It has been an absolute honor and privilege to lead the UND Civil Engineering Department as the chair for the last seven years. This is my last message as the chair since I will leave UND at the end of June 2025 to become the Dean of Engineering at Marian University in Indianapolis, IN. Leaving the people, place, and job you love is not easy. Dr. Howe Lim has been named the Interim Chair of our department. I am sure that our department will move to the next level under his leadership with the help of all our stakeholders.

A professional headshot of Daba Gedafa. As a team, we have had incredible achievements. Our student enrollment and external research expenditure have increased by 53% and 832%, respectively. The Transportation Technology Research Institute (TTRI), a win-win partnership between UND and the North Dakota Department of Transportation, is in its fourth year, delivering cutting-edge research in autonomous systems for infrastructure condition assessment and cost-effective decision-making, advanced material characterization, and services to our state and region. The UND Civil Engineering and TTRI had booths at the North Dakota Transportation Conference in Bismarck, showcasing our capabilities in concrete 3D printing and unmanned aerial systems. We are part of the Region 8 University Transportation Center for the first time with 10 other institutions from Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. The Center for Transformative Infrastructure Preservation and Sustainability (CTIPS) aims to revolutionize the preservation of existing transportation systems by integrating advanced sensing technologies and automation in data collection and analysis. One of our faculty members received two Early CAREER Awards: National Science Foundation and Environmental Protection Agency, the first time in the university’s history to my knowledge. Our steel bridge team qualified for the National Finals in three out of the last four years, and it finished 11th overall at the National Finals on May 30-31, 2025, held at Iowa State University, after competing against 43 universities. Our senior design groups have designed some of the most significant infrastructure and achieved recognition at local competitions and international conferences. The Associated General Contractors of North Dakota scholarship recipients were all women for the first time. Our graduate students received much recognition, including winning scholarships and first place at International Conference Competitions, 3MT competitions, and Graduate Achievement Day. Our department received the Departmental Excellence in Research and Creative Activity for the first time in 2025.

Our alumni and friends have been generous with their time, talent, and treasure. There has been a significant increase in endowments for student scholarships, faculty, facilities, and priority needs. I am eternally grateful and humbled to be the first endowed professor of civil engineering in our department’s long history because of the incredible generosity of Michael and Sitney Lodoen. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni, we have started reimbursing the registration fee for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam if the students take and pass before graduation, significantly increasing the number of students who have taken and passed the exam.

We have made significant changes to our curriculum considering the FE exam contents, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation criteria, and the skills needed to compete in the 21st-century economy. We have moved the Environmental Engineering graduate and certificate programs to the Civil Engineering Department, which could be the basis for creating a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering, depending on the need and resources, and potentially changing the name of our department to Civil and Environmental Engineering. We have created a new graduate certificate program in Water Resources Engineering. We have received our ABET accreditation until September 2028 and are on track for a smooth
accreditation cycle.

We are on track to achieve some of our top priorities, including recruiting more undergraduate on-campus students and online graduate students. Our application, admission, and deposit numbers are at an all-time high for Fall 2025.

Thanks to the generosity, dedication, and commitment of our UND civil engineering family and friends, we have come a long way. There is no limit to what our department can achieve as a team. Some of our priorities include increasing our external research expenditure, increasing the number of endowments for student scholarships and faculty, and creating more win-win partnerships with government and private agencies. The Ronald (Ron) A. Apanian Faculty Endowment has been established to honor the legacy of Dr. Apanian. Nobody deserves more honor than Ron Apanian, who led our department for 26 years. We need the help of our alumni and friends to achieve our goal. The endowment will also help us recruit and retain generations of bright faculty members dedicated to student learning, like Dr. Apanian. In the meantime, we named the first Ron Apanian Student Organization Leader of the Year in May 2024 and started the Ron Apanian Distinguished Lecture Series in 2025 to honor his legacy. Being a great ambassador for our department, college, and university will help us achieve our goals. Your continued generosity with your time, talent, and treasure is greatly appreciated.

Daba Gedafa, Ph.D., P.E., EnV SP, F. ASCE

Chair, UND Department of Civil Engineering

Michael & Sitney Lodoen Endowed Professor of Civil Engineering

Championing compassion: A lesson from Ronald Apanian

Ron Apanian smiles brightly

At the inaugural lecture of the Ronald (Ron) A. Apanian Distinguished Lecture Series, the man of honor himself returned to the podium.

