A message from the chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Dear colleagues,
It is my great pleasure to extend my holiday greetings as we bring 2025 to a close. Over the past year, uncertainty—and its impact on the academic landscape—has been a defining theme, affecting many aspects of academic operations, including our department. Despite these challenges, I am pleased to share that through the collective efforts of our departmental community, our faculty and students continue to thrive. Read more about what we’ve accomplished this year.
Our faculty members have maintained a strong record of publishing high-impact scholarly work. In spite of a challenging funding landscape, they have successfully secured new research grants from a wide range of sources, including the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Interior, the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, the Water Research Foundation, and the Ohio Department of Transportation. These accomplishments reflect the cutting-edge research led by our faculty and their continued commitment to advancing our research mission during a demanding period.
Our students remain deeply engaged with the department as their academic home. With departmental support, our American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter organized another successful Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Career Fair during the fall semester, with approximately 30 companies participating to recruit our students. Another career fair is planned for the spring semester. In addition, our department hosted a talented cohort of students from across the country through the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Site on the Great Lakes Wind Energy Challenge. Beyond participating in exciting research, these students also experienced the dynamic campus community at ÃÛÌÒAPP and the rich cultural heritage of Cleveland.
With the support of our alumni and friends, our department dedicated a new Civil Engineering Materials Laboratory and is in the process of expanding our facilities to provide students with exposure to modern technologies supporting 3D digital construction and data-driven infrastructure management. Together, we continue our journey toward building a strong and prosperous future for Civil and Environmental Engineering, and we look ahead with optimism.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
May you and your family enjoy a happy holiday season and a prosperous year in 2026.
Sincerely,
Xiong (Bill) Yu, Ph.D., P.E., Fellow ASCE, Senior Member, IEEE
Chair and Opal J. and Richard A. Vanderhoof Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, ÃÛÌÒAPP