Outstanding Alumni 2009
Michael Oesterle (Ph.D., 2009)
Oesterle recently accepted the position of Research Engineer with NAVFAC Engineering Service Center in Port Hueneme, California. Michael and wife, Nani Au, had their first child, Henry Gerhardt Au Oesterle in April, 2009. Henry weighed 10 lbs., 14 oz.
Mike Olsen (Ph.D. 2009)
Olsen was recently appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Oregon State University.
Anna Pridmore (Ph.D. 2009/B.S. 2006)
Pridmore recently accepted a position in the Bridge Division of Simon Wong Engineering. Additionally, Anna was selected for the “Women in Transportation (WTS) President’s Legacy Scholarships” for 2009. Dr. Pridmore continues being a Lecturer periodically for SE courses.
Griffin Brungraber (M.S., 2008)
Griffin and Chezzie Brungraber were wed on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts in September, 2008.
Janet (Crumrine) Wolfson (Ph.D., 2008)
Alex Wolfson was born to Dr. Janet Wolfson and David Wolfson on July 25, 2009. He was 7 lbs., 9 oz., 20.75 inches long. Dr. Wolfson works with the Air Force Research Lab at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
Marc Robinson (Ph.D., 2008)
Robinson recently accepted an offer to be Assistant Professor at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City. Additionally, Marc & Christy’s third child, Atticus, was born on February 27, 2009, weighing 9 lbs., and measuring 21 inches in length. Atticus joins sister, Sage (5), and brother, Joseph (3).
Chung-Sheng Lee (Ph.D., 2006)
“Johnson” Lee and his family recently moved to Maryland, where Lee accepted a position at Composite Solutions International.
Tonatiuh Rodriguez-Nikl (Ph.D., 2006)
Rodriguez-Nikl is an Instructor for the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Oregon State University.
Matt Kyler (B.S., 2005)
Kyler has been working at PARADIGM Structural Engineers in San Francisco for over a year and really enjoys it. Kyler says, “Business is booming up here...check us out!”
Jon Haller (B.S., 1996)
Haller currently works as a program manager at Entrega Systems Group, Inc. He completed the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Haller and his wife have two sons, Alex (3) and Zac (1).
Outstanding Alumni 2008
David Klein (M.S., 2007)
Klein recently started working as a Mechanical Engineer in the Structural Design group at General Atomics. David and wife, Kate, are expecting the birth of their first child, a son, this October.
Babak Moaveni (Ph.D., 2007)
Moaveni was recently appointed Assistant Professor for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Tufts University, in the Boston area.
Azadeh Bozorgzadeh (Ph.D., 2005)
Bozorgzadeh recently went to work for Moffatt & Nichol (maritime infrastructure) in Walnut Creek, California.
Richard (Wei-Chih) Chen (M.S., 2001/B.S., 2000)
Chen has worked as a licensed S.E. at Englekirk Partner Consulting Structural Engineers, Inc. since 2000. Interestingly, Chen is working on the design of UCSD's Structural & Material Engineering Building (EBU-4). Chen adds, "nothing can be more exciting than designing a building at the school [from which you graduated...]". Chen and wife, Felicia (1999, B.S. Biochemistry; pictured), are expecting their first child in summer, 2008.
Kent (Qi-Song) Yu (Ph.D., 1999)
Yu, Associate Principal at Degenkolb Engineers in Portland, Oregon, was selected as a winner in "40 under 40" by Building Design and Construction, January, 2008. Yu adds "I'm always proud of being a UCSD alumnus." Kent, we're proud of you!
Junling Sun (Ph.D., 1993)
Dr. Son is Chief Engineer of two of the most innovative bridges over the Yangtze River in Chongqing, China. The new Caiyuanba Bridge is the largest tied-arch span in the world that carries both highway and rail traffic.
Dave K. Adams (B.S., 1989)
Adams is a Structural Engineer with Lane Engineers, Inc. in Tulare, California. Adams' book, Structural Engineer's Professional Training Manual, was published in 2007 by McGraw-Hill.
2007 Outstanding Alumni
Michele Barbato (Ph.D, 2007)
Barbato was recently appointed Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Howard Matt (Ph.D., 2007)
Matt is working at ATA Engineering in San Diego.
Michael Gebman (Ph.D., 2006)
Gebman recently joined Ben C. Gerwick Consulting Engineers in San Francisco, working on New Orlean's new hurricane flood wall project, and on a team bid to upgrade the Panama Canal locks to accommodate larger vessels.
Ezequiel Montanez (B.S., 2004)
Montanez, a Junior Structural Engineer with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and his wife, Patricia, announce the arrival of their second child, Ezequiel Paul, 8 lbs., 3 oz., 20 inches. "Our daughter, Julia, is now enjoying her new role as the big sister."
Shawn Kiggins (B.S. 2002)
"I'm currently working as an Engineer/Architect for a small studio, building custom homes in Santa Monica, California."
Aaron Wang (B.S., 2002)
Wang last reported that he was enrolled in Stanford, working on his Ph.D. thesis in Medical Ultrasound Imaging, and will then finish up medical school.
Wei-Chih Chen, P.E. (B.S., 2001)
Chen, a Project Engineer at Engelkirk & Sabol Consulting Structural Engineers, currently manages "many different types of projects including both retail and residential. I was the project engineer for the recently completed Simi Valley Town Center Mall."
David Taquino (Ph.D., 1998)
"I started a structural design firm with a partner, and have been very busy ever since! My wife, Kristen, and I have two great boys, Ryan (4) and Colin (2). Time to take the SE [exam] next year...better start studying!"
Doug Grose (B.S., 1989)
"In 2005, I joined Blue Origin after 15 great years at Boeing, working as an aircraft Structural Engineer. My wife, Laurel, is still a homemaker, keeping things sane for me and our fine boys, Ben (16) and Sam (14). My main hobby is windsurfing at the Columbia River Gorge [Oregon] as much as possible, but never enough." Grose and family live in Algona, Washington.
Osman El Menchawi (Ph.D., 2006)
El Menchawi is a Project Engineer at Fugro in Ventura, California, working on the BART retrofit project.
Henry Huang (M.S., 2006)
Huang is a Structural Engineer at Weidlinger Associates, Inc. in Marina del Rey, California.
Alejandro Peña (B.S., 2006)
Peña started graduate school at Stanford University, pursuing a MS in Structural Engineering.
Ray Poomiwatracanont (B.S., 2006)
"Poom" is currently at Saiful Bouquet Structural Engineers in Pasadena, "heavily involved in the San Diego Tech Center project."
Frederik Roy San Diego (B.S., 2006)
San Diego is employed by the Fluor Corporation in Aliso Viejo as an Assoc. Design Engineer.
Laura Flores (B.S., 2005)
Flores is employed as a Structural Engineer at AHBL in Seattle, Washington.
Cathy Ly (B.S., 2002)
"I'm currently working for Pacific Gas & Electric Company out of San Francisco, as a civil engineer, and am pursuing a master's degree in civil engineering from Norwich University."
Mahmoud Faghihi (B.S., 2004)
Faghihi is a design engineer for the Englekirk Companies where he is working on high-rise buildings in the Los Angeles area.
Larry P. Faria (B.S., 1998)
"I was promoted to Structural Project Engineer with Ch2M Hill, and am working under their Government and Facilities Infrastructure Business Group in the Dallas, Texas office."
Newton Armstrong, P.E. (B.S., 1993)
Armstrong is a Project Engineer with Caltrans, currently "designing a replacement bridge along the Interstate 15 Managed Lane Corridor in San Diego. I'm also providing construction support to various bridge construction projects in Orange County."
Philippe Lalonde (B.S., 1993)
Lalonde recently launched Lalonde Engineering Inc. with a "virtual office approach" to running his business from Fort Worth, Texas.
Ray Poomiwatracanont (B.S., 2006)
"Poom" is currently at Saiful Bouquet Structural Engineers in Pasadena, "heavily involved in the San Diego Tech Center project."
Cailyn (Mai) Le (B.S., 2005)
"I have been working with the Office of Structure Construction in the Bridge Department at Caltrans since graduation...it is the best of both worlds: the design aspect in the office, and seeing your bridge being constructed out in the field."
Casey Weber (B.S./M.S., 2003)
Weber has been working at DMJM Harris for nearly three years and has worked on various highway bridge and marine projects. He enjoys working with fellow UCSD alumni Kosal Krishnan and Limin He. Weber also recently acquired his PE license.
Limin He (Ph.D., 1992)
Dr. He joined DMJM Harris in Orange, California, recently to work with former classmate Kosal Krishnan. He works on various highway bridge projects and enjoys playing his grandchildren (April, 4 and Aaron, 1 1/2) when he is visiting his daughter and family in San Diego.
Kosal Krishnan (Ph.D., 1992)
Dr. Krishnan is an Associate Vice President and manages the Structural Engineering group of DMJM Harris in Orange, California. He is currently managing a major wharf upgrade and backlands improvement project at the Port of Los Angeles.
2006 Outstanding Alumni
Lijuan "Dawn" Cheng (Ph.D., 2005)
Cheng is currently an assistant professor in the area of structural engineering and structural mechanics in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Davis ("Go Ags!").
Ezequiel Montanez (B.S., 2005)
Montanez is a Jr. Structural Engineer with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, working with the Pipeline & Facilities group assisting with substructure reviews. He and wife, Patricia, are the proud parents of newborn son, Ezequiel Paul, and "big sister" Julia.
Luke Lee (Ph.D., 2005)
Lee is assistant professor of civil engineering at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. Luke and his wife, Theresa, had a daughter, Elinor, in February, 2006.
Andrea Martinez (B.S., 2005)
Martinez is employed by DeBerry Engineering. She writes, "I have a job that I love...I work designing residential buildings."
Ryan Harrell (B.S., 2004)
Harrell is the Regional Manager for the Southern CA office of Fibrwrap Construction, a turnkey company for concrete restorations/strengthening and seismic rehabilitation. "I now oversee all projects in Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona, from the initial development, design, contracting, construction and conclusion."
Eric Kelley, P.E. (B.S./M.S., 2004)
"Since leaving UCSD, I've worked as a bridge design engineer in California, Oregon and Washington. Currently, our team is beginning the design of a new bascule [moveable] bridge, in the Seattle/Tacoma area." Kelley is employed at Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc.
Christopher Stearns, P.E. (M.S., 2003)
Stearns designs high-rise buildings for MKA of Seattle, Washington, and continues to make frequent visits to San Diego.
Joshua T. Hewes, P.E. (B.S./MS., Ph.D., 2002)
"I worked as a bridge engineer in California for David Evans and Associates for a few years before coming to Northern Arizona University [in August, 2005]. I'm an assistant professor in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, and teach the Structures courses."
Cole C. McDaniel (B.S./MS., Ph.D., 2002)
McDaniel recently became an Assistant Professor in the Architectural Engineering Department at CalPoly San Luis Obispo, after spending three years as an Assistant Professor at Washington State University.
María D. Martinez-Rodrigo (M.S., 2001)
Martinez-Rodrigo is back in Spain, where she serves as an associate professor in the Mechanical Engineering and Construction Department of Universitat Jaume I. She is finishing her Ph.D. thesis which deals with the reduction of resonant vibrations in high speed railway bridges by means of passive energy dissipation devices.
Jorge A. Rivera (B.S., M.S., 2000)
Rivera has been employed at Nabih Youssef & Associates in Los Angeles as a Structural Designer for six years. Rivera is currently on a "rat-race break...going on a second year at the Rose School in Pavia, Italy for a Ph.D. in Earthquake Engineering."
Jason Ingham (Ph.D., 1995)
"I completed my Ph.D. under Nigel Priestley. I am now an associate professor in Structural Engineering at the University of Auckland in New Zealand."
Outstanding Senior, Tim Alexander ’04 Structural Engineering, Earl Warren College
Tim is graduating with an impressive 3.952 GPA and a 4.0 major GPA, having been awarded Provost's Honors for all quarters since entering UCSD. His stellar academic history has earned him membership in Phi Beta Kappa, the Golden Key International Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi: Engineering Honor Society and the Warren Honors Program. Brian Willess, Student Activities Coordinator, Warren College