Grad Slam Semi-Finalists Jaewon Saw and Zhe Fu to Showcase Research
We are so excited to announce that two CEE semi-finalists will compete in the UC Berkeley Grad Slam on April 9, 3:00-5:00 p.m. via Zoom. The Berkeley first-place winner will advance to compete against the other UC finalists at the UC-wide competition in May.
Watch and cheer on Berkeley CEE PhD candidates Jaewon Saw and Zhe Fu as they showcase their research in a series of three-minute talks!
Zunino Honored with Le Chatelier Distinguished Paper Award
Congratulations to Franco Zunino for winning The Cement and Concrete Research Le Chatelier Distinguished Paper Award for his article "Stability of hemicarbonate under cement paste-like conditions." This award is in honor of the pioneering contributions made by Henri Louis Le Chatelier to chemical sciences and in particular to mineral binders, and work that has followed in his footsteps.
Eyitayo Opabola Receives 2024 Outstanding Paper Award
Congratulations to CEE Assistant Professor Eyitayo Opabola on receiving the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) 2024 Outstanding Paper Award!
Students Visit UCSF Parnassus Research and Academic Building Site
Dr. Mark Shami and students in CE 166: Construction Engineering visited UC San Francisco's Parnassus Research and Academic Building construction site, to learn about the project's key activities. Hensel Phelps hosted the site walk and presentation, which covered the construction methods and heavy equipment leveraged for the complex project.
A special thank you to Cynthia Santiago-Vizcarra and the management team at Hensel Phelps, the Beavers Foundation, and Dr. Mark Shami and Alejandra Amador-Caro for making this field trip possible!
In Memoriam: Richard E. Goodman
By Lilly Goodman-Allwright and Nick Sitar
Join Us For Big Give - Thursday, March 13!
At Berkeley CEE, brilliance shines brightly every day, from transformative learning experiences in the classroom to groundbreaking research in the lab. This Big Give, you’re invited to be that light to empower this extraordinary community.
Your dedication directly impacts the incredible people, places, and programs that make our department a beacon of innovation and positive change. Year after year, Big Give powers life-changing research for the greater good strengthens our community and brightens the future for countless students.
Join CalTrans HQ for BRACE2 Research Project Webinar, Led by Khalid M. Mosalam
Join CalTrans HQ for an insightful webinar on the cutting-edge Bridge Rapid Assessment Center for Extreme Events (BRACE2) research project led by CEE Professor Khalid M. Mosalam from the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) at UC Berkeley.
📅 Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2025
⏰ Time: 10 am - 11 am
Kristi McKenney

The Port of Oakland has appointed Kristi McKenney, a Berkeley CEE alum, as its new Executive Director! McKenney began her career at the Port as an Environmental Planner and is the first woman to hold this leadership position in the Port's 98-year history.
"I'm grateful and excited for this opportunity to lead during such a transformative time in Port history," said McKenney. "I look forward to implementing the Port's 5-year Strategic Plan that will help grow local employment and contracting opportunities and strengthen our economic base."
She has held various positions at the Port, including Assistant Aviation Director and Interim Executive Director. Since February 2020, McKenney has served as the Port's Chief Operating Officer (COO), where she played a crucial role in managing operations during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. During her tenure as COO, she was vital in securing hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal grants to promote a more sustainable Port.
McKenney earned her M.S. degree in Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley in 1989 and her B.S. degree with honors in Aeronautics from San Jose State University in 1986. Her leadership in developing and implementing the zero emissions strategy for the Port of Oakland has positioned the Port at the forefront of the industry, earning it global recognition.
McKenney's efforts to engage the community in the planning and operation of Oakland Airport have allowed it to navigate its growth responsibly and transparently. She has championed women engineers within her organization, resulting in many, alongside herself, holding key technical and management positions.
To learn more about McKenney's expertise, check out the full press release on the Port of Oakland's website here.