CCEE - Key Persons

Ahmad Abu-Hawash graduated in 1993 with a master's degree in civil engineering with a structural focus at Iowa State University (ISU). Since graduation, he has been breaking new ground as a structural engineer and built a 37-year career at the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). After holding several positions in construction and design, he became the Chief Structural Engineer for Iowa and remained in that position until 2021. In 2021, Abu-Hawash started a position at the National Corporative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), where he currently serves as a Senior Program Officer.

Anson Marston played a crucial part in making Iowa State what it is today. Marston graduated from Cornell University with a degree in civil engineering and has honorary degrees from the University of Nebraska, Michigan State College and Iowa State University (1948). He grew up on a midwestern farm and worked for other farmers in his neighborhood. He worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad that enhanced his engineering solving abilities. In 1892, he joined the Iowa State faculty in the Iowa Agricultural College. Marston took on many projects when he started, beginning with the college's water and sewage issues. He designed the Iowa State sewage system and water tower. The water tower was the first elevated steel water tank west of the Mississippi River when it was erected in 1897. Marston also helped launch the building of Engineering Hall, Curtiss Hall and the Campanile. Marston was named the first dean of engineering at Iowa State in 1904. During his tenure, he wrote over 200 technical publications, books and manuals. He designated Iowa State to head the Iowa State Highway Commission, which established a standard set of road plans and systems for road drainage, culverts, bridges; advice was made available for road contractors. The commission separated from Iowa State in 1913 and became a state-administered organization. Marston chaired the commission from 1913 to 1915 and worked on the commission until 1927. The Engineering Experiment Station was also established under Marston. He developed the engineering program into the excellent one it is today. The Anson Marston Medal was established in 1938 to honor Marston and award outstanding alumni with significant contributions and dedication to Iowa State and engineering. It is known as the most prestigious award one can receive in engineering from Iowa State.

Ben Biller received his BS'81 degree in civil engineering and MS'82 degree in structural engineering at Iowa State University, as well as an MS degree in Engineering Management at University of Kansas. He worked in the transportation industry with a strong focus on leadership and bridges in a variety of roles for 37 years. Biller worked on many bridges across the country and was most proud of this work on the Hennepin Avenue Suspension Bridge in Minneapolis, the Roosevelt Lake Bridge in Arizona, the Alsea Bay Bridge in Oregon, and the Bartle Hall Convention Center Expansion in Kansas City, complete with its unique cable stayed roof. He retired in 2019 from Burns & McDonnell in Kansas City, where he served as General Manager of the Transportation Global Practice for the firm. There, he charted the course for the growth of the transportation division for the company. He was responsible for the acquisition of Harrington & Courtelou, a well-known bridge design firm, to become an integral component to Burns & McDonnell now being regarded as a leading long span bridge design firm in the central United States. In 1992, the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers recognized him as the Young Engineer of the Year for his efforts in bridge engineering. In 1995, Biller received recognition as an Outstanding Young Alumnus from Iowa State. Biller served on the board of directors for the ISU Alumni Association and has served many years on the Civil and Environmental External Advisory Council, including as chair, and has given many generous contributions in addition to his time to Iowa State.

Charles Wilson graduated from Iowa State with a bachelor's in civil engineering in 1941 and had a 60-year career in the field. His career began at his family's small concrete manufacturing company in Red Oak, Iowa. At the time, there were only about six employees. He enlisted in World War II and trained as an engineer on B-29 Bomber gun-sight control systems; he served as a staff sergeant in the South Pacific and was honorably discharged in 1946. After his time in the military, he went back to his family business as a foreman. Wilson worked up the ranks using his engineering skills and helping produce concrete products in a post-war reconstruction. He eventually became president and CEO of the company in 1950. He was responsible for expanding to the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area, eventually having manufacturing plants in four Midwestern states. He sold the company at age 81 and stayed active in engineering. In retirement, he helped develop the YMCA Montgomery Technology Center and a performing arts center in his hometown of Red Oak. Throughout his career, he was part of the Iowa Manufacturing Association and served as president. He received a medal of honor for extraordinary service to PCI and the precast/prestressed industry in 1994. Wilson was one of only 50 distinguished innovators in 50 years, being named a Titan at the 50th anniversary of the precast/prestressed industry in 2004.

Conde McCullough graduated from Iowa State with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1910. Upon graduation, he was employed by the Marsh Bridge Company in Des Moines, Iowa and he soon realized that designing bridges was his interest. He was the design engineer at the Iowa State Highway Commission from 1911 to 1916. After that, McCullough relocated to Oregon to teach as an assistant professor at Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University) in the civil engineering department. He left the college to be the head of the bridge division of the Oregon Department of Transportation for 15 years. While he was there, he designed and supervised approximately 600 bridges and became considered one of the most important bridge designers in U.S. history. Before his retirement, McCullough was the assistant state engineer for eight years. Oregon State University inducted him into their Engineering Hall of Fame in 1998. In addition, he was honored after his death as a distinguished alumnus from Iowa State, and a bridge in North Bend, Oregon, was renamed the Conde McCullough Memorial Bridge in his honor. McCullough has authored many books and articles on bridge engineering. His bridge designs had a mix of beautiful architecture and strong structure-many of his designs incorporated art deco, gothic spires and Romanesque arches.

Craig Denny received his bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1971 and continued on for his master's at Iowa State, graduating in 1973. Later while working full time, Denny earned his Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Kansas. He began his professional career with Terracon in 1973 and after 48 years in the geotechnical engineering field, he retired from Terracon as a Senior Engineering Consultant. Denny's expertise includes analysis of behavior soils and native bedrock strata subjected to imposed loads; he was often called upon to investigate and solve geotechnical issues for clients nationwide. Denny has been involved in projects spanning all aspects of community and life, including buildings, bridges, wastewater/water/stormwater, transportation, parks and trails, lakes and streams, airports, recreation facilities, healthcare, mines, and residential homes and churches. He is very active in his local community and with Iowa State. Denny has over two decades of service on his local school board and founded the Denny Family Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Fund, providing instructional initiatives and professional development for teachers in STEM. At Iowa State, Denny is a donor to the College of Engineering, the College of Human Sciences and the ISU Alumni Association. He and his late wife, Terry, created spaces and opportunities to help students succeed, including The Terry Peterson Denny Classroom in the School of Education, the Craig K. and Terry M. Denny Conference Room in Marston Hall, and the Craig Keaton Denny Endowed Scholarship to support female engineering students interested in geotechnical engineering. He is a Cyclone Engineering leader with a life-long commitment to service in both his community and Iowa State, as well as his dedication to geotechnical engineering.

Dale Harrington graduated in 1964 with a Construction Technology Certificate and a BS in Civil Engineering in 1972. With over 45 years as a professional engineer, Harrington has led and founded programs and centers providing better access to technology and information. After graduation, Harrington carried out structural research and testing for three years as a Structural Engineering Technician for the U.S. Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory. After serving with the Navy, he returned to Iowa, furthering his expertise at the Iowa State Highway Commission in the road and bridge design department. As Harrington's career accelerated, he became a well-known leader in the civil engineering field working as a principal chief engineer for the Central Iowa Regional Association of Local Governments, the head of the engineering development division for the Polk County Engineering Department, a director for several different companies, a principal senior engineer for Snyder & Associates, and the founder, owner and engineer for HCE Services. Harrington's broad range of experience led him to become a major contributor in concrete research and technology projects. His heavy involvement in many facets of the construction industry has resulted in working with hundreds of engineers, designers, contractors, and publishers to develop numerous design and construction manuals pertaining to pavement applications and projects. Since the early 2000s, Harrington has authored or co-authored guides and manuals for 22 different programs. Harrington was also a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Civil Engineers. In 2022, he was elected as an Honorary Member of the International Society for Concrete Pavements. At Iowa State University, Harrington founded the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center. He was also the founding director of the Statewide Urban Design and Specification Program, the only known statewide standard design and specifications manual in the United States. Harrington successfully worked with flood mitigation and general municipal programs throughout Iowa.

