UTEP Civil Engineering Professor Named El Paso Engineer of the Year
Last Updated on February 17, 2021 at 12:00 AM
Originally published February 17, 2021
By UC Staff
UTEP Communications
Soheil Nazarian, Ph.D., professor of civil engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso, was named Engineer of the Year by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) El Paso Chapter for his vast academic, professional and community contributions.
The TSPE El Paso Engineer of the Year Award is the highest honor given to a professional engineer by the chapter. Chapters nominate eligible candidates for consideration at the state and local level. Recipients of the award are engineers whose sustained and unusual contributions have improved the public welfare and the advancement of their profession.
Nazarian serves as director of the University’s Center for Transportation Infrastructure Systems. He has more than 30 years of industry and academic experience in the area of transportation infrastructure, with an emphasis on structures materials, such as that of highways and bridges. His academic experience includes research and teaching positions at UTEP and The University of Texas at Austin. He holds a patent for the moveable seismic pavement analyzer, a nondestructive testing device used in evaluation of transportation infrastructure.
Nazarian has contributed to more than 90 research projects focused on nondestructive materials testing and materials applications, and is the author of more than 300 industry-related articles and publications. He has directed more than 75 theses and dissertations during his tenure at UTEP.
“I am so humbled to be selected for this recognition. It means a lot more when you are recognized by your local colleagues,” Nazarian said. “I am so proud to be part of the El Paso engineering community for the last 33 years.”
Nazarian will be recognized during the TSPE Engineers Week virtual banquet Feb. 26.