Letter from the chair — June 4, 2025
Dear CEAE alumni, friends and colleagues,
We are thrilled to celebrate the success of ourÌý84 BS, 53 MS and nine PhDÌýstudents whoÌýgraduated under a big tent on a beautiful spring day in May. Adding to the experience, alumnus Marco Campos (CivEngr’98) surprised the crowd byÌýoffering to pay off a graduating senior’s remaining student debt, transforming the ceremony into a celebration of generosity and hope.
In this spring edition of our alumni newsletter, I'd like to highlight how our researchÌýbenefits people in their everyday lives. It’s the subject of a story package in the upcoming edition of CU Engineering (CUE) magazine, which includes four CEAE-related research features—highlighted by a cover story on Assistant Professor Cristina Torres-Machi. One of these stories features our team and its work with industry partners to reduce job site injuries.Ìý
Before I get into more detail on these stories, please take a minute to connect with fellow alumni and our department by following our newÌý. Be sure to tag us with any alumni news and we can share and showcase your accomplishments.
Beyond the magazine, a research team led by ProfessorÌýAbbie Liel has studied post-wildfire rebuilding since the 2021 Marshall Fire, which destroyed more than 1,000 structures here in Boulder County, Colorado. Drawing on interviews with homeowners and builders, along with permit data, the team developedÌýrecommendations to help Los Angeles residents and others who lost homes to wildfires rebuild more resilient homes.
CU Boulder researchers, led by Associate ProfessorÌýShideh Dashti, found that 75 percent of Colorado prisons and jails face climate risks—like extreme heat or cold, wildfires and floods—disproportionately impacting incarcerated individuals, especially Black and Latino inmates.Ìý
While prisons face overlooked climate threats, data centers powering AI could double global electricity use by 2030, outpacing other industries, according to the International Energy Agency. Associate ProfessorÌýÌýKyri BakerÌýand electrical engineer Bri-Mathias HodgeÌýpropose that smart siting and energy storage could allow these centers to run on 100 percent clean energy—supporting climate goals without overloading the grid.
Switching focus to our alumni, I'd like to congratulate our 2025ÌýEngineering Alumni Award Winners, which includeÌýDonald R. ClarkÌý(CivEngr BS'72, MS'79), who received the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award, andÌýClark Lindsay, (CivEngr’96), who was honored with an Alumni Engagement Medal. The Clark Endowed Faculty Fellowship, held by Professor Abbie Liel, is named in Don Clark's honor.
I'd also like to let you know about fiveÌýupcoming conferences that CEAE is hosting and that alumni are welcome to join—a great way to connect with each other and our department. If you have other ideas for getting involved or want to share how CU Boulder experience shaped your journey, feel free to drop me a line at ceaechair@colorado.edu —I would love to hear from you!
While CEAE is proud to be one of the top-ranked departments in the nation, your support is vital to sustaining our momentum. Contributing to one of ourÌýgiving funds is a simple and impactful way to help us enrich student experiences, provide undergraduate scholarships and attract and support top graduate students.
Wishing you a wonderful summer,
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Karl G. Linden, PhD
Chair and Mortenson Professor in Sustainable Development