David M. Fox graduated in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, and a master's degree with a focus in sanitary engineering in 1965. Fox has pioneered several innovative wastewater treatment processes across the state of Iowa, and throughout his career, his passion for environmental safety in local communities has remained strong. After graduation, Fox started his career in Indiana as a design engineer for Chas. W. Cole. Fox continued to gain experience as an engineer, accepting a position as a design engineer with Leo A. Daly Associates in 1968 in Nebraska. In 1970, Fox returned to Iowa as the vice president and project manager for Clapsaddle- Garber Associates. After decades of experience, Fox founded an engineering firm, FOX Engineering Associates, based in Ames, Iowa (now FOX/Strand). Fox ran the company as a founder, president, board chair and project manager until 2008 when he retired from active participation in the company. Under his guidance, FOX Engineering mentored numerous ISU Civil Engineering interns. The firm has been known for hiring and supporting the advancement of women engineers and administrators. During his tenure, FOX Engineering had an egalitarian structure that gave engineers professional autonomy profits from buying into ownership. Throughout his time at FOX Engineering, his leadership became known throughout state and national professional organizations in the engineering field. He served as state president of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the Iowa Consulting Engineer's Council and was on the national board of both AWWA and WEF. Though officially retired, his work and dedication in providing clean and sustainable water and sanitation remains prevalent. In addition to his work in Iowa, Fox has been actively serving internationally. He consistently volunteered to serve Water For People, an organization dedicated to providing sustainable clean water and sanitation to countries needing technical assistance. Even today, Fox volunteers and provides expertise for water projects in Tanzania, through Global Grants from The Rotary Foundation. His work includes training the local people to use and maintain the improved works to insure sustainability. While Fox is impacting communities worldwide, he has also continued to support the Iowa State University Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering's mission. Fox has been active in the department through chairing the Civil Engineering External Advisory Council, implementing research results in projects, and participating in search committees for environmental engineering faculty. His impact in the environmental engineering community has remained high for decades, as Fox works to provide safe and sustainable resources for the world.

Schafer served as a board member at the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission, the University of Kansas Hospital, the ISU Construction Engineering Industry Advisory Council, and as a chairman of the Builders' Association. He is known as a hands-off manager that empowers his employees and leads with integrity.

Don Greenwood is a trailblazer. It was his under his steady - and determined - hand that Don led the transformation of a more than 100-year-old engineering firm into one of the nation's leading design-build firms. There are many, many reasons for Don's success but perhaps the key to all he has accomplished is found in his favorite word - accountability. He holds himself accountable for his own actions and preaches it nonstop to those around him. Don began his journey in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1952. His love of math and science helped him discover a major at Iowa State University that put them both into action - engineering. An internship at a construction company sparked Don's passion for building where he learned how it intersects beautifully with engineering. Don graduated in 1976 with a degree in civil engineering and joined a small, local construction company where he spent more than a decade experiencing all critical aspects of managing a successful construction project. Don joined Burns & McDonnell in 1994 as the first construction division employee and vice president of the Construction Group. In 2001, he became president of the group, and was named to the board of directors in 2005. Under Don's leadership, the group has grown to more than 943 employee-owners. Don is an Iowa State University Foundation Governor and in 2003 received the Professional Achievement Citation in Engineering from the College of Engineering. Don and his wife Sharon established the Greenwood Chair in Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering to promote the university's world-class program and ensure the success of future engineers.

Gordon Smith has dedicated over 50 years to the advancement of concrete pavements. Earning his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Iowa State University in 1975, Smith hit the ground running after graduation as an engineer for an Iowa paving contractor. After fourteen years working for one contractor, he accepted an opportunity to work for 30 contractors as construction engineer and executive director of the Iowa Concrete Paving Association and Iowa Ready Mixed Concrete Association. Finally, he served as an Associate Director of the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center at Iowa State, maintaining his involvement in professional organizations, mentoring colleagues and developing new standards in the concrete pavement industry. Smith's passion for advancing the industry was evident throughout his career. He founded two nationally recognized organizations in concrete technology and supported the transfer of his knowledge of concrete through membership and participation in 17 concrete, infrastructure and engineering boards, committees and chapters. In 2012, he was awarded the American Concrete Pavement Association's (ACPA) Hartman-Hirshman-Egan Award for his service to the concrete paving industry, in Iowa and throughout the nation-ACPA's highest recognition for unparalleled, long-term commitment in the concrete pavement community. His leadership has guided both local and national advancements in the areas of concrete overlays, early opening of concrete pavements to traffic, performance-engineered mixtures and concrete pavement preservation. Smith was a founding member of the PCC Center at Iowa State University in 2000 and led the effort to advance its status and outreach as the current National Concrete Paving Technology Center at Iowa State. The national center is the only one of its kind in the United States, and regularly supports many Federal Highway Administration and Federal Aviation Administration research contracts worth millions of dollars, in turn, supporting current Iowa State students as they pursue degrees related to concrete.

Harris F. Seidel graduated from Iowa State in 1944 with a B.S. degree and later earned a Ph.D. at Iowa State in 1959, both in civil engineering. His early experience included work with Pfeifer and Shultz, a Minneapolis consulting engineering firm, and teaching at the University of Minnesota. In 1951, he returned to Ames as Superintendent of the city's new wastewater treatment plant. In 1954, he was appointed Director of the Water and Pollution Control Department, serving in that position until retirement in 1991. During this period, he was granted leaves of absence for many short-term consulting opportunities with the World Bank and other international agencies on water and pollution control project studies and feasibility evaluations in more than 20 countries. Seidel was active in professional organizations, serving as President of Iowa Section-American Society of Civil Engineers, Chair of Iowa Section-American Water Works Association, and national President of the Water Environment Federation. He was a co-founder in 1972 of the national Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) for water and wastewater utility personnel. He was the Association's first President, then served as its executive for eight years. Seidel has authored more than 30 published papers on water rates, water metering, wastewater treatment, and operator training and certification.

Jack F. McGuire graduated with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering in 1963 and joined Boeing that same year. He remained with Boeing for 43 years, beginning as a structural engineer. He performed structural analysis on several Boeing models, including 707, 727, 737 and 757, along with testing and fleet support. He advanced to Director of Structures Engineering in 1990 where he led the development and implementation of aircraft structures engineering design and analysis practices, materials development and the structural testing for all models of commercial aircraft. From 1999-2006, McGuire was the Director of Engineering Technology Development, responsible for new design/manufacturing practices for increased safety and performance and the acquisition of technology from external suppliers, like NASA. He produced and presented over 40 technical papers and influenced aircraft safety for generations to come. Since 2006, McGuire has been a structural aerospace engineering consultant. For decades McGuire has continued his passion for being a Cyclone, serving Iowa State in many roles, including the Boeing/University Coordinating Committee chairman. He has also been involved with many committees, serving the students and university on advisory boards with the College of Engineering, the Institute of Physical Research and Technology, CCEE, and has engaged with ASCE and AIAA students throughout the years. He has earned many honors and awards for his contributions from Iowa State, notably the Professional Achievement Citation in Engineering (PACE) award, an Eminent Engineer Award from Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society and is a Distinguished Alumnus in the Department of Aerospace Engineering.

Jim Nissen was both a football letterman (1976-1980) and construction engineering student in his time at Iowa State. Before he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Construction Engineering in 1981, he worked during his summers as a construction laborer for local Iowa contractors. Nissen joined the Pepper Team as a surveyor and field engineer eventually adding credentials with a Masters degree in Business Administration, LEED professional accreditation, and a Certified Professional Constructor accreditation. After working through all of Pepper's Project Management titles, he became president of Pepper Construction Company and president of Pepper Environmental Technologies in 2013. Nissen has been a critical element to the success of Pepper for 40 years and has successfully led some of its largest and most complex projects. One of his first projects was for Allstate Insurance Company and Pepper has continued to work on their campuses ever since. He established Pepper's self-performed work as a separate business unit in 1993 and it has become a critically important part of Pepper's business. Nissen also led Pepper's team in the historic restoration of Wrigley Field, among many others. Nissen truly started at the bottom and worked to the top. He has served on the Board of the American Institute of Constructors for over 10 years as well as the Construction Engineering Advisory Council and has been influential in hiring and mentoring Iowa State construction engineering graduates. Every year, Iowa State students get the opportunity to visit a site thanks to Pepper Construction and Nissen.

Madan L. Arora has over five decades of experience in wastewater and water treatment. After earning his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Punjab University in India, he began his journey as a Cyclone, earning his Master's in 1968 and PhD in 1970, both in civil (sanitary) engineering. Arora has maintained licensure in six states and held several leadership positions for over two decades at MWH Constructors Inc. and Bechtel Corporation before moving to Parsons Corp in 1998 where he served as a Director/Senior Technical Director until his recent retirement. Throughout his career, Arora played an integral role in many water and wastewater projects, including the successful completion of feasibility studies, master plans, designs of wastewater treatment and reclamation plants, as well as construction management of these facilities. His active engagement in data analysis and pioneering studies leveraged cutting-edge technologies and processes to enhance water quality, water reuse and recycling and optimize facility designs and efficiency. Arora's work has led to the introduction of many innovative and alternative technologies, now commonly used across the nation. In addition to his work in the field, he has authored and/or presented over 90 papers in prestigious journals and at conferences, both national and international. Arora's established expertise was also called upon by the US Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate several technologies like sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), modified SBR and activated biofiltration and he was the prime author of the design manual and/or procedures for many of his evaluated technologies. He has served on the Water Reuse Committee and International Committee of the Water Environmental Federation (WEF) as well as the Examination Subcommittee of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. Arora has a passion for improving society, shown throughout his expansive water and wastewater career and philanthropic contributions. He served on his local school district's bond oversight committee, responsible for upgrading the facilities of nine schools, and he recently completed his term as the Water Commissioner for the City of Glendora, CA. In addition, he was a founding member of two charitable hospitals in India. Arora places great emphasis on education and continually speaks at colleges, professional groups, and community service organizations. His drive to mentor and support the future of the industry is also seen with his connections and contributions to Iowa State. Arora's work spans internationally, and his programs and approaches have become a template for ongoing and future water-use programs in places such as Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose in addition to his contribution to water and wastewater projects in Algeria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Arora recently published "Happiness Comes From Small Things", a book which focuses on enjoying the simple things in life, including dedication to one's life, work and helping others. Arora has applied this philosophy to his practice of environmental engineering and his contribution to society.

Mary Hurd was the only woman to graduate in her class at Iowa State College with a degree in civil engineering in 1947. She would have qualified for the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, but at that time, they did not allow women to join. She started her career as a writer and concrete engineer at the American Concrete Institute. Hurd wrote and edited several industry magazines and is best known as the author of ACI's publication, Formwork for Concrete. Her publication is in its eighth edition and has sold over 125,000 copies. Practitioners and students in construction use the Formwork for Concrete to this day. Hurd is known as an expert engineer, writer and consultant, and her engineering interests were particularly strong in the area of concrete. She was the first woman to receive the Anson Marston Medal, the highest award by the Iowa State College of Engineering. Many awards have been given to Hurd for her work in publications and dedication to civil engineering. She was both the Concrete Improvement Board of Detroit president and the president of the Michigan Chapter of the American Concrete Institute. She was scheduled to receive the Iowa State Alumni Merit Award, but she passed away before she could accept it-the award is to honor an alumnus who demonstrates outstanding contributions to human welfare that transcend professional accomplishments. She was a female engineering pioneer.

Job Titles:

• Cyclone Engineer
• Structural Engineering Consultant

Max Porter has been a Cyclone Engineer since receiving his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering in 1965; he went on to get both his master's and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at Iowa State. Porter, now retired, was a professor at Iowa State for 51 years building from Teaching Assistant to University Professor Emeritus. He has taught 36 courses on campus and many off campus in his career, giving students real-world research experience by employing nearly 500 students in over 100 research projects. Porter has earned over 67 career awards and honors during his successful career. Outside of Iowa State, Porter is an accomplished Structural Engineering Consultant, working with over 30 firms. He has worked internationally with the Structural Engineering Institute in a US-Japan research program funded by the National Science Foundation. Porter has a total of 1612 publications, reports, reviews and presentations. He has also given his time to several organizations with 128 officer and committee positions in his career. In his words, he has been busy flunking retirement. The past ten years (since retirement from ISU), he has been performing structural engineering accreditation assessments for the International Accreditation Services (IAS) - affiliated with the International Code Council (ICC). He is currently the Chair aka President of the ISU Retirees Association. He has been active in the ASCE Codes and Standards Committees and has chaired seven of those major ones. Currently, he is chairing the Fiber Composites and Polymer Standard (FCAPS) ASCE 74 which is in its public ballot phases after 10 years.

Merlin Spangler graduated from Iowa State College in 1919 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and came back to get his master's in civil engineering in 1928. During World War I, Spangler was the first lieutenant the first artillery and became a captain in the field artillery for the reserves from 1925 to 1935. In World War II, he served in the Civil Engineering Corpsr the U.S. Naval Reserve. While in the Corps, he developed a buried flexible pipe design to fix issues between pipe and soil interaction. Spangler served two years in active duty as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Baron of Yards and Docks. Spangler was a professor at Iowa State from 1945 to 1985. The Marston-Spangler theory became the basis of culvert design worldwide, and he and wrote textbooks on soil engineering that are still sold today. Spangler's work in materials and soils served as a key to expansion of the highway system which is now the interstate highway system. He was known as prolific writer and a great engineer.

Michael Goodkind started his Iowa State journey seeking his master's degree in civil engineering in 1965 after graduating from Rutgers with his bachelor's degree in civil engineering. After Iowa State, Goodkind received his Ph.D. in structural engineering from Northwestern University and M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. He began his engineering career in 1971 at Goodkind and O'Dea, De Leuw Cather & Co. and Barton Aschman Associates. He started at the Alfred Benesch & Company (Benesch) in 1976 and worked there until his retirement in 2013. He served as the president of Benesch 1989-2008. In his career, he worked on a variety of civil engineering and railroad projects and had over 50 value engineering and planning studies to his credit. As a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, he was president of the Illinois Section and then served on the ASCE Board of Direction as a National Director and Treasurer. His also served a President of the ASCE Foundation for 6 years. He was also a director of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. Goodkind was also a member of SAVE International and served as president of the Chicago Metropolitan Chapter. Goodkind received many awards and recognitions for his work in civil engineering, including Civil Engineer of the Year by the ASCE Illinois chapter, Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Wisconsin's Construction Club, and many more. He also served on the Rutgers University Foundation Board for 15 years, the Rutgers School of Engineering Advisory Committee for 12 years and Northwestern University's External Advisory Board for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In addition, Goodkind is a generous donor for the Iowa State Steel Bridge Club.

Pamela K. Harman graduated with her bachelor's degree in Construction Engineering in 1979. She has been at the SETI Institute for 22 years and is the current Director of Education. As Director of Education, Harman has spearheaded efforts to include young girls and women in STEM. Harman has created opportunities with the Girl Scouts of the USA for patches and educational activities like Girls Go To Mars and Reaching For The Stars: NASA Science for Girl Scouts. Regarding NASA, Harman has been involved in many NASA projects, including education and outreach leadership for the NASA Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. She had a hand in the design, development and implementation of curriculum aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and was on the NASA Kepler Mission Education and Public Outreach Staff. She has received ten prestigious NASA Group awards for her contributions to team successes. Her personal professional development training included gender equity in classrooms, growth mindset, NGSS-aligned curriculum design, constructivist learning practices, and learning modalities. Harman has shared her knowledge by teaching others at a variety of levels, conducted a multitude of short courses and workshops, authored or co-authored 53 conference abstracts, co-authored two science curricula, written several web feature stories; and led the development and delivery of a graduate level professional development course for science teachers. Harman was an invited Young Women In Space Science panelist, speaking to the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology Leadership, and was an workshop presenter at special events for students in Australia, Iceland, and Columbia.

Paul Giroux started his construction engineering career before he graduated high school. He worked summers as a laborer at Kiewit Corporation. After high school, he started his construction engineering degree at Iowa State and continued to work at Kiewit as an engineering intern. After graduating in 1979, he started full time employment there. Giroux worked for Kiewit for four decades, and in his time there, he played a key role in construction of many famous projects, including the McHenry Tunnel in Baltimore, the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and many hydroelectric powerhouses. He is credited with 11 major projects among seven different states. He is a student advocate; he presented more than 200 lectures and seminars at more than 60 engineering schools. Giroux also served on the Iowa State Civil Engineering External Advisory Council for many years. In his career, Giroux served on many professional boards in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and was elected as a distinguished member in 2016. As well as being a bright engineer, he is a passionate historian. He has seven works ranging from engineering research to historical research of the most iconic constructions like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Rudy J. Tekippe earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Iowa State in 1965 and1966, respectively. He continued his studies and received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin and an AMP degree from Harvard University. He was a diplomat for the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and a registered professional engineer in five states. Dr.Tekippe has been active in the Environmental Engineering field for over 50 years. In one of his most notable projects, he worked as a program manager for JMM who co-located with the Water Boar in Sydney, Australia. There he led a team of over 100 professionals dedicated to planning and engineering water reclamation projects to clean up regional waterways enjoyed by 3.7 million people. He was also the founding president of a subsidiary firm, Innovyze, which has grown to be a dominant software engineering firm in the field of water distribution and storage systems and other hydraulic facilities. He has written over 30 papers, chapters in several books, and many reports in the environmental engineering field. In water reclamation process design, his specialty has been suspended-growth biological treatment and clarifier design. Building upon his Iowa State masters' thesis focused on circular clarifier design, he developed innovative design modifications that greatly increase the compacity of clients' secondary clarifiers, thereby saving them millions of dollars.

Job Titles:

