In this episode of 21st Century Engineer, Dr. Dennis D. Truax talks with Katye Miller McGinnis, P.E. about the realities of civil engineering growth: the learning never stops, mentorship takes adaptability, and great projects require empathy inside the workplace and out in the community.
Katye shares lessons from healthcare and complex site development, including how to mentor interns and new hires, how field feedback sharpens engineering judgment, why innovation often starts with operations, and how community engagement can determine whether major public infrastructure funding succeeds or fails.
Key topics include: mentorship + communication, learning styles, field-to-drawing translation, workplace culture and flexibility, and building a “personal board of directors” for your career.
Katye’s path: healthcare + complex site development
Mentorship: teaching concepts → drawings → construction reality
Learning styles: how to support different people effectively
The “pump station moment”: why learning never ends
When training isn’t working: competence, ethics, and fit
Innovation in hospitals: deliveries, traffic flow, and operations
Workplace empathy and flexibility (especially for parents)
Community engagement: why bond measures pass or fail
Katye’s advice: build your personal board of directors
Subscribe and follow us for more conversations on civil infrastructure, leadership, and impact.
In this special episode of 21st Century Engineer, Dr. Dennis D. Truax talks with Jennifer Todd about the “Doubt Tax” the hidden mental and emotional cost women pay in AEC just to be seen as competent.
Jennifer explains why this is different from imposter syndrome, how credibility pressure and bias drive talent out of civil engineering, and why fixing retention starts with leaders building systems that assume competence. The result: stronger culture, better quality of life, and a more productive workforce.
Thomas Smith — longtime ASCE leader and Executive Director for the past 11 years joins Dr. Dennis D. Truax for a special edition of the 21st Century Engineer Podcast. They discuss civil engineering’s future through the lens of workforce shortages, AI, sustainability, extreme weather, and the critical role of advocacy, trusted engineering knowledge, and inclusive pathways into the profession.
Tom’s career path: civil engineering → law → ASCE
ASCE’s biggest profession-wide impacts (report cards, standards, public outreach)
Why AI must be applied “with purpose” — outcomes that serve humanity
Workforce development + career-connected learning
Infrastructure investment advocacy and what comes next
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In this special multi-guest episode, we bring together three industry experts to take on one of the most urgent conversations in civil infrastructure today: how do we build safer, smarter, more resilient projects?Engineers, educators, and practitioners Bill Hayden, Dr. Ahmed Albayati, and Chad Morrison join Dennis to explore:🔹 Why safety must start at the design table, not the construction site🔹 The dangers of siloed thinking in engineering organizations🔹 How systems thinking can transform civil infrastructure🔹 Communication failures between designers & contractors🔹 Real-world examples of preventing injuries and saving lives🔹 Why owners, designers, and contractors must share responsibility🔹 The shift toward “upside-down design”🔹 How leadership, culture, and accountability create safer workplaces🔹 The role of education, research, and cross-discipline collaborationWhether you're a student, early-career engineer, construction professional, or industry leader—this episode gives a blueprint for the future of safe and sustainable infrastructure.
When a late-night call revealed foam discharging into the Mississippi River, chemical engineer Liz Rayfield had to make a decision—one that would shut down an entire plant for a week and cost millions.
In this episode, Liz joins Dennis for a raw and insightful discussion about:
• Ethical responsibility under pressure
• Speaking up when management wants silence
• The operator who trusted his gut
• Why “legal” doesn’t always mean “right”
• How young engineers build credibility and courage
• Industry, licensure, and becoming a true professional
A must-listen for engineers in manufacturing, energy, chemical, civil, or any safety-critical field.
This isn’t just engineering.
This is leadership.
In this episode, Dr. Dennis Truax speaks with BJ Elkins, P.E., a water and wastewater engineer recognized by NSPE as an Emerging Leader. BJ shares how a simple message — “you can use math to help people” — sparked a career focused on service.
From working in rural Uganda to solving small-town Colorado water crises, BJ opens up about purpose, ethics, continuing education, and what it really means to protect the public through engineering.
A powerful conversation for civil engineers, students, and anyone who believes infrastructure is about people, not pipes.
In this episode, Dr. Dennis Truax talks with Sangeeta Bhattacharjee, P.E., PMP, the first woman geotechnical engineer in her Terracon office, about resilience, servant leadership, and breaking gender barriers in engineering.
From growing up in Bangladesh to becoming a recognized emerging leader in Kansas, Sangeeta shares how faith, persistence, and mentorship helped her define success on her own terms.
A must-listen for young engineers, women in STEM, and anyone redefining what leadership looks like in the 21st century.
This edition of The 21st Century Engineer newsletter spotlights Alex Steelman, PE a 2025 NSPE Emerging Leader who shares her journey from aerospace aspirations to building communities through civil infrastructure. Guided by strong mentors and driven by a love for problem-solving, Alex reflects on early-career challenges, lifelong learning, and the importance of professional societies in shaping ethical, servant leaders.
Her story is a testament to resilience, curiosity, and commitment to the profession’s highest ideals: protecting the public, advancing knowledge, and mentoring the next generation.
#CivilEngineering #Mentorship #EngineeringLeadership #WomenInSTEM #NSPE #ServantLeadership
In this episode of the 21st Century Engineer Podcast, Dr. Dennis D. Truax sits down with Isaac Oakeson, founder of @CivilEngAcademy , to discuss the future of engineering licensure and why earning your PE still defines professional competency in civil engineering.Isaac shares how his own struggles with the PE exam inspired him to create one of the leading prep platforms for engineers, how computer-based testing (CBT) has changed the game, and why the three-legged stool of education, experience, and examination still matters.They dive into:🔹 How Civil Engineering Academy helps FE and PE candidates succeed🔹 The pros and cons of removing the breadth section from the PE🔹 What the FE and PE really test — and how to prepare effectively🔹 Why professional licensure remains essential for protecting public safety🔹 The biggest exam changes from NCEES and what’s next for the PEWhether you’re studying for your FE, preparing to sit for your PE, or mentoring the next generation of engineers this conversation will sharpen your perspective on what it truly means to be a licensed professional engineer.
Civil engineering isn’t a luxury it’s a lifeline. Dr. Dennis Truax sits down with Joe Dibbs (Applied Research Associates) to explore how growing up in Lebanon shaped Joe’s view of infrastructure as necessity, his unlikely start as a pastry chef’s aide, and his shift into pavement engineering and asset management. They discuss the leap from academia to consulting, why trust precedes innovation, capturing veteran expertise with AI, and how ASCE/APWA communities create belonging, leadership opportunities, and career durability.
You’ll hear about:
Pavement fundamentals: surveys, design, budgeting at the network level
Communities that accelerate careers (ASCE, APWA)
Navigating early-career expectations and earning influence
Knowledge capture to preserve “dinosaur” wisdom
Making civil engineering attractive to the next generation
Guest: Joe Dibbs, Senior Civil Engineer, ARA
Host: Dr. Dennis Truax
Podcast: 21st Century Engineer Podcast
Welcome to the 21st Century Engineer Podcast, where we spotlight professionals shaping the future of civil infrastructure. In this episode, Dr. Dennis Truax interviews Clint Smith, a civil engineer and project manager at Half Associates, and one of ASCE's 2025 New Faces of Civil Engineering.Clint shares his journey from academia to consulting, offering insights into the shock of transitioning from theory to real-world water and wastewater design. They dive into the complexity of hydraulic modeling, floodplain analysis, the ethical role of engineers in community planning, and the challenges of infrastructure funding and environmental justice.Topics covered include:Designing water and wastewater systemsFloodplain modeling and disaster mitigationASCE involvement, Mosaic & Younger Member ForumVolunteer engineering work in Kenya & UgandaEquity, inclusion, and the future of ethical civil engineeringWhether you're a student, young professional, or seasoned engineer, this episode offers practical advice, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes insight into the life of a modern civil engineer making real impact.Learn more about ASCE’s work: https://www.asce.orgConnect with us: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennistruax/Connect with Clint: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintsmithce/Want to be on the podcast? Reach out at: 21stcenturyengineer.com Timestamps00:00 – Intro: Who This Podcast Is For01:02 – Meet Clint Smith: From Alabama to Austin03:18 – The Shock of Leaving Academia for Consulting06:45 – What Engineering School Didn’t Teach (But Should)10:12 – Fluid Mechanics: The Class That Changed Everything13:26 – Discovering Purpose in Clean Water Access16:02 – Volunteer Work in Kenya & Uganda: The Reality of Water Inequality19:20 – “I Designed That Water Line”: The First Real-World Moment21:37 – Flood Modeling in Texas: Predicting the July 4th Storms25:41 – When Models Match Reality: Life-Saving Engineering28:30 – Why Communities Still Flood (Even When We Know Better)31:04 – The Real Obstacle: Funding, Education & Political Will34:29 – Engineering for Equity: The Human Side of Infrastructure37:48 – ASCE Mosaic, Code of Conduct & Being “Civil” Engineers41:20 – Younger Member Forum: How Engineers Can Lead Early44:15 – Advice to Students & Young Professionals46:50 – Final Reflections with Dr. Truax49:00 – Outro: Why Civil Engineers Must Speak Up
In this compelling episode of the 21st Century Engineer Podcast, Dr. Dennis Truax (former ASCE President) is joined by civil engineer and infrastructure advocate Ana Tijerina Esquino to break down the 2025 ASCE Infrastructure Report Card. From pothole-ridden roads to outdated water systems, they highlight the hidden costs American families face due to failing infrastructure and the opportunities we have to fix it.Together, they explore how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has begun to shift the national conversation, why transit still lags behind ports in funding, and how better long-term funding strategies (not just flashy new tech) could change the future of American infrastructure. Ana shares insight into the grading process, economic impact studies like “Failure to Act” and “Bridging the Gap,” and why a national C grade while still far from perfect — is the highest the U.S. has ever received.
Tony Golopany escaped the Kosovo War as a child and went on to design and rate over 100 bridges across the U.S. — all before turning 30. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Dennis Truax explores Tony’s path from refugee to one of ASCE’s 2025 New Faces of Civil Engineering. Discover what it really takes to build the infrastructure that holds society together.
Civil engineers are overworked, underpaid, and undervalued — but Erin Robinson is proving it doesn’t have to stay that way.
Named one of ASCE’s 2025 New Faces of Civil Engineering, Erin joins Dr. Dennis Truax to unpack the real issues no one wants to talk about:
➡️ Pay gaps and broken loyalty in engineering firms
➡️ Why mentorship is failing young professionals
➡️ How community-first design changes everything
➡️ The massive skills gap between school and practice
➡️ Why soft skills aren't soft — they’re survival tools
She’s a stormwater engineer with real talk and a bigger mission: to make civil infrastructure more human — and to call out the systems that aren’t working.
Whether you're early in your career or already managing teams, this episode pulls no punches.
🎧 Watch or listen — then send it to someone who’s ready to lead.
What does it take to thrive as a minority woman in engineering and construction? And how do you navigate toxic workplaces without losing your purpose — or your power?
In this compelling episode of 21st Century Engineered, Dr. Dennis Truax sits down with Sairan Aqrawi, professional engineer, transit authority leader, certified coach, and unstoppable mentor, for a raw and deeply personal conversation on identity, leadership, and real-world advocacy in the male-dominated world of AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction).
🔥 Topics Covered:
How Sairan balances engineering leadership with business strategy and mentorship
Identifying toxic workplaces — and when it’s time to walk away
What real allyship looks like in engineering and tech
The difference between mentorship and sponsorship — and why you need both
Inner work, executive presence, and building confidence from competence
Whether you’re a young professional finding your way or a seasoned engineer rethinking your impact, this episode delivers fresh insights with heart, humor, and hard-won wisdom.
🎁 BONUS: Learn how to claim a free 15-minute consultation with Sairan to level up your LinkedIn or side business goals. Mention 21st Century Engineer to access this exclusive listener offer.
👇 Don’t forget to:
👍 Like this episode
🗨️ Comment your biggest takeaway
🔔 Subscribe for more real talk from the minds shaping tomorrow’s infrastructure
What happens when billion-dollar environmental engineering relies on broken models? Dr. Dennis Truax sits down with veteran civil engineer Dennis Lambert to unpack the collapse of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project once positioned as a flagship solution to Louisiana’s land loss crisis.
This episode explores how major discrepancies in sediment modeling, bypassed permitting requirements, and a failure to ground truth assumptions led to the project’s downfall. Lambert shares firsthand insights from decades in water resources, along with the professional and ethical questions engineers must confront when science is sidelined for speed.
📌 Topics include:
DELFT3D vs ADH modeling results (20,000 acres vs 7,000)
The role of NEPA, floodplain permits, and bypassed checks
Sediment transport theory vs reality on the Mississippi River
The balance between environmental ambition and engineering accuracy
Civil engineering isn’t just about concrete and calculations—it’s about people, purpose, and the long game.
In this episode of 21st Century Engineer, Dr. Dennis Truax welcomes Josh Burnett, founder of Redesign Studio LLC, to talk through the real-world challenges and mindset shifts required in civil infrastructure today. From struggling to find a job after college to cutting millions in development costs through smarter planning, Josh shares hard-earned lessons on purpose, ethics, communication, and leadership.
If you're an engineer asking bigger questions about your work, your impact, and your “why”—this episode’s for you.
00:00 – Welcome to the 21st Century Engineer Podcast
01:23 – Josh’s path after college & recession-era job hunt
04:41 – What land development taught Josh about humility
07:52 – “What does that number even mean?” – The question that changed everything
10:18 – Why Josh’s first “why” was selfish—and what replaced it
13:25 – Lowering home costs through smarter land planning
15:32 – Ego, ethics, and knowing when to walk away
18:48 – Civil engineers vs regulators: Who’s responsible?
21:09 – The rare value of a mentor who won’t crush you
24:05 – On introversion, communication, and relationship-building
27:10 – Josh’s growth as a communicator & learning rhetoric
30:35 – Why engineers struggle to say “I don’t know”
32:18 – Engineering mistakes, humility, and owning what’s next
34:59 – Civil engineers control construction costs more than anyone
37:47 – Planning smarter: How Josh saved $1.3 million
40:30 – How civil engineers undervalue themselves—and how to change that
43:05 – Why this next decade could be huge for civil engineers
46:20 – Final thoughts: Be ready, be excellent, and mentor someone
📍 Guest: Josh Burnett, Founder – Redesign Studio LLC
🎙️ Host: Dr. Dennis Truax, Former ASCE President & Engineering Educator
💬 Drop a comment: What’s your “why” as an engineer?
🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations from the frontlines of engineering.
🕒 Timestamps (Chapters)
What inspires someone to become a civil engineer? In Autumn Buesking’s case: a childhood bridge, a statewide flood, and a spaghetti-and-glue design contest.
In this episode of 21st Century Water, host Dr. Dennis Truax welcomes Autumn — named one of ASCE’s 2025 New Faces of Civil Engineering — to share her journey from small-town Missouri to designing real infrastructure with national impact.
They dive into:
Building storm shelters, aquatic centers & school expansions
The power of internships and hands-on learning
Her explosive (literally) minor in demolition
The future of engineering: AI, sustainability, and systems thinking
The transition from college to career (including imposter syndrome)
Real advice for students and young professionals
This is a fun, practical, and inspiring conversation for anyone working in — or entering — the world of civil engineering.
🎙️ Hosted by Dr. Dennis Truax, former ASCE president and Professor Emeritus at Mississippi State University.
🔗 Resources
Learn more about ASCE: https://www.asce.org
Subscribe to 21st Century Water wherever you get your podcasts
Connect with us: www.21stcenturyengineer.com
What does it take to build a meaningful engineering career in the 21st century?In this episode of The 21st Century Engineer, Dr. Dennis Truax sits down with Intisar Farhan Ahmed, geotechnical engineer and 2025 ASCE New Face of Civil Engineering, to explore how culture, mentorship, and proactive choices shape the future of infrastructure.🎯 Perfect for young engineers, civil engineering students, immigrants in STEM, and mid-career professionals navigating purpose and growth.👇 Timestamps & Topics(Click to jump to a specific segment — timecodes are searchable)00:00 – Intro: Welcome to The 21st Century Engineer02:10 – Who is Intisar Farhan Ahmed? Career path & credentials05:05 – Growing up in Bangladesh: cultural expectations and career pressure07:52 – Why Intisar chose engineering (vs. accounting)09:35 – Canadian vs. U.S. engineering licensure: pros, cons, and process14:30 – From Vancouver to Seattle: what it’s like to practice in both systems18:10 – How immigration shaped work ethic and mindset22:15 – Joining ASCE: building social capital through professional societies27:20 – How to strategically pick professional organizations (GBA, USSD, etc.)32:45 – What makes geotechnical engineering impactful35:05 – Working on landslides, dams, and data centers38:15 – Mentorship: formal, informal, and peer-to-peer41:20 – Don’t let your career happen to you: planning with intention42:57 – Final thoughts from Intisar & DennisIf you're a young engineer, a mid-career professional, or someone who wants to reconnect with why this work matters — this conversation delivers.📍 Don’t forget to subscribe and share.
In this episode of The 21st Century Engineer, host Dr. Dennis Truax welcomes Monica Gilmore, Executive Director of the Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors. Together, they unpack why professional licensure (PE) still matters in today’s evolving engineering landscape — and what’s at stake when fewer engineers pursue it.
Monica shares:
Her 20+ year journey from civil engineer to executive director
What most students don’t know about the PE path
The “three E’s” of licensure: education, exams, and experience
How visibility and storytelling are shifting the profession
Her passion for outreach, mentorship, and public safety
Whether you’re an engineering student, EIT, or licensed PE — this episode will challenge you to think deeper about responsibility, legacy, and what it really means to be a professional engineer in the 21st century.
🔗 Subscribe, follow, and share if you believe in the power of engineering to shape the world.