Pietrucha named CEE undergraduate program coordinator

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Martin Pietrucha, professor of civil engineering and director of the Engineering Systems Program, has been named the new undergraduate coordinator for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
 
Pietrucha succeeds Stephanie Butler Velegol, who has stepped down from the role.
 
“I always think of myself as a civil engineer, first and foremost, but I have always taken my responsibilities as an educator very seriously,” said Pietrucha. “Being an educator doesn’t only refer to one’s role in the classroom. Helping the students navigate the curriculum in a way that assists them in meeting their educational needs and desires sets a solid foundation for their careers and lives. I take great pride in that role.”
 
Pietrucha has worked in the department for 26 years and has served as the director of the Engineering Systems Program since 2014. Pietrucha also acted as director of The Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute for seven years.
 
Prior to his position at Penn State, Pietrucha was a program officer for the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies.
 
He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, his master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkley and his doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Maryland.
 
His research primarily focuses on human factors as they relate to transportation safety and operations.