2026 Southeast Wisconsin Transportation Symposium

Dr. Ali Abedi joined UWM in 2025 after 20 years on the faculty at the University of Maine, where he directed research on wireless communications and sensor networks with applications in environmental and structural monitoring, space explorations and biomedical devices. He also served as Associate Vice President for Research, Director of Experiential Programs Innovation Central (EPIC), the Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR), and Innovative Media Research and Commercialization Center (IMRC) at the University of Maine. He was visiting Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park and Guest Researcher at NIST in 2012 and Faculty Fellow at NASA MSFC in 2016.

He is a senior member of IEEE and has served on several IEEE Boards and Committees at local, regional, national, and international levels. Dr. Abedi is Co-founder of IEEE International Conference on Wireless for Space and Extreme Environments (WiSEE), served as IEEE Region-1 Northeastern Area chair, Associate Editor for IEEE Journal of RFID, IEEE/KICS Journal of Communications and Networks (JCN), Vice President of Conferences and later as President-Elect for IEEE Council on Radio Frequency Identification (CRFID).

Andrew is an Urban and Regional Planning Supervisor at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation System Development in the Southeast Region.  He oversees the region’s efforts to include bicyclist and pedestrian needs, freight needs, and data analysis throughout the project development process.  Prior to working at WisDOT, he received his Master of Urban Planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.  Prior to WisDOT, Andrew worked for 7 years as a Regional Planner and Sustainability Coordinator for the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission in East Central Illinois.  In his free time, Andrew enjoys outdoor adventures, traveling, cooking, and live music. 

Brad Basten is the strategic initiatives officer for CAV in WisDOT’s Division of Budget and Strategic Initiatives. He led the 2018 Governor’s Steering Committee on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and has managed the Wisconsin Automated Vehicle External Advisory Committee since its inception in 2020. His background is in electrical and mechanical engineering, having 25 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, process improvement and business consulting in various industries.

Carolyn Seboe, AICP, is the Wisconsin planning group director for HNTB. Over her 24-year career, she has advanced many of Wisconsin’s critical transportation improvements, working with public sector clients and communities across the state. Her multimodal experience includes roadway, transit, and rail projects, such as the I-794 Lake Interchange Study, CONNECT Bus Rapid Transit and Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago passenger rail. Carolyn brings a thoughtful and collaborative approach to each effort and is passionate about advancing multimodal transportation options for Milwaukee, the region and the state.

DBM manages WisDOT’s information technology, facilities, fleet, purchasing, fiscal services, and risk and safety programs. Casey Newman was appointed DBM Administrator in March of 2019. He has spent the majority of his 31-year career with WisDOT, serving in several senior management roles, including the Director of the Bureau of Business Services in DBM and the Director of the Office of Policy, Finance and Improvement (now called the Bureau of Budget). In 2022, Casey added to his duties oversight of the department’s implementation of the federal infrastructure bill passed in November of 2021. He has also held senior positions at the Department of Corrections and UW-Madison.

Graduating from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Civil Engineering Jackie has over 14 years of transportation data analytics experience.  Starting in the private sector out of collage Jackie worked with pavement condition data, mobile lidar, and GPS to solve engineering issues for over 8 state DOTs. In the fall of 2023, they accepted a job at WisDOT as the Statewide Asset Integration Engineer. Since starting at, Jackie has been responsible for maintaining asset performance systems such as the bicycle and pedestrian analysis support system (BiPASS) used by WisDOT to prioritize funding for bike and pedestrian facilities.

Jay Otto, a former researcher and Co-Director at a research center, brings a unique blend of engineering expertise and a keen interest in human behavior to his work. With degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Jay has spent years exploring how mindsets and systems shape our actions, and how we can foster healthier, safer communities.

From roadways to substance misuse and violence prevention, Jay’s research has delved into a wide range of societal challenges. His passion for understanding the intricacies of human behavior has led him to develop innovative strategies for improving safety culture within organizations and communities.

When he’s not immersed in his research, you can find Jay in the rural countryside of Vermont, slowly honing his woodworking skills. This hands-on approach to creativity reflects his dedication to crafting solutions that are both practical and effective.

Johanna Schmidt is a Policy Advisor with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, where she has researched and made recommendations around pedestrian safety, micromobility pilots, and nondriver needs.  She earned her Master of Public Affairs from UW-Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs in 2024, where she worked on projects related to license suspension for failure to pay forfeitures and shared-ride taxi regionalization.  She holds a B.A. in Spanish Studies and a B.S. in sociology from the University of Minnesota, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Public Management from the University of Connecticut.  Prior to her work at WisDOT, she served as a Govern for America fellow working for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, a Project Assistant for the Center for Financial Security at UW-Madison, and as a Foreign Language and Area Studies fellow at UW-Madison studying Polish language and culture.

Dr. Kate Hyun is an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington. Her research focuses on transportation safety, emerging mobility technologies, community health, and data-driven transportation systems, with particular expertise in behavioral modeling and community-engaged research. She has led and collaborated on more than 30 multidisciplinary projects involving older adults, neurodivergent drivers, and low-income communities.

Kevin Muhs serves as the City Engineer for the City of Milwaukee. As City Engineer, Kevin leads the Infrastructure Services Division of the Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) and is responsible for the design, operation, and maintenance of City-owned streets, lighting and underground conduit, sewers, green infrastructure, bridges, and buildings. At the direction of Mayor Cavalier Johnson and the Milwaukee Common Council, Kevin and his colleagues at Milwaukee DPW are working aggressively to transform City streets to eliminate traffic fatalities and life-changing injuries by 2037, and redesign public right of way to provide high-quality public space for residents and serve all users. Kevin is both a planner and engineer, and strongly believes that a robust multimodal transportation system is needed for the Milwaukee area to be economically competitive, resilient, and equitable.

In September 2024, Governor Tony Evers appointed Kristina Boardman to serve as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). WisDOT is one of the largest state agencies, with more than 3,200 employees and a biennial budget of more than $8 billion.

The department supports all modes of transportation, including state highways, local roads, railroads, public transit systems, airports, and harbors. In addition, the department includes the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which serves about 50,000 customers each week, and the Division of State Patrol that enforces laws and assists motorists throughout the state.

Kristina’s public service career began with the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1995. She transitioned to WisDOT in 2005 and held previous positions including Deputy Secretary, DMV Administrator, DMV Deputy Administrator, and the Director of DMV Field Services.

Kristina enjoys both policy and operations work, and especially appreciates the rewarding work of serving the public through the implementation of new programs.

Kristina plays an active role at the regional and national levels and served as Chair of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) International Board of Directors for the 2022-23 federal fiscal year.

Kristina has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. 

Kris Sommers has been the WisDOT Supervisor of Railroad Engineering and Safety since December 2018. In this position, he works with highway and safety projects to help implement safety improvements at grade crossings. He earned a B.S. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1996 and became a Wisconsin-registered Professional Engineer in 2001. Kris has been a member of the National Committee for the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Design (MUTCD) since 2022.

Lea Collins-Worachek was appointed DBSI Administrator in January of 2023. Prior to becoming administrator, Lea served as the Director of DTSD’s Office of Business Opportunity and Equity Compliance Director since September of 2020. Prior to coming to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Lea worked since 2000 in various leadership positions at the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD). Lea has a Bachelor of Arts degree from UW-Madison and a Master of Science degree from UW-Stout.

Maryne Taute is a Strategic Initiatives Policy Advisor at WisDOT. Maryne currently leads the WisDOT Safety First Initiative and Safety First Workgroup. Her professional experience includes working within Higher Education and Student Affairs and she earned a master’s degree in Post-Secondary Education from University Northern Iowa.

Melissa has been with East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission since 2003. In 2009, Melissa worked in partnership with Wisconsin Department of Transportation to pilot the first Regional Safe Routes to School Program in Wisconsin. She coordinates all aspects and activities of the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.

Michael Hoelker is the Wisconsin DOT, DTSD Deputy Administrator overseeing the Statewide Bureaus.  He has been with the Department for over 30 years serving in various positions in both Central Office and the Southwest Region.  Most recently he served as the Director of the Bureau of Project Development.  He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Madison.

Mike is the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works’ Transportation Planning Manager, where he oversees transportation planning, policy, and street design initiatives that help achieve the City’s goals around eliminating reckless driving and creating safe and enjoyable places for people to walk, bike, take transit, and drive. Mike previously worked as the Assistant Director of Transportation Planning for the City of Chicago Department of Transportation. He earned a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

As DTSD administrator, Rebecca Burkel leads a division of more than 1,300 employees who work throughout Wisconsin overseeing the development, maintenance and operation of the state highway system. Rebecca earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. Her WisDOT career began as an environmental coordinator in 1993. She was promoted several times to managerial positions, most recently serving as deputy administrator before her 2019 appointment to administrator. Throughout her time at WisDOT, Rebecca has focused on process improvement, innovation, efficiency and consistency of policy application among DTSD’s functional, technical and regional areas.

Scott Lawry was appointed Deputy Secretary at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in October 2024. In this role, Scott oversees the department’s operations, which includes 3,200 employees, dozens of field offices and a biennial budget of more than $8 billion. Scott has spent his entire professional career with WisDOT, beginning as an intern at the Division of Transportation System Development (DTSD) Southwest Region La Crosse office in 1987. Upon graduating from UW-Madison in Civil Engineering, Scott joined WisDOT full time in May 1991 in the La Crosse office where he worked as a staff engineer, project manager and supervisor in the technical services and project development sections. He then served as the Proposal Management Section Chief for five years, the Director of the Bureau of Technical Services for four years and Deputy Administrator of DTSD for about three years.

Dr. Shiran Zadka-Peer is a researcher specializing in road safety, driver behavior, behavioral decision-making, and smart transportation. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Haifa and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, working under the supervision of Professor Gil Luria and Professor Bryan Porter.

Her current research examines how real-time behavioral interventions can reduce distracted driving and support safer decision-making in naturalistic driving environments. This work is supported by an Excellence Scholarship from Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.

Dr. Zadka-Peer earned her Ph.D. in Management from Bar-Ilan University under the supervision of Professor Tova Rosenbloom. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including Accident Analysis & Prevention. She also teaches statistics, research methods, and behavioral decision-making at the university level.

Dr. Xiao Qin is the Richard and Joanne Grigg Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) and the Director of UWM Institute for Physical Infrastructure & Transportation (IPIT). Dr. Qin has over 25 years of research and teaching experience in the transportation field. He is the author/co-author of over 150 articles and technical reports, and a recipient of several best paper awards. Qin’s research improves the safety and efficiency of the transportation system across all modes through data analytics and technologies. He is a committee member of the Transportation Research Board, an editor of several transportation journals such as Transportation Research Record, Journal of Transportation Safety & Security, Urban Lifeline, and a co-author of the textbook “Highway Safety Analytics and Modeling” published by Elsevier. Dr. Qin received his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Xiaowei (Tom) Shi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and is also affiliated with the Institute for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM). He is the director of the Automated, Connected & Electric Mobility Systems Lab at UWM. He is also a co-chair of the IEEE Emerging Transportation Technology Testing Technical Committee. Dr. Shi’s research focuses on evaluating existing emerging mobility technologies, such as automated, connected, and electric vehicles, and developing novel technologies through the utilization of field experiments and hardware-in-the-loop methodologies. He has led/participated in over $10 million federal/state-level intelligent transportation system-related projects. His works have been published in top transportation journals, e.g., Transportation Science, Transportation Research Parts B & C. He also serves as a reviewer for many top-tier journals in the transportation field, including Transportation Science, TR Parts A-E, IEEE T-ITS, etc. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of South Florida in 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Yang Tao, Ph.D, PE, PTP is the Director of the City of Madison’s Traffic Engineering Division, which has over 150 employees and is responsible for the City’s pedestrian, bicycle and motor vehicle transportation systems, as well as the City’s radio communication system and maintenance of its backbone fiber system. Yang has also been overseeing Madison’s Vision Zero and Smart City Initiatives, and has been working with various City agencies, universities, and a consortium of other public and private entities in envisioning and building a next-generation people and data centered, safe, efficient, equitable and climate-friendly transportation system for Madison. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a minor degree in Business. Yang is a Professional Engineer as well as a Professional Transportation Planner. Yang has also played leadership roles in the transportation profession both locally and nationally, and chaired or served on many national committees on Bicycle Transportation, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Transportation Systems Management and Operations, Smart Communities and Automated Transportation. Yang was named the 2018 Transportation Professional of the Year by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Midwestern District and received the Distinguished Service Award in Transportation from ITE Wisconsin in 2022.