• Board Member for the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions

Ryan Callaghan graduated from Iowa State with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1995 and a master's in 1996. He has over 30 years of experience in engineering and construction, achieving professional engineering licenses in 11 states. Callaghan established Civil Engineers & Constructors, LLC (CEC), an engineering and surveying design firm in 2007. Seven years later, he founded RP Constructors, LLC (RP), a full-service surveying, engineering and construction company emphasizing heavy civil and industrial construction for government and private entities. The firm and construction company work in tandem, completing projects throughout the Midwest. In recent years, RP/CEC has completed significant design/construction work in the Southeast and South US as well after being asked by existing clients to travel. Growing his companies from a team of two to nearly 100, Callaghan leads multiple licensed engineers, surveyors, CADD technicians and other teammates, many of whom are Cyclones. In 2020 Callaghan was appointed as a Board Member for the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions by South Dakota Governor Noem. He helps write and set exam specifications for the Principles and Practice of Engineering licensure exam(s) (PE Exams) for the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, where he serves as the Central Zone Assistant Vice President. Callaghan is one of few civil engineers in the country obtaining the distinguished honor of board member for NCEES and the State of South Dakota, demonstrating his emphasis on higher education and licensure. Callaghan took another step in expanding his business capabilities by starting another sister company with a fellow ISU Alum Major General (Ret.) Allen Batschelet, BACARA, LLC, specializing in drone lidar and photogrammetric surveys. His trifecta of design, build and aerial imaging supplies a comprehensive approach to major projects, saving clients millions. Since beginning as a Cyclone, Callaghan has supported CCEE alumni and students. His support is seen through advancing the industry through the assessment and definition of licensure standards, his companies hiring interns and alumni, sponsorships for student organizations and joining the Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering External Advisory Council in 2024. Two of his children are also Cyclone grads, Natalie Callaghan (accounting BS 2022, MAA 2023) and Sean Callaghan (civil engineering BS 2023), continuing the Iowa State tradition in their family.

Scott Higgins graduated from Iowa State in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in Construction Engineering. In 1985, he graduated with a master's degree in Civil Engineering as the first CCEE master's student with a construction engineering emphasis. He has spent over 35 years gaining valuable career experience in a variety of roles and has shared the passion for his work through teaching courses at multiple universities. Higgins grew up close to the construction industry and worked after school and summer breaks through college for his uncle's firm. He began his professional construction career as a Project Engineer at Pepper Construction Company. After his second project, Higgins' passion for engineering was clear, and he was noticed early on as an outstanding engineer. As his experience and expertise grew, he became a leader at Pepper Construction, guiding many projects and teams to estimate and manage work. In 2004, he was asked to formally organize Pepper's Preconstruction Group. Higgins' leadership was demonstrated by consistent results and data collection through the 2009-2010 financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other unprecedented events. Currently, Higgins is the Senior Vice President of Preconstruction for Pepper Construction, providing valuable strategic insights, accurate estimating services, and a foundation that effectively sets project teams up for success. He is known by his colleagues as one of the foremost experts in preconstruction services today. Higgins has led preconstruction projects across the Midwest including Chicago landmarks Wrigley Field and the Palmer House hotel as well as at numerous universities, health care institutions, and many others. In total, he has led or participated on over $4 billion of completed work. In addition to the preconstruction work at the renovation and historical restoration of Wrigley Field, he was also tasked with being part of the on-site executive management team for nearly six years. Alongside Higgins' high-impact and high-stakes work as a leader for Pepper Construction, his passion for teaching and education remains strong. Higgins worked for 12 years as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University teaching construction estimating in the Master of Project Management program at the Kellogg School and helped develop and teach an on-line course for Purdue University on Preconstruction Project Management in their distance learning program through the Purdue Polytechnic Institute. He has been a guest lecturer at Iowa State numerous times and hopes to continue to do more with Iowa State in the future. Beyond Construction Engineering, Higgins is an avid Iowa State fan and football season ticket holder. He is also involved with the Iowa State Foundation as a member of The Order of the Knoll and Marston Club.

Shelley Wolff completed her bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering at Iowa State in 1980. After graduation, she began her career of over 40 years at HNTB. Currently, she leads project management process development, training and implementation of best management practices. Beyond her work on roadway, federal and civil site projects, she has been a strong advocate for women in engineering. Wolff joined the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) in 1976 while studying at ISU, and has remained active throughout her career, providing guidance and opportunities for young girls and women in STEM. She served as National President for SWE, conducting events and programs, and visiting local schools and universities. Outside of her time as president, she served as Region Director and National Secretary. In 2016, SWE honored Wolff with the Advocating for Women in Engineering Award, given to individuals who have demonstrated professional excellence in their chosen STEM fields and have proven to be an advocate of women in engineering and for SWE's objectives. Wolff is a powerful inspiration for women in the field in addition to her project accomplishments.