Dr. Daba Gedafa thanks stakeholders

In this video, Daba Gedafa thanks shareholders through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

WATCH VIDEO

Rethinking North Dakota’s culvert crisis

A group of researchers wearing hard hats and other protective gear work around a large robotic arm that is 3D printing with concrete.

How UND civil engineering students, faculty, and researchers come together to address a problem that’s out of sight but not out of mind.

Awards & Achievements

The UND Department of Civil Engineering was honored with the UND Award for Departmental Excellence in Research and Creativity at UND Founders Day 2025.

Mohamed Ali, a Civil Engineering doctoral student, was awarded first place in the poster session at the 2024 Water Quality and Technology Conference.

In the UND Early Career Scholars program—a program that selects junior faculty from across the campus to initiate cross-disciplinary projects—Mahmut Ersan represented the Department of Civil Engineering in 2024. Vida Atashi, Sattar Dorafshan (Mentor), Sherif Gaweesh, and Daba Gedafa (Senior Mentor) represent the department in 2025.

Students from the Department of Civil Engineering—Lidya Guteta, Tihitna Mulugeta, and Michael Rosati—presented their work at UND’s 3-Minute Thesis Competition (3MT).

The UND Steel Bridge Team advanced to the national stage this year, competing with top teams in the nation. See rankings.

Roger Borg (CE’63) was inducted into the Alumni Academy Hall of Fame. The Alumni Academy Hall of Fame honors graduates whose careers have made a significant impact on their industries and communities. Their stories, preserved on plaques displayed in the Upson II Building, provide a source of motivation for current UND students by highlighting the achievements of those who once walked the same campus halls.

Annual Dean’s Outstanding Faculty & Staff Awards were awarded to Mahmut Ersan, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, and Joe Egan, Civil and Mechanical Engineering Department Support Specialist.

At UND’s Graduate Achievement Day (GRAD), Civil Engineering students presented 21 posters. Placing second in the Engineering category was Kobena Eghan (advisor: Sherif Gaweesh).

Civil engineering graduate student Tihitna Mulugeta has been awarded the David Loveday Scholarship, a nationally recognized honor in the water industry. Her research poster, titled “A Challenge for Full-Scale Prediction: Ion Exchange Resin Preparation Impacts Adsorption of PFAS during RSSCTs,” impressed Water Quality Association’s (WQA) Annual Convention attendees and judges alike with its technical rigor and relevance to pressing water quality concerns.

The 2025 Associated General Contractors (AGC) of North Dakota scholarship winners include Ryan Bergum, John Bergum, Autumn Bergum, and Cooper Auge. Read more.

A team of Civil Engineering seniors took second place in the Minnkota Power Cooperative Andrew L. Freeman Innovation Awards. Group members include Ryan Bergum, Luke Hinderliter, Ryan Kunz, and Spencer Rousseau.

Doctorate student Lidya Emmanuel Guteta was recognized as a finalist among nearly 300 posters at the International Airfield & Highway Pavements Conference (Pavements 2025)—an outstanding achievement that highlights the caliber of UND’s graduate research.

College of Engineering & Mines Homecoming Social

Save the Date: CEM Homecoming Social

Calling All CEM Alumni & Friends! We’re having a party, and you’re invited! Join us during UND’s Homecoming Week for hors d’oeuvres, drinks and great company. Reunite with old classmates, reconnect with professors, and network with fellow alumni!

Outreach Activities

Local high school students visit UND Civil Engineering labs

UND Civil Engineering alumnus Betsy Seaver (CE’22,’23), along with the Department of Civil Engineering and local high schools, organized an outreach experience for Red River High School and Central High School. The students visited UND’s civil engineering labs; created concrete cylinders; observed slump, air, and compression tests; and learned about the existing opportunities within UND’s programs.

A group of faculty and middle school students smile for a group photo inside of the Grand Forks Water Treatment Plant.

UND Civil Engineering’s first summer camp

In summer 2024, the department held its first summer camp for grades 6-8. Together, we explored civil engineering applications of unmanned aerial systems, high-perspective imagery, connected and automated vehicles, and concrete 3D printing. The students mixed concrete, determined fresh properties, casted concrete specimens, toured ready-mix plants, and watched concrete 3D-printing in action. The second day featured a tour of the Grand Forks Water Treatment Plant, where we focused on modern water treatment systems.

Middle schooler at BrainSTEM event at UND

BrainSTEM @ UND

First BrainSTEM event brings seventh-graders to campus in partnership with American Society of Civil Engineers.

Associated General Contractors of North Dakota (AGC) Scholarships

On September 18, the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of North Dakota visited the campus to extend congratulations and awards to four students from the Department of Civil Engineering.

The legacy of AGC scholarships supporting UND students

The AGC of North Dakota’s tradition of awarding scholarships to UND students spans over half a century. Among these prestigious scholarships, the John Jardine Scholarship, established in 1964, holds the distinction of being the oldest scholarship in North Dakota and is still awarded annually.

Scholarship Awardees

This year’s scholarship awardees are Ryan Bergum (CE’25) (Walt Swingen Scholarship), John Bergum (CE’25) (John Jardine Scholarship), Autumn Bergum (Don Lindberg Scholarship), and Cooper Auge (AGC of ND Scholarship).

Students tour City of Fargo Water Treatment Plant

Fifteen people stand for a group photo and smile inside of the City of Fargo Water Treatment Plant.

Students explored the journey of drinking water from source to tap at the City of Fargo Water Treatment Plant. Special thanks to Qigang Chang and Jordan Grasser (ChE’08) from Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services (AE2S) for organizing the trip!

AroUND the Nation

TRB Annual Meeting

Washington, D.C. // January 5-9, 2025

UND made a strong showing at the 2025 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting. The prestigious event drew more than 13,500 transportation professionals from around the world.

The department was represented by five faculty members, four graduate students, and two undergraduate students, all of whom actively participated in sessions, meetings, and networking opportunities. The university contributed nine research presentations to the conference, highlighting innovative work in transportation engineering and related fields. Among the presenters were Ph.D. students Mulugeta Amare (CE’24), Raja Abubakar Khalid, and Duncan Oteki (CE’25), who each shared their research alongside their advisor. Their work drew interest from fellow researchers and industry professionals alike.

Two undergraduate students also attended, thanks to an endowment made possible by a generous UND alumnus. Their presence underscored the importance of providing early opportunities for students to engage in national-level research communities.

North Dakota Transportation Conference

Bismarck, ND // March 4-5, 2025

UND had a strong presence at the 2025 North Dakota Transportation Conference in Bismarck, with 18 attendees from the Colleges of Engineering & Mines and Arts & Sciences. The conference was attended by 980 people from government, consulting firms, contractors, material suppliers, academia, etc. Governor Armstrong, Director Ron Henke, and Deputy Director for Engineering Matt Linneman presented their vision for our state’s transportation industry. Eight people presenting posters and display materials represented the Transportation Technology Research Institute (TTRI) and the Student Design Center, highlighting UND’s contributions to transportation and infrastructure research.

Six people stand for a group photo in front of research posters.

ICTD25 & Pavements25

Glendale, AZ // June 8-11, 2025

Four graduate students and two faculty members represented the Department of Civil Engineering at the 2025 International Conference on Transportation and Development (ICTD25) and the International Airfield and Highway Pavements Conference (Pavements25), held in Glendale, Arizona. The team presented five posters and one podium presentation. Faculty also participated in session moderation, committee meetings, and global networking opportunities throughout the event.

UND Steel Bridge Team

This year, the UND Steel Bridge Team advanced to the national stage! Placing 11^th overall, the UND team was the top-placing university from the Western Great Lakes Region (including North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and some universities in Ontario, Canada) at the national competition.

Regional Results

Overall: 2^nd Place
Construction Economy: 1^st
Construction Speed: 1^st
Cost Estimation: 1^st
Concrete Cornhole: 1^st
Structural Efficiency: 2^nd
Stiffness: 3^rd
Lightness: 3^rd

National Results

Overall: 11^th
Cost Estimation: 5^th
Structural Efficiency: 10^th
Stiffness: 10^th

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2025 Newsletter: Department of Civil Engineering

Table of Contents

Letter from the Chair