People

Faculty Who Invest in Your Success

At the UWM College of Engineering & Applied Science, civil & environmental engineering faculty are more than instructors—they are mentors, researchers and industry collaborators dedicated to helping you succeed.

Learn from experts shaping the field
Our faculty conduct impactful research in areas such as structural engineering, transportation, geotechnical engineering, water resources and sustainable materials. They bring real-world insight and cutting-edge knowledge into the classroom, ensuring you learn the skills and technologies employers value most.

Get personalized mentorship and support
With accessible faculty and a collaborative environment, you’ll receive individual guidance on coursework, research and career planning. Whether you’re pursuing internships, graduate school or your first engineering role, faculty are invested in helping you reach your goals.

Gain hands-on research experience
Students have opportunities to work alongside faculty on meaningful research projects—often as early as their undergraduate years. These experiences build technical expertise, strengthen your resume and prepare you for advanced study or specialized careers.

Build connections that open doors
Faculty maintain strong partnerships with industry, government and research organizations. They help connect you with internships, research opportunities and professional networks that support your career growth.

Be part of a supportive, innovative community
UWM faculty are passionate educators who challenge and encourage you to think critically, solve real problems and grow into a confident engineer.

At UWM, your professors are your partners in success—committed to helping you learn, discover and achieve your full potential.

a man with a microphone wearing headphones in front of a computer screen looks at the camera
Professor Rani El Hajjar, civil & environmental engineering, is experimenting with turning textbook reading into podcasts.
Key College Contacts
Civil & Environmental Engineering Industry Advisory Committee

Civil Engineering Industry Advisory Board

Clayton Cloutier, IAC Chair Associate, CSD Structural EngineersClayton Cloutier
Tim AnheuserVice President, Kapur & Associates
John CorbinTransportation Automation Program Manager, US Federal government
Terry GilesOwner, Giles Engineering Associates, Inc.
Roberto GutierriezSouth East Region Director, Wisconsin Department of TransportationBob Guttierez
Richard KleinPrincipal, Stantec
Kyle LoestDirector of Project Management, Findorff
Kevin MuhsCity Engineer, City of Milwaukee
Nick PassintPresident - Mixer Systems, Inc.Nicholas Passint
Laura PowersSenior Materials Scientist, Petrographer, YALaura Powers
Steve RechSteve Rech, PE, SE, GRAEFSteve Resch
Mathew TharaniyilPresident, Bloom Companies, LLCMathew P. Tharaniyil
Steven WursterChief Operating Officer, Ruekert & Mielke, Inc.Steven Wurster
Julie ZimdarsSenior Managing Engineer, RambollJulie Zimdars
Civil & Environmental Engineering Research Areas

Faculty in UWM’s Civil & Environmental Engineering program conduct research across the full spectrum of infrastructure, materials and environmental systems, with a focus on developing safer, smarter and more sustainable communities. Key research areas include:

Infrastructure, structures and materials

  • Structural analysis, design and mechanics, including advanced structural systems and earthquake engineering
  • Innovative construction materials, such as nanomaterials, polymer composites and sustainable building materials
  • Mechanics of materials, fatigue, fracture and structural performance
  • Pavement engineering and foundation design

Environmental and water systems

  • Water resources engineering, including hydrology, hydraulics and fluid mechanics
  • Water quality monitoring, sensing and contamination detection
  • Environmental engineering and sustainability, including protection of water and natural resources
  • Environmental fluid mechanics and hydrodynamic modeling

Transportation and smart infrastructure

  • Transportation and traffic engineering, including planning, operations and system optimization
  • Smart mobility technologies, intelligent transportation systems and smart traffic signals
  • Data-driven infrastructure management using big data, urban computing and cloud technologies

Geotechnical and infrastructure systems

Engineering systems that improve infrastructure performance and resilience

Soil mechanics, geotechnical engineering and foundation systems

Pavement design and infrastructure durability

Blackowski, Sarah
  • Assistant Professor of Engineering Education, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Dressel, Andrew
  • Scientist II, Civil & Environmental Engineering
  • Lab Manager, Bicycle and Motorcycle Engineering Research Laboratory, EMS W301
  • Advisor, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Elhajjar, Rani
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Department Chair, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Graettinger, Andrew
  • Associate Dean for Research, Engineering & Applied Science Office of the Dean
Helwany, Sam
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Li, Jin
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Liao, Qian
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Ma, Xiaoli
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Fellowship
  • Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Qin, Xiao
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Professorship
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Director, Institute for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation (IPIT)
  • Founder and Director, Safe and Smart Traffic Lab
Rahman, Adeeb
  • Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Shi, Xiaowei (Tom)
  • Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
  • Affiliate Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering
  • Founder and Director, Automated, Connected & Electric Mobility Systems Lab
Sobolev, Konstantin
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Professorship
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Tabatabai, Habib
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Director, Structural Engineering Lab
Titi, Hani
  • Lawrence E. Sivak Faculty Fellowship
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Wang, Yin
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Fellowship
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Zhao, Jian
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Contact
Contact Info: ceas-cem@uwm.edu

Street Address
College of Engineering & Applied Science
3200 North Cramer Street
Milwaukee, WI 53211

Mailing Address
College of Engineering & Applied Science
P.O. Box 784
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0784