Armen Der Kiureghian Publishes New Book "From Earthquake Tragedy to Beacon of Light: The Story of the American University of Armenia"

CEE Professor Emeritus Armen Der Kiureghian has authored a new book titled From Earthquake Tragedy to Beacon of Light: The Story of the American University of Armenia. The book chronicles the inspiring journey of the American University of Armenia (AUA).

The narrative begins with UC Berkeley's response to the devastating Spitak earthquake of 1988, leading to the establishment of AUA in 1991 during a period of immense challenges in Armenia. It then details the institution's remarkable growth and accomplishments over the past three decades.

Jack Moehle Speaks At Monthly Structural Engineers Association of Northern California Meeting

CEE Professor Jack Moehle gave an on-stage interview about bridging the gap between academic research and practical engineering at the December Monthly Association Meeting for the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC) held on campus. The meeting was attended by several Berkeley CEE students and alumni, including alumnus Ashraf Habibullah, CEO of Computers & Structures, Inc (CSI).

Ashraf Habibullah

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A picture of Ashraf Habibullah at the CEE Welcome Gala on the right with a light blue hexagon tessellation background on the left side.
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Alumni

Inspiring the Next Generation with Human Engineering

Ashraf Habibullah, CEO of Computers & Structures, Inc. (CSI) and a proud Berkeley CEE alumnus, has always championed the idea that interpersonal skills must accompany technical excellence. After earning his Master's degree in Structural Engineering from UC Berkeley in 1970, Ashraf has dedicated his career to advancing the field while inspiring others to lead with confidence and passion.

Ashraf delivered an engaging talk on "human engineering in education" to a packed