Message from the Chair

Greetings from the USC Viterbi Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,

I am incredibly grateful to be the new chair for such an exceptional and hardworking department as we return to our normal operations on campus, and we begin another busy academic year together. I would also like to also thank our former department chair, Dr. Lucio Soibelman, for his remarkable service to our department.

I am pleased to report that the Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has thrived despite new challenges brought on by the pandemic. Our academic community has flourished thanks to the dedication and resilience of our remarkable students, staff, and faculty, who have accomplished a variety of achievements. I wish to recognize and thank you all for your dedication and support in making this possible.

It is my pleasure to announce that we have two new faculty members, Dr. Chukwuebuka Nweke and Dr. Audrey Olivier, who began work as Assistant Professors this fall. Our entire faculty and staff have continued to broaden our impact on the world through new and innovative projects and initiatives. This issue of our newsletter highlights our department's cutting-edge research, which continues to push boundaries and revolutionize the way we think. These projects demonstrate the superiority of our excellent faculty, many of whom lead the civil and environmental engineering field nationwide.

Furthermore, I wish to express my support for our remarkable students, who continue to excel in education and research. These students have made a lasting impact on the world through their domestic and international outreach efforts and have truly impressed me with their level of compassion and determination.

I am incredibly proud of this department's inspiring accomplishments so far, and I look to the future with the hope that we will continue to foster change in the world through the dedication of our accomplished faculty and staff.

Dr. Burcin Becerik-Gerber, D.Des.