Welcome to the Civil Engineering Department News Page! Here, we share the latest developments, research breakthroughs, and achievements from our faculty and students. Learn about our faculty and students' diverse talents and impactful endeavors, innovative projects, community engagement, and contributions to civil engineering. Whether celebrating achievements, fostering collaborations, or inspiring the next generation of civil engineers, our department's webpage is your gateway to the forefront of engineering excellence.
Civil Engineering Senior Capstone Design Program Earns Two Awards
Cal State LA’s Civil Engineering Senior Capstone Design Program received the 2026 Green California Summit Leadership Award in the University category. Its faculty team also received Cal State LA’s 2025–2026 Team Achievement Award.
These honors reflect the exceptional quality of the capstone program, which provides students with rigorous, multidisciplinary, and industry-relevant experience solving real-world infrastructure challenges.
Led by adjunct faculty members Professors John Shamma, Howard Lum, and Jason Song, together with Senior Design Coordinator Dr. Rupa Purasinghe, the program integrates sustainability, resilience, and public service into student projects—including a wildfire-response helipad and heli-hydrant facility for San Bernardino County.
Green California Summit Leadership Award | Cal State LA Team Achievement Award
Cal State LA Hosts Successful ASCE PSWS; Dr. Welson Kwan Named Outstanding Faculty Advisor
Cal State LA successfully hosted the 2026 ASCE Pacific Southwest Student Symposium from March 27–30, welcoming more than 1,200 civil engineering students from 14 universities. The four-day event featured engineering competitions, professional development, networking, and a career fair. Cal State LA’s GeoWall team also earned first place.
Following the symposium, the ASCE Los Angeles Section named Dr. Welson Kwan its 2026 Outstanding Faculty Advisor for Student Groups, recognizing his leadership, mentorship, and dedication to student success.
Read the Cal State LA story | View the award profile | Watch the ABC7 video
Dr. Arezoo Khodayari’s Reseach Bridging Astrobiology and Environmental Science has been Fatured in Nature Magazine for its profund Impact on Stduents Success:
The article highlights the impact of her pioneering work in bringing together astrobiology and environmental science, particularly through her collaboration with NASA Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL). Additionally, the piece offers valuable perspectives from both Dr. Khodayari and her collaborators on what drives a scientist and how fostering inclusive, hands-on learning opportunities can inspire students to pursue STEM. Click here to read the article.
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Dr. Welson Kwan Receives Prestigious NSF ERI Award
Dr. Welson Kwan has received a $200,000, two-year National Science Foundation Engineering Research Initiation (NSF ERI) Award to study how vertical and horizontal earthquake shaking affects soil liquefaction and ground settlement. The highly competitive ERI program supports promising investigators and expands engineering research capacity nationwide.
The project builds on Dr. Kwan’s previous NSF Major Research Instrumentation Award, which funded advanced multidirectional soil-testing equipment at Cal State LA. The new research will advance earthquake-resilient infrastructure and provide students with hands-on geotechnical research experience.
On October 24, 2024, Professor Khodayari organized and chaired the Sikand SITI Center's Pollution Control and Climate Mitigation Conference at Cal State LA. The event featured a series of thought-provoking sessions, including Lightning Talks, where faculty presented their innovative research, sparking new ideas and discussions. The keynote address was delivered by Professor Mark Jacobson of Stanford University, a renowned expert in renewable energy and climate modeling whose pioneering work laid the scientific foundation of the U.S. Green New Deal. Industry leaders shared their perspectives on the current challenges and emerging opportunities in pollution control and sustainability, while interactive roundtable discussions promoted cross-disciplinary discussion. More information can be found at the event website.
2025 SWE-LA Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award
Dr. Arezoo Khodayari received the 2025 SWE-LA Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award from the Society of Women Engineers
Congratulations to Dr. Khodayari on receiving the SWE-LA Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE)