Christian named ASCE Pittsburgh Section Professor of the Year
Staff Writer
Feb 16, 2021
Professor Sarah Christian has been named the ASCE Pittsburgh Section 2020 Professor of the Year. An expert in structural engineering and sustainable materials, Christian has a deep commitment to her students and to education. During her five years at CEE, she’s developed many innovative courses that have enhanced the department’s undergraduate curriculum, and had a key role in formulating a distinctive project-course sequence.
“Professor Christian is passionate about undergraduate education and is highly motivated to excel as an educator. She is interested in how students acquire and build the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to become practicing engineers,” states CEE department head Dave Dzombak.
In addition serving as co-chair of the CEE Undergraduate Program Committee, Christian participated in the highly-selective ASCE 2016 ExCEEd Teaching Workshop. She was also awarded a 2017-2018 CMU Eberly Center Wimmer Faculty Fellowship and was lead developer of a presentation at the 2019 ASCE Civil Engineering Education Summit.
The Professor of the Year award recognizes Christian’s established reputation in structural engineering and sustainable materials, her dedicated guidance to students, and her advancement of civil engineering through publications, among other criteria.
She’ll receive the award virtually in an online program. Christian’s accomplishment will also be featured in the Engineers’ Week special coverage section of the Pittsburgh Business Times.
Christian earned her Ph.D. in civil engineering from Stanford University. She also holds a master’s of civil engineering degree from Johns Hopkins University and a BS in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
The CEE community congratulates Professor Christian for being recognized with this prestigious award.