By Marsha D. Anderson Bomar, Ph.D., AICP, ENV SP, F.ITE, NAE, F.ASCE
As I round the corner of my presidential year and reflect on my term, there are many significant accomplishments this great organization and its members have achieved that make me proud.
This year, we strengthened the civil engineering profession by modernizing and expanding our Civil Engineering Certification programs as well as advancing workforce development and education initiatives. We also took the first steps toward welcoming Chi Epsilon into the ASCE family. We accelerated our leadership in artificial intelligence through the launch of Eaves, and by holding an AI roadmap summit to shape ASCE’s organizational vision for AI and the profession’s future direction. At the same time, the Infrastructure Resilience Symposium laid the foundation for driving resilience-focused resources, guidance, and collaboration throughout the industry.
There is also a big, sparkling spotlight on ASCE2027: The Infrastructure and Engineering Experience next March. As the Society’s new flagship event, it aims to unite the broader infrastructure community. I look forward to learning alongside you and exploring Philadelphia. Expect deep technical sessions, cross-cutting conversations, inspiring keynote speakers, and special activities, including the kickoff of ASCE’s 175th Anniversary celebration. It’s definitely something you won’t want to miss! Find out more at experience.asce.org.
As we focus on the vibrant future of civil engineering, I am proud of the many ways in which we encourage, support, and train our students and young professionals. Through three Multi-Region Leadership Conferences, a Student Support Summit, numerous Younger Member activities, and of course, our amazing student competitions, we touched the lives and careers of more than 10,000 young people. It filled me with joy to participate in these events and take part in their journeys.
ASCE members gave me a gift when I was elected to serve as president. My commitment was to honor that gift by giving it my all. To me, that meant being engaged and present wherever and whenever I could connect with members. With our global presence being so strong, I was able to talk with members across North America, Asia, and the Middle East. I invited you to contact me on LinkedIn and encouraged you to reach out to me to answer questions. In that process, more than 3,000 of you gave me another gift by connecting and interacting. For that, I am grateful!
Through these connections across ASCE, I gained a deeper appreciation for the diversity of our community. Our sections, regions, institutes, and other member groups vary widely in size, resources, membership, and needs. Yet they share a strong belief in the value of ASCE and a dedication to our profession. I was also reminded of the remarkable breadth of civil engineering. Differences in specialties, project types, and regional conditions shape how engineers approach their work. At the same time, a strong spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship is driving new solutions to the challenges facing our profession today and tomorrow.
These are only a few of the experiences and observations that have shaped my year. They highlight the extraordinary scope of ASCE and the passion of our members. Looking back, I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am inspired by the momentum we are building for the future. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll connect with me, and most of all, that you’ll continue being an active part of this great organization.
Marsha D. Anderson Bomar, Ph.D., AICP, ENV SP, F.ITE, NAE, F.ASCE, is the commissioner emeritus for the City of Atlanta Department of Transportation. She is the 2025-26 ASCE president.
This article first appeared in the September/October 2026 issue of Civil Engineering.
