Message from the Department Head

As I begin my tenure as Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Illinois, I have been reflecting on the role our discipline plays in shaping the future. 

Civil and environmental engineers create and steward many of the systems that allow society to thrive: water, transportation, energy, housing, environmental protection, and the infrastructure that underpins public health and economic opportunity. As new technologies and insights emerge, our field also has an important responsibility to ensure that innovation is translated into systems that are safe, resilient, sustainable, and broadly beneficial to communities. 

At Illinois, we are committed to advancing both discovery and impact. We believe the future of civil and environmental engineering lies in combining deep disciplinary expertise with emerging computational, data-driven, and experimental approaches. Our goal is to help create the building blocks for a future of abundance and discovery, one in which people can live healthier, safer, and more prosperous lives. 

Recent accomplishments across our department reflect that vision. 

Assistant Professor Hongbo Ma recently published a study in Science demonstrating that coastal river deltas follow a predictable pattern when it comes to sediment deposition; work he plans to expand with the recent announcement that he has received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award. Professor Rosa Espinosa-Marzal received NSF support for pioneering work on the chemical processes that govern friction in geologic materials and influence earthquake behavior. Professors Megan Konar and Ashlynn Stillwell were both recognized with the Campus Distinguished Promotion Award, one of the University of Illinois’ highest faculty honors, and Professor Stillwell and Professor Marcelo Garcia received Grainger College of Engineering awards recognizing their sustained excellence in research, education, and service. 

Our students also continue to excel. This spring, Illinois earned tenth place overall at the 2026 Student Steel Bridge National Finals Competition sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction and the American Society of Civil Engineers, demonstrating the technical rigor, creativity, and teamwork that define our educational programs. 

These accomplishments span multiple disciplines, but they share a common purpose: advancing knowledge and developing solutions that help communities thrive. I look forward to working with colleagues across the country as we collectively advance the future of civil and environmental engineering to meet society’s evolving needs.

Jeremy S. Guest (he, him)

Department Head
David C. Crawford Faculty Scholar
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering