Civil Engineering Professor One of Just Two Faculty Advisors Selected Nationwide for 2026 Honor

For five years, Alabama A&M University Associate Professor Dr. Pooja Preetha has helped civil engineering students move beyond the classroom, connecting them with competitions, industry professionals, leadership opportunities and experiences designed to prepare them for their careers.

Now, that commitment to student success has earned Preetha national recognition from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Preetha has been named a recipient of the 2026 ASCE Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award, an annual national honor recognizing exceptional leadership and service to ASCE student chapters. She is one of only two faculty advisors selected nationwide this year.

“To me, this award represents the power of consistency and patience,” Preetha said. “This award means a great deal to me because it recognizes five years of dedication to mentoring students and growing our ASCE chapter.”

Preetha was nominated by AAMU’s Civil Engineering program and her supervisor before being selected through ASCE’s review process. The award recognizes faculty advisors for contributions to student success, chapter growth, professional development, student engagement, competition participation, leadership and mentoring.

Under Preetha’s leadership, AAMU’s ASCE Student Chapter has grown from approximately 34 students to 57 registered members. The chapter now has about 30 students who actively participate throughout the academic year.

The growth extends beyond membership. Students participate in professional development workshops, technical presentations, industry networking events, field visits, community service, leadership programs and regional and national ASCE competitions.

“This award is a moment of pride for our ASCE student chapter, the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering and Construction Management, the College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences, and Alabama A&M University,” Preetha said. “Most importantly, it recognizes the collective contributions of our students, other faculty advisors, department leadership and industry partners in helping future engineers reach their full potential.”

The chapter recorded a number of accomplishments during the past year, including participation in multiple ASCE Student Symposium competitions and earning more than five awards. AAMU students captured first place and Best Speaker honors in the Construction Institute competition, received recognition for outstanding team spirit, participated in the Workshop for Student Chapter Leaders and received an ASCE Foundation Grant Prize.

Preetha said her role as an advisor is ultimately about helping students take advantage of opportunities that can shape them academically and professionally.

Her work includes organizing chapter activities, supporting student leaders, arranging professional seminars and networking opportunities, coordinating industry speakers, preparing students for competitions, organizing field visits and supporting fundraising, sponsorship and community service initiatives.

“My ultimate goal is to help students grow academically, professionally and personally while ensuring the chapter continues to thrive,” she said.

Preetha serves as a faculty advisor alongside Dr. Mohamed Ashour, professor and coordinator of the Civil Engineering Program, who has worked with the AAMU ASCE Student Chapter for more than a decade. Preetha credits Ashour with providing mentorship and support to generations of civil engineering students.

The chapter is continuing that momentum this semester with invited speakers, professional seminars, networking events and community engagement initiatives, including work connected to the Hampton Cove Farm project. Students are also preparing for upcoming ASCE competitions, conferences and professional development opportunities.

Preetha joined AAMU in fall 2020 and brings more than a decade of experience in environmental and water resources engineering. Her research focuses on hydrological and environmental modeling, remote sensing and geographic information systems, groundwater recharge prediction and climate-related water quality research. Her work combines process-based models, satellite data and machine learning to examine watershed systems and water quality challenges.

She holds a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, along with graduate and undergraduate degrees in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the College of Engineering Trivandrum.

For Preetha, however, some of the most meaningful measures of success are found in the students she has watched develop from new chapter members into engineering leaders, officers, interns and future professionals. Preetha adds “I am forever grateful to my late parents for instilling in me the values that guide my life. I also thank my family and loved ones for their constant encouragement. Most importantly, I am thankful to my husband and my little one, whose love and support give me strength, purpose, and the joy that makes every achievement meaningful.

“The most rewarding part is watching students grow into confident engineers and leaders,” Preetha said. “The enthusiasm, creativity and dedication that students bring to the chapter continually inspire me, and I learn from them as much as they learn from me.”