Akono named an ASCE "New Face of Civil Engineering" for 2016

2/23/2016

Assistant professor named one of ten "2016 New Faces of Civil Engineering Professionals" by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

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Ange-Therese Akono, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been named one of ten "2016 New Faces of Civil Engineering Professionals" by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Honorees will be recognized throughout the year and during Engineers Week, which starts February 21. 

The New Faces of Civil Engineering-Professional Edition recognition program promotes the bold and humanitarian future of civil engineering by highlighting the achievements of young civil engineers, their contributions to and impact on society. Akono, featured in this video, will be officially recognized during ASCE’s annual Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) Gala on March 17, 2016, in Arlington, Va.

Akono teaches two undergraduate classes and one graduate class in civil engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. She is also a research and academic advisor as well as a research scientist and a reviewer for prestigious scientific journals. In her research laboratory, she investigates broad societal issues like reducing the carbon footprint of the concrete industry or discovering enhanced-performance structural nano-materials by integrating applied mathematics, advanced solid mechanics and laser-precision experiments.

“After visiting Chartres Cathedral and being amazed at its architectural and engineering grandeur, I was inspired to design structures that will stand the test of time and inspire humankind throughout centuries,” said Akono on what inspired her to pursue civil engineering.

Akono promotes her enthusiasm for the profession by serving as a member on the Modeling Inelasticity & Multiscale Behavior Committee in ASCE’s Engineering Mechanics Institute. In addition to her professional involvement, she spends time mentoring undergraduate engineering students and encouraging their professional growth.

Akono was raised in Cameroon, Africa, and received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the Ecole Polytechnique in Palaiseau, France. She then went on to complete a master’s degree and PhD in civil and environmental engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The 10 New Faces of Civil Engineering will be considered by DiscoverE to represent ASCE among the 2016 New Faces of Engineering. This program includes honorees from civil, mechanical, chemical, industrial and manufacturing engineering professions. The selected ASCE representative will be profiled on the DiscoverE website and featured in various local, regional and national news outlets.

Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 150,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America’s oldest national engineering society. For more information, visit www.asce.org.
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Contact: Ange-Therese Akono, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.


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This story was published February 23, 2016.