Young Engineers Division Leadership

Current YED Leaders

Chairperson:

Lance M. Langer Engineer, Water Entrepreneur (Indianapolis, IN) B.S. Civil Engineering, May 2015; M.B.A., August 2023 “I have been passionately focused and intensely intentional about engaging the water community for more than a decade. The world we live in doesn't always demand we understand how our water works but our consumption is in most cases a daily necessity. Everything we touch has a water footprint and it is important to recognize that the way we access this resource is a dynamic study. It has been my life purpose to pursue this study and it has allowed me the opportunity to work on everything from water main design to full dam restoration. I've worked with water conveyance and treatment systems as well as new water developments and substantial improvements to existing water systems. The work for water is never ending and paramount to our future.”

Mentoring Committee:

Alp Balcay Data Engineer, Procter and Gamble (Boston, MA) B.S. Civil Engineering, May 2020 “After earning my undergraduate degree at UIUC and my master's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, I am now pursuing further studies in Computer Science at the Georgia Institute of Technology. My focus is on Machine Learning infrastructure and observability. In addition to my studies, I am working as a Data Engineer for Procter & Gamble. Previously, I spent two years working as a Geotechnical Engineer for Shannon & Wilson.”

Abbas S. Kachwalla Program Manager, AECOM (Chicago, IL) M.S. Civil Engineering, May 2014  “I am AECOM’s transportation pavement management lead in North America, managing multiple transportation engineering projects for clients including the Department of Defense, cities, counties, airports, railroads and ports spread across the U.S. and globally. I have 10 years of experience in pavement research, consulting and engineering projects, being involved in pavement testing, analysis and management projects. Prior to joining AECOM, I worked for Dynatest North America, a specialized pavement consulting and evaluation firm. I also worked at the Newmark Concrete laboratory during my master's at U of I, where I studied the performance and strength of concrete mixes using recycled aggregates.”

Networking Committee:

	Amber DeCarlo Structural Designer, Alfred Benesch & Company (Chicago, IL) B.S. Civil Engineering, May 2021; M.S. Civil Engineering, May 2022  “I joined Benesch full-time in August of 2022 after interning for one summer. I am currently a designer in the Chicago office’s structural engineering group, where I work on everything related to the design and support of bridges. This includes software-aided structural analysis, drafting of plan sheets, and writing of technical reports for the design of new bridges as well as bridge retrofits and rehabilitations. Additionally, I perform detailed inspections to promote the safety and continued success of the bridges of Chicago and the surrounding area.”
	Jagrat Jariwala Principal Civil Engineer, SkyGeo (Lake Hiawatha, NJ) M.S. Civil Engineering, May 2016 “I am a licensed Professional Engineer, specializing in geotechnical engineering and earth observation technologies. I am passionate about leveraging advanced earth observation techniques for risk assessment and management. Currently, I hold the role of Principal Civil Engineer at SkyGeo, where I blend my proficiency in civil engineering and earth observation techniques to offer innovative solutions for intricate civil engineering challenges. My previous experience at a leading civil engineering consulting firm has honed my skills in delivering practical and usable insights. Bolstered by a strong foundation in geotechnics and remote sensing, I thrive on uniting engineering with cutting-edge technology. I am continually on the lookout for groundbreaking advancements that could propel the next wave of innovation.”
	Claire Cassidy Samojedny Assistant Civil Engineer, Burns & McDonnell (Chicago, IL) B.S. Civil Engineering, Minor in Sustainability, Energy and Environment Fellows Program, May 2021 “I started my full-time career with Burns & McDonnell this past June after interning the prior two summers. I work in the Water Global Practice systems group as a consulting civil engineer where I have helped clients with a wide range of projects, including permitting, flow analysis and field work to support program management for large water and sewer construction projects. I have a strong interest in Green Stormwater Infrastructure and implementing sustainability into future projects. Currently, I am on a field assignment working with a southern Missouri municipality on updating GIS mapping data of their sewer collection system. I will be supporting this project for the next four years to develop a model of the system and create a capital improvement plan. This is only the beginning of my career, and I look forward to learning and networking more!”

Professional Development Committee:

Kundayi Mugabe Project Engineer - Grade IV, Mott MacDonald (Chicago, IL) B.S. Civil Engineering, May 2017; M.S. Civil Engineering, May 2022 “I have spent my 6+year engineering career providing client and public services in Phase I, II, and III transportation infrastructure projects. My professional goals are to integrate my passion for serving and improving quality of life by acquiring and applying my engineering knowledge. I am currently fulfilling that passion by conducting preliminary and detailed highway designs, traffic analysis studies, environmental studies, and environmental justice analyses. As the Professional Development Committee Co-Lead, I am excited to help current UIUC students and fellow alums advance, find and pursue their most fulfilling career paths. Outside the professional space, I enjoy CrossFit, Latin dancing, serving in the kids' ministry at Soul City Church, and an annoyingly good 'dad joke.'"

Hanting Wang (also Communications Chair) Water/Wastewater Process Engineer, Donohue & Associates (Chicago, IL) B.S. Civil Engineering, May 2013; M.S. Environmental Engineering, December 2015 “I am a Water/Wastewater Process Engineer at Donohue & Associates with 8 years of experience in water and wastewater engineering. I have experience with project management, financial management, planning, field sampling and design for a variety of water and wastewater treatment projects. I am an active member of the Water Environment Federation, Illinois Water Environment Association, and the Illinois Section of American Water Works Association, where I currently serve as the Chair of the Mentoring Committee. At UIUC, I researched virus removal using biosand filters and was actively involved with Engineers Without Borders. I am looking forward to working with other YED members to provide a myriad of opportunities for recent graduates to connect with other alumni, develop technical and non-technical skills, and reach their professional goals."

Scholarship Committee:

Harsh Patel Associate Civil Engineer, Milhouse Engineering & Construction, Inc. (Chicago, IL) B.S. Civil Engineering, May 2018; M.S. Civil Engineering, May 2023 “I am an Associate Civil Engineer with Milhouse Engineering & Construction Inc. and hold five years of experience in the transportation industry. I currently work on projects within Aviation and have worked on traffic signals and ITS design in the past. I am a registered Professional Engineer in Illinois and New York and hold Road Safety Professional (Level 1) and Envision Sustainability Professional certifications. I also serve as a board member for the Illinois Section - ASCE Transportation & Development Institute. I completed my bachelor's and master's degree at UIUC and am excited to give back to the CEE department and serve on the YED!”