Education

Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Geotechnical Engineering, July, 1987. Thesis Title: Mechanisms of Strength Loss in Stiff Clays, advisor J. Michael Duncan.

M. Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, Geotechnical Engineering, June, 1984. Thesis Title: Methods of Regressive Analysis of Slope Stability, advisor J. Michael Duncan.

B.S., University of Delaware (with honors), Civil Engineering, June, 1981.

Awards and Recognitions

Named Distinguished Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), one of only 11 named in 2024.

J.E. Jennings Award for “meritorious publication relevant to geotechnical engineering in South Africa,” South African Institution of Civil Engineering, 2023.

2023 48th Martin S. Kapp Memorial Lecturer, Geo-Institute Metropolitan Section, New York City, January 17, 2023.

Cross USA Lecturer, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Geo-Institute, 2022-2023.

2022 T.H. Wu Lecturer, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, February 11, 2022.

2021 11th GZA Lecturer, Geo-Institute Metropolitan Section, New York City, February 10, 2021.

George H. Norman Medal “best” paper award for all ASCE publications and journals, ASCE, with J. Aaron, O. Hungr, and A. Baghdady, 2019.

Technical Editors Award, ASTM STP 1605, “Railroad Ballast Testing and Properties”, American Society for Testing and Materials, D18 Committee, 2018

Best Paper Award, Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, ASCE, with R. Benekohal, L.A. Fahnestock, J.M. LaFave, J. He, and C Wittenkeller, July, 2017

Research Award, best research paper in 14th International Railway Engineering Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland, with S.T. Wilk, J.G. Rose, and Q. Liu, June, 2017.

“Best Geosynthetics International Paper for 2015,” Geosynthetics International Journal, International Geosynthetics Society, Thomas Telford, Ltd., 2016.

Research Award, best research paper, 13th International Railway Engrg. Conf., Edinburgh, Scotland, (“Use of Seismic Surface Wave Testing to Assess Track Substructure”) with S.T. Wilk, H.B. Thompson, and T.R. Sussmann, June, 2015.

2015 James M. Hoover Lecturer, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, March, 2015.

Thomas A. Middlebrooks Award, ASCE, 2012

Selected Editor, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engrg., ASCE, 2012-date

Associate Editor Award, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engrg., ASCE, 2011

Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction Best Scholarly, Feature, Case Study Paper, “Is Construction Blasting Still Abnormally Dangerous”, ASCE, 2011

R.S. Ladd D18 Standards Development Award, Standard Designation D7608: Standard Test Method for Torsional Ring Shear Test to Determine Drained Fully Softened Shear Strength and Nonlinear Strength Envelope of Cohesive Soils, American Society for Testing and Materials, 2011

Elected Diplomate, Geotechnical Engineering, Academy of Geo-Professionals, ASCE, 2010

Best Classic Paper in Geosynthetics, (Stark and Poeppel, 1994, ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, “Landfill Liner Interface Strengths from Torsional Ring Shear Tests”), Geo-Americas Conference, 2008

Elected Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2005

R.M. Quigley Award by Canadian Geotechnical Society for Best Paper in the Canadian Geotechnical Journal during 2002.

Standards Development Award, Standard Designation D6467: Standard Test Method for Torsional Ring Shear Test to Determine Drained Residual Shear Strength of Cohesive Soils, American Society for Testing and Materials, 2002

Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 1999

University Scholar, University Scholars Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), 1998-2001

Thomas A. Middlebrooks Award for “best” paper in Geotechnical Engineering, ASCE, 1998

Outstanding Section Campus Representative Award, Illinois/Indiana Section, American Society for Engineering Education, 1998

News Correspondent Award, ASCE, 1995

William J. and Elaine F. Hall Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, UIUC, 1994-1996

DOW Outstanding New Faculty Award, American Society for Engineering Education, 1994

Xerox Award for Faculty Research, College of Engineering, UIUC, 1993

Presidential Citation for Outstanding Alumni Achievement, University of Delaware, 1993

Arthur Casagrande Professional Development Award, ASCE, 1992

Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award for Professional Achievement, ASCE, 1991

Timeos Award, Outstanding Assistant Professor at San Diego State University (SDSU), Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, 1990

Meritorious Performance and Professional Promise Award by President of SDSU, 1990

Outstanding College of Engineering Professor, SDSU, Tau Beta Pi Honor Society, 1989

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Summer Research Fellow, Waterways Experiment Station, 1988 and 1991

College of Engineering Research Fellow, SDSU, 1987