Alumni
Alumni
Academy of Distinguished Alumni
The Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni was established to recognize our graduates' professional achievements and contributions. The academy's members also serve as leaders and role models among alumni and students.
Twenty-seven charter members, all Distinguished Graduates at the Cockrell School of Engineering or CAEE departmental level, were inducted into the Academy in November of 2003. Eight to ten additional members have been inducted into the Academy every fall since.
Each active member holds a B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. from the department and is outstanding in his or her field, a leader of community affairs and worthy of emulation.
NOMINATION FORM - return to
OUTREACH & GIVING - information for Academy members on outreach and giving opportunities.
Andres Andujar is the CEO of Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation, leading the transformation of the 1968 World’s Fair site into a global public space. With expertise in design, construction, finance and legal frameworks, he manages partnerships and collaborations at all levels of government and with various stakeholders.
Michael Lee is a seasoned professional engineer licensed in multiple states, specializing in concrete structures, failure investigations and structural rehabilitation. With extensive experience in both structural design and forensic engineering, he has investigated hundreds of distressed buildings and structures.
Fariborz Maseeh is a distinguished engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He holds multiple degrees, including a Ph.D. from MIT. In 1991, he founded IntelliSense, pioneering MEMS technology. Over the past three decades, Maseeh has led various companies in technology, finance and real estate.
Kevin Moore is a nationally recognized structural engineer specializing in advanced analysis, design, and evaluation and provided construction engineering support for major projects like the Sacramento Kings Arena. As a lifelong Californian, Kevin is well-versed in stringent building code requirements.
Stephen B. Seeds, PE, is a senior consultant with over 40 years of experience in pavement engineering. Recently retired from Applied Pavement Technology, Inc., he specializes in pavement evaluation, design, management, research and forensic investigations.
Ken Stokoe is a renowned expert in geotechnical engineering with 50 years of experience in seismic measurements, dynamic material properties and soil-structure interaction. He pioneered the crosshole seismic method, now an ASTM standard, and developed the combined resonant column and torsional shear (RCTS) system for evaluating dynamic material properties.
Dick Wade is a distinguished civil engineer and entrepreneur with a career spanning over five decades. A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan, Wade served in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps from 1970-77, including a tour in Vietnam.
John Wall received his B.S. in 1970 and M.S. in 1976 and is a renowned structural and forensic engineering expert with over five decades of contributions to the field. He began his career at W.E. Simpson in 1971, quickly advancing from junior partner to the largest shareholder of the Simpson Group, where his work "changed the skyline of the city."
David H. Dentino, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the deputy director of Civil Engineers and deputy chief of staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia. He is responsible for supporting the director of civil engineers by providing executive leadership, direction and technical knowledge for installation support functions at a total of 176 Air Force bases worldwide with an annual budget of over $8 billion.
Lizan Gilbert is a distinguished leader in the tunneling industry, with over 23 years of experience in the design and construction of heavy civil and tunnel projects across the United States. Known for her strong leadership and team-oriented approach, she excels in challenging work environments. Her expertise spans various tunneling methods, including Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), Sequential Excavation Method (SEM), drill and blast, and hand-mined tunnels.
Lee Lawrence is a senior principal and the associate executive director of practice development at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE), where he also serves as the regional director for the company's southeast region.
Mark McKenzie is the president and CEO of Ranger Excavating, the leading excavation and site development contractor in Central Texas. After earning a B.S. in architectural engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 1986, he began his career as an estimator at Coffee Equipment, Inc., pioneering the digitization of earthwork calculations.
Jim Nichols, P.E., is a distinguished civil engineer with a career spanning over five decades. After earning his undergraduate degree in geology from the University of Kansas, he pursued graduate studies at The University of Texas at Austin, a decision that shaped his diverse professional journey. Nichols' career evolved from geotechnical engineering to founding Nichols Consulting Engineers (NCE), a nationally recognized firm.
Shay Ralls Roalson, P.E., became the director of Austin Water in January 2023, leading a team of 1,400 employees committed to providing high-quality drinking water, wastewater and reclaimed water services to over 1 million people in the Austin metropolitan area.
Fidel Saenz de Ormijana holds a degree in civil engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (Spain) as well as M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in civil engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. He has 40 years of design experience, both in the water resources and transportation fields, spanning several continents, including 16 years of practice in North America.
Scot Sanders, P.E., C.E.M., serves as chief operations officer for The Broaddus Companies, where he leads all operations and execution, advocating for owners to improve the building process. Broaddus & Associates, a service-disabled veteran-owned business, focuses on enhancing the capital design and construction process for facility owners.
Steussy graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1980 with a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering and a minor in business law, following the completion of his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1978. He was extremely active at UT, serving as president of ASCE, a member of the Men’s Athletic Council, and a player on the national championship-winning UT baseball team.
Sharon L. Wood is an esteemed American structural engineer who recently served as the executive vice president and provost of The University of Texas at Austin. She has a rich legacy in engineering, being the descendant of three generations of civil engineers, and developed an interest in the field at the young age of eight during a visit to a construction site with her father.
Bill Zapalac earned an architectural engineering degree with honors from The University of Texas at Austin in 1973. He was selected to Chi Epsilon and Tau Beta Pi, engineering honor organizations recognizing academics and character. In 1969, he accepted membership into the Silver Spurs, a UT honorary service organization. In 1970, Bill was selected as Outstanding Junior of the Architectural Engineering Department by the UT Chapter of the American Association of Architectural Engineers.
