AMES, Iowa -- Reginald Souleyrette, professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering, has been named the first recipient of the Gerald and Audrey Olson Professorship in Civil Engineering.
The professorship provides funding to enhance instruction and research in the field of civil engineering. It is named for Gerald Olson, who received his master's degree in civil engineering from Iowa State in 1958; and his wife, Audrey. The gift is made through the Iowa State University Foundation to benefit the College of Engineering.
Endowed faculty positions allow Iowa State to recruit and retain world-class leaders by providing the highest level of faculty recognition. Endowed positions help support course development, graduate assistants, laboratory equipment, salary enhancements, professional development and research projects.
"Iowa State University has a proud history of leadership in civil engineering, and the professorship created by the Olsons' generous gift will help us continue this leadership," said Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy. "We're extremely grateful for their gift, which will enable us to help a very talented faculty member like Reginald Souleyrette be even more effective in addressing some of our nation's most important transportation issues."
Souleyrette teaches graduate and upper division courses and conducts research in the area of transportation engineering. He also serves as chair and director of graduate education in ISU's interdisciplinary M.S. program in transportation.
"Reg's selection as the first Olson professor is well-deserved recognition for his outstanding contributions to the profession," said Charles Glatz, interim dean of engineering. "He is highly regarded for his exemplary and innovative work in the application of geographic information systems to transportation. His contributions are making a real difference in improving highway safety, reducing the cost of providing and maintaining transportation infrastructure, and preparing the next generation of transportation professionals. He's also an enthusiastic teacher who is admired and respected by his students."
A registered professional engineer, Souleyrette also is associate director of the Center for Transportation Research and Education (CTRE), where he manages the center's program in transportation planning and information systems.
Prior to joining Iowa State in 1993, Souleyrette was an assistant professor of civil engineering and assistant director of the Transportation Research Center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Souleyrette received bachelor's (1984) and master's (1986) degrees in civil engineering from the University of Texas, Austin; and his doctoral degree (1989) in civil engineering (transportation) from the University of California, Berkeley.
Benefactors Gerald and Audrey Olson live in Rio Verde, Ariz. In 2002, the couple also provided the lead gift to establish the Gerald and Audrey Olson Soil Mechanics Laboratory at ISU, a significant development in geotechnical research in the College of Engineering.
Gerald Olson is the retired founder, president and CEO of Terracon, one of the largest geotechnical firms in the U.S. Before receiving his master's degree at Iowa State, he received a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering (1956) from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Audrey Olson received a bachelor of arts degree in social work from Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, in 1976.
