RESTON, Va. — The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has announced the 2024 New Faces of Civil Engineering in the Professional category. ASCE’s New Faces of Civil Engineering program highlights up-and-coming civil engineering leaders from around the country and celebrates their academic and professional achievements, as well as their commitment to serving others. All New Faces honorees will be recognized during ASCE’s annual Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) Gala in October 2024 in Tampa, FL.
“As ASCE works diligently to address the shortage of skilled workers needed to advance the built environment, this group of New Faces of Civil Engineering have one thing in common: they care about inspiring the future of our profession,” said Marsia Geldert-Murphey, P.E., President, ASCE. “Not only are each of these leaders addressing critical issues such as improving the resilience and sustainability of infrastructure assets, but they are taking time to teach students and younger professionals the benefits of this profession and how to advance it. We are grateful for their commitment to ensuring a bright future for all.”
The 2024 New Faces of Civil Engineering in the Professional category
Cristina Cordova-Arias, M.S.
Serving as civil engineering program director of Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola in Lima, Peru, Cordova-Arias is the youngest woman to lead an undergraduate program in Peru. Following the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook southern Peru in 2007, Cordova-Arias dedicated her life and career to disaster risk reduction, particularly in the areas of earthquake preparedness. She is currently the younger member committee chair of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) and has volunteered as disaster risk management coordinator for TECHO, a Latin American NGO dedicated to improving life quality in vulnerable communities. Cordova-Arias received her master’s in civil engineering, concentration disaster risk reduction from Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru.
Morgan DiCarlo, P.E., Ph.D.
Having received her Ph.D. in civil engineering from North Carolina State University, Dr. DiCarlo currently serves as science and technology policy fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington, D.C. Her Ph.D. research was funded by a selective National Science Foundation fellowship, focusing on the management of water-related hazards. In her prior role as senior analyst at Cadmus, she supported lead service line replacement programs. Dr. DiCarlo founded the Stony Brook University ASCE Chapter during her undergraduate education and would later serve as vice president of the Engineers Without Borders Triangle Chapter and as a board member of the Professional Engineers of North Carolina (PENC).
Safayat Hossain, EUR ING, P.E.
A project manager at Emser Bahnbau GmbH in Koblenz, Germany, Hossain is a member of ASCE’s Bangladesh Section. He is also continuing his Ph.D. in environmental engineering at Ondokuz Mayis University (OMU) in Samsun, Turkey, and has received his master’s from the same program, under the Turkiye Burslari Scholarship. During his career, Hossain has published six scientific papers, been awarded six European projects, received a fellowship from the Nobel laureate Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, and was nominated for the EU Young Entrepreneurs Award. He has also served as president of the International Student Association at OMU.
Sophie Lipomanis
A member of ASCE’s Construction Institute within the Society’s New Jersey Section, Lipomanis graduated from the University of Louisville with a focus in civil engineering. She is currently a senior associate at Capital Project Management in New York, NY. Lipomanis has worked diligently to positively impact civil engineering students through her roles within ASCE, where she has served on the national ambassador program, and was chair and co-founder of the student presidential group for the University of Louisville ASCE Student Chapter. She also serves on ASCE’s Younger Member Committee, is co-chair liaison for the Aerospace Division, and is an executive committee member of ASCE’s Committee on Technical Advancement (CTA). In her professional career, Lipomanis has worked on a nearly-$800 million light rail design expansion project in Seattle.
Christopher Medora, P.E., ENV SP
Medora is a traffic engineer for AECOM in Philadelphia, PA and is a member of ASCE’s Philadelphia Section. Throughout his career, Medora has led roadway and traffic control design, led plan preparation, cost estimations, and the development of project specifications. During his time with ASCE and at Villanova University, where he studied civil engineering, Medora has volunteered in efforts to teach younger students about the benefits of the civil engineering profession. He served as co-chair of ASCE Philadelphia’s Younger Member Forum on K-12 Outreach, president of Villanova’s ASCE Student Chapter, and is currently a member of ASCE’s Committee on Developing Leaders and treasurer of ASCE Philadelphia’s Younger Member Forum.
Andrea Mosqueda Gonzalez, P.E., QSD, ENV SP
Currently a member of ASCE’s San Francisco Section/San Jose Branch, Mosqueda Gonzalez has been a mentor to younger engineers throughout her career, including her time with ASCE’s Los Angeles and San Jose Younger Member Forums, and the Odyssey STEM Academy through her work with the Lower Los Angeles River Revitalization and Access Project. In her role as project engineer for Andurra in San Jose, CA, Mosqueda Gonzalez works to improve water quality and address inequities within the region’s infrastructure networks and the workforce. She is currently vice president of the ASCE San Francisco Section, treasurer of the ASCE San Jose Branch, secretary of the San Jose Younger Member Forum, and Engineers Week co-chair for the San Jose Younger Member Forum.
Manjeet Pandey
Manjeet is a graduate research assistant at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he is pursuing his master’s in civil engineering. Prior to academia, Manjeet worked in international development, spearheading construction of over 200 public infrastructure projects in underprivileged communities across Asia and Africa. He recently served as global building advisor for United World Schools (UWS) in Nepal, leading construction activities for over 50 schools in four countries, while also implementing policies and procedures for safe and sustainable school infrastructure construction. At the age of 22, he served as construction lead for the International Medical Corps in Nepal, resulting in the construction of 21 community hospitals in Nepal.
Alyssa Sooklal, P.E.
Sooklal is a member of ASCE’s Maryland Section, serving as a water resource engineer for McCormick Taylor, Inc. in Baltimore, MD. In her professional career, Sooklal focuses on stormwater management and drainage design and floodplain modelling. She is currently president of ASCE Maryland’s Younger Member Group, chair of the Section’s Professional Objectives Committee, the section’s Younger Member Director, and corresponding member of ASCE’s Committee on Younger Members. Sooklal received her bachelor’s of science in environmental engineering from John Hopkins University (JHU) and provides mentorship to JHU and University of Maryland students. She has won awards for ASCE Outstanding Younger Member in Community Activities, ASCE Outstanding Practitioner Advisor, ASCE Maryland Young Engineer of the Year, and American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Maryland Young Professional of the Year.
Tunc Deniz Uludag, Ph.D.
A structural engineer for Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers in Lakewood, CO, Uludag is a member of ASCE’s Colorado Section, where he serves as secretary. He received his master’s and Ph.D. in architectural engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, focusing his efforts on seismic resilience. He was a member of a reconnaissance team from the U.S. that conducted structural and geotechnical reconnaissance of the earthquake-affected areas in Turkey in February 2023. He now serves on the ASCE/Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) 7 Main Committee and Seismic Subcommittee for the 2028 cycle of ASCE 7, the Society’s most widely used building standard. He also held a role as supervising engineer for a FEMA BRIC Grant, “Colorado Earthquake Resilience Investigation – Public Schools Code Review and Rapid Visual Screening Pilot Investigation.”
Nalah Williams, E.I.T.
The owner of Golden Mane Consulting in Frisco, TX, Williams and her firm focus on custom residential design and land development that incorporate sustainability. A graduate of University of Texas – Arlington, Williams is a member of ASCE’s Dallas Branch, where she has served as deputy treasurer. She also serves as a representative for ASCE’s Construction Institute (CI) Board and is a member of ASCE’s Committee on Professional Advancement (CPA). Just four years into her career, Williams started her own consulting firm and has spoken to engineering classes around the country, guiding students towards careers in civil engineering.
For media availability and interviews with the 2024 New Faces of Civil Engineering, please contact Kevin Longley.
About the American Society of Civil Engineers
Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 150,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. ASCE works to raise awareness of the need to maintain and modernize the nation's infrastructure using sustainable and resilient practices, advocates for increasing and optimizing investment in infrastructure, and improve engineering knowledge and competency. For more information, visit www.asce.org or www.infrastructurereportcard.org and follow us on Twitter, @ASCETweets and @ASCEGovRel.