foreman have made a $1.5 million gift to the NMSU College of Engineering, their alma mater.
“Chub and Ed have been great supporters of the CE Dept. for many years and both are members of the CAGE Academy. We are very pleased and honored that they have chosen to support our department and the college with this generous gift” - Ken White, CE Dept. Head.
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Past ASCE President visits NMSU
Dr. Patricia Galloway was featured as the guest lecturer for the 2006 National Engineers Week, Feb. 19-25. She is chief executive officer and a principal of Nielsen-Wurster. As CEO, Galloway oversees all aspects of the firm's management consulting, risk management and dispute resolution services. She is registered as a professional engineer in ten states, in Australia and in Canada and has traveled to more than 87 countries.
“My travels have taught me that while people may look different and cultures are vastly different, civil engineering is the same around the world," she said.
Dr. Galloway has worked on some of the world's largest civil engineering projects, including the Panama Canal, the Xianghli Dam in China and the City Link Toll Road in Melbourne, Australia. She has been recognized internationally as a leader in civil engineering and construction. In November 2003 she was inducted as the first female president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the oldest national engineering society in the US.
Her lecture, "What It Takes to be a Leader" was held Wednesday, Feb. 22 in CE Room 110. The lecture was sponsored by the CE Dept. and the Society of Women Engineers. It was attended by interested faculty, staff and students.
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Dr. McCarthy gives Keynote Address at NSF
Dr. William McCarthy, former CE faculty and current Interim Associate Provost for Student Success and Academic Programs, was a keynote speaker at the 2006 Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) of the Human Resources Directorate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Washington, D.C. JAM is a gathering of principal investigators and project directors of projects sponsored by the NSF and directed at the under-representation of minorities, women and persons with disabilities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
Dr. McCarthy talked about RASEM2, his NSF-sponsored program that reaches out to students with disabilities to bring them into STEM education. He highlighted two of his outstanding former RASEM2 participants, calling them exceptional but not exceptions, with hundreds of thousands potentially like them across the country.
Citing "Rising Above the Gathering Storm," the 2006 report by the National Academy of Sciences, he noted that China graduated 350,000 engineers and information technologists in 2004 while the United States produced less than half that number at 140,000. This and other compelling statistics show the United States is facing a crisis in science and engineering that can only be solved by inviting those not traditionally included in STEM education to become full participants.
Dr. McCarthy also referred to NMSU's entry into the first-year experience program espoused by Upcraft, Gardner and Barefoot in their book "Challenging and Supporting the First Year Student." He expressed concern about waiting until the freshman year in college to implement a proven methodology so beneficial to students. In his closing remarks, he challenged the audience to take the essence of the first-year experience and expand it to the high schools. Correctly configured, the first-year concept could ease transitional difficulties, create a vertical alignment of curriculum and provide critical peer support to students in an uncertain environment.
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Dr. Hernandez delivers ASCE Luncheon Speech
Dr. John Hernandez, Professor Emeritus CE Dept., gave a speech at the ASCE luncheon on March 24, 2006 before an attendance of approximately 80 people. In his speech entitled “The Role of Engineering Judgment in a Time of Climate Change”, he discussed global warming and rapid climate change exacerbated by the actions of man. He concluded with support for the concept that good engineering judgment in design decision are essential, and will be even more important in a period of climate change.
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CE Faculty wins Bromilow Teaching Award
Dr. David Jáuregui received the 2006 Bromilow Award for Excellence in Teaching in the College of Engineering. He was recently selected as the Outstanding Teacher in the CE Department by senior students in the program. He had also been selected as the Outstanding Young Researcher in 2003 by the University Research Council. Dr. Jáuregui received his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin and MS from NMSU. While at NMSU he has published his research on bridge testing and evaluation.
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RASEM2 Symposium at NMSU
Regional Alliance for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Squared (RASEM2) is a multi-year program funded by NSF and housed in the CE Dept. The goal of this program is to increase participation of persons with disabilities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Recently, RASEM2 hosted a symposium on the NMSU campus.
The purpose of the symposium was to invite experts on STEM education for students with disabilities to discuss where we have come over the past decade and where we need to go in the next five years. One of the challenges was to assure that students with disabilities would be represented in STEM at the same level as those students that do not have disabilities.
The nineteen participants in this symposium included researchers from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including the four RADs (Regional Alliances for Persons with Disabilities). It is expected that the outcome of the symposium will help define research and outreach needs in STEM education for students with disabilities for the next 5 years.
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AMP Bridge to Doctorate Program
The New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation (AMP) is an NSF-funded program under the direction of CE faculty, Dr. Ricardo Jacquez. The Bridge to the Doctorate program is designed for AMP students who have completed a B.S. degree in a science, engineering or mathematics discipline, and have identified the Ph.D. degree as their educational goal. In July, 2005, Dr. Jacquez received funding from NSF for a third Bridge to the Doctorate cohort.
This third cohort supports 12 engineering and science graduate students. These 12 join the 24 students already in the first two cohorts. Cohort 1 is comprised of 11 engineering graduate students; Cohort 2 supports 13 graduate students in engineering, chemistry, mathematics, physics, geology, and computer science. A third of each cohort began their research with the AMP Undergraduate Research Assistantship, and most will credit that experience in developing and encouraging their interest in graduate school.
Bridge fellows have access to a variety of project components including financial support; faculty-mentored research; professional development workshops; and involvement with the New Mexico AGEP Program (a graduate seminar that fosters success in graduate school and directs students to the Ph.D.). In addition, they also receive editorial assistance with thesis preparation, opportunities for networking with participating faculty, and travel assistance to attend professional conferences. The NMSU Bridge to the Doctorate program is one of 16 nationwide programs and recruits students from all the NSF AMP programs.
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CE Students Honored
Judith Gallardo, a senior, has been chosen to be listed in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, 2006 edition. This listing recognizes students for their contributions or service to the university community. Such recognition of their dedication and service can positively support their future career pursuits. Judith Gallardo maintains an excellent academic record and is very involved in diverse university activities, community service and outreach programs. She is the current president of the NMSU Student Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers and has served as E-Council representative for several semesters.
Andrea Chavez Solis, a senior, has been selected an Outstanding Graduating Senior for the College of Engineering in 2005. She has been active in numerous student and professional activities, such as Chi Epsilon. She was also president of the ASCE Chapter. Currently she is finishing her BS degree with an emphasis in structural engineering.
Hyunsik Moon, another senior was selected as the Outstanding International Senior of the year for the College of Engineering. Currently he is working with the Bridge Inspection Program on creating QTVR movies to apply in bridge documentation methods. He is the current president of the ASCE Student Chapter. Among his many activities, he has been involved with the Korean Student Association of NMSU, holding office as president and secretary in the past.
Zachary Trujillo, an undergraduate student was placed 5th in the 2006 National Daniel W. Mead Student Contest with his paper. This award is sponsored by the ASCE Committee on Student Activities. He will receive a certificate and a cash prize.
Keeley E. Brown, an undergraduate student, will go to Washington, D.C. as a fall intern in Senator Domenici’s office. She is active in various organizations including Tau Beta Pi and the ASCE student chapter as well as community service projects. This is a great honor and a great chance to observe the processes governing legislative activities.
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CE Grad Students Present Research
The annual Graduate Research and Arts Symposium (GRAS) was held on April 13, 2006. Several students from CE Dept. presented posters of their research projects to the public in Corbett Center. This symposium provided a showcase for all NMSU graduate students to display and explain their work to interested visitors. From the CE Dept., one popular poster was on qanats (gravity-based irrigation systems) used from historical times to the present; another was on the Elephant Butte Irrigation District’s pipeline project to conserve water. The students were present and answered questions as part of their presentation.
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CE Staff & Faculty Recognized for Service
A Service Award Ceremony for the College of Engineering was held on April 28, 2006 to acknowledge personnel who have been long-term employees. The following staff and faculty of CE Dept. were recognized at this ceremony for 10 or more years of service at NMSU.
10 years of service- Ed Misquez was recognized for 10 years of service. He is the Co-Principal Investigator and Associate Director of the Regional Alliance for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Squared, for Students with Disabilities (RASEM2), a program housed in the CE Dept. RASEM2 was established to promote careers in science, engineering, and mathematics for persons with disabilities. He has an associate degree in engineering technology and an MS degree in technical and professional communication.
Over the past 22 years, Ed has been an advocate for and involved in programs for persons with disabilities and helped establish the first independent living center in southern New Mexico. Ed has been appointed by Governor Richardson to serve on the State Rehabilitation Council. He is also the recipient of the NMSU President’s Star Performance Award and is currently pursuing ordination as a deacon, a four year program though the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces. The program is equivalent to a masters degree in theology.
15 years of service- Dr. Nirmala Khandan and Dr. James King were recognized for 15 years of service.
Dr. Khandan joined the CE Dept. in 1990, and has continued to be active in both teaching-related research and discipline-related research. His research has been funded by NSF, US Air Force, USDA, and EPA. Recently, he was selected as the first recipient of the John W. Clark Professorship.
Dr. James King is a dedicated teacher that has many compliments from students. He works on water resources problems around the state, region, and internationally. His projects have been funded by several New Mexico entities to ensure and protect the state’s water and natural resources.
20 years of service- Ms. Lydia Madrid was recognized for 20 years of service. Lydia came to Las Cruces in 1982 from a small town called Cañones. She is currently a part-time employee in the CE Dept. In addition to departmental duties, she also provides support services to the Academy of CAGE. She is married to Clifford, employed by NASA and a part-time college professor in the CE Dept. Her son, Brandon, currently a senior in the CE Dept., will be graduating in May 2006 with a BS degree in civil engineering. Her daughter, Breena, is a high school junior.
25 years of service- Dr. Fernando Cadena was recognized for 25 years of service. Dr. Cadena’s teaching career started at Monterrey Tech in Mexico in 1977 where he taught for 3 years. He moved to California and became a staff engineer for Engineering Science, Inc. in Pasadena. He was hired as an assistant professor in the CE Dept. in the fall of 1980. He has conducted research for several federal and state agencies and private consulting firms. He has also performed services for international agencies that have led him to Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America as a consultant in environmental engineering services.
35 years of service- Dr. Kenneth White, Regents Professor and Head of the CE Dept., was recognized for 35 years of service. He was the technical lead for a multi-disciplinary, multi-institution research team in ‘Testing the I-40 Bridges Across the Rio Grande’ and ‘Testing the Dang San Bridge’ in Seoul, Korea.
Dr. White served 9 years on the NM State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors. He served as member of the Board of Directors, past chair of the Examinations for Professional Engineers Committee and past chair of the Civil Engineering Examination Committee for the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES). He is also past President of the NM Section of ASCE.
Dr. White has received several awards including the Leadership in Transportation and Development Award from the NM DOT Research Bureau in November 2000; the Distinguished Service Award from the NCEES in 1999 and 2005; the Ingeniero Veterano de Nuevo Mejico Award ,from the NM Society of Professional Engineers in 1998; the Transportation Award for Excellence in Research, from Alliance for Transportation Research in 1994. He is widely published in the field of bridge inspection and evaluation.
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Julie Moore, Editor
Civil Engineering Department
New Mexico State University
P.O. Box 30001, MSC 3CE
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8801
