Page 2 - CEGE Magazine Spring 2021

CEGE
Spring 2021
News 3
Two New Faculty 7
Faculty Research: Integrating AVs
Alireza Khani 8 Michael Levin 9 Raphael Stern 10
Alumnus Marcus Thomas 11 Capstone Mentors 12 3M/Coleman Family Foundation
Scholarship 14
Warren Lecture Series 15 Student Profile: Renee Sailor 15 100 Years of ASCE UMN 16 Financial Supporters of CEGE 18 Xue Feng, NSF Career Award 20
© Copyright 2021 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. CEGE Magazine is published twice
a year by the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering College of Science and Engineering University of Minnesota
500 Pillsbury Drive SE
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
College of Science and Engineering
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND GEO- ENGINEERING
Message from the Department Head
Hello Alumni and Friends,
Spring seems to be full of extra hope and promise this year. Vaccines are on the way and the prospects look good for a return to in-person classes in fall. Throughout the pandemic our work has continued and students, faculty, and staff have stepped up to do what was necessary. Yet, I think you will agree that it will be nice to see one another in person again.
It is always true that we cannot do the work we do without your support, and that message is borne out by the stories we have for you in this issue. It is especially encouraging that so many of these stories reflect the long-term commitment of our CEGE community.
You will hear from some of our mentors and get a glimpse of recent capstone projects. The engineering community in the Twin Cities area has supported our stu- dents through our capstone course since the late ’90s when then-department head John Gulliver established our novel and participative course format (following a GeoE capstone course designed by Charles Fairhurst and Randal Barnes).
Our faculty research feature on transportation looks to the future of automated and assisted vehicles. Our student profile on Renee Sailor highlights her leadership roles on campus and her plans for a future of service. The UMN Student Chapter of ASCE turns 100 this year! ASCE is one of the many professional societies that support our students as they move into and through their careers. ASCE’s longevity has touched and enhanced the experience of many students on campus and beyond.
We value the financial support from our many donors. For example, we are celebrat- ing the tenth year of the 3M/Coleman Family Foundation Scholarship and its support of more than 100 students. We are pleased to announce the Michael M. and Nancy L. Heuer Soil Mechanics Laboratory Operations Fund, which will provide funding for one of our invaluable teaching laboratories. Alumnus Marcus Thomas worked with our EWB USA student chapter; his commitment in helping students obtain funding through Rotary also supports long-term efforts of our students to deliver clean water to communities in need.
Your gifts of service and funds bring you into a long tradition, shaping the future through the lives of today’s students. Thank you for being part of our CEGE community. Enjoy the stories you have inspired.
Joseph Labuz
Professor and Department Head
Cover art: Optimizing intersection control for connected autonomous vehicles; research of Michael Levin; graphic by Nick Neary.
Merry Rendahl, editor. Layout by Julie Longo.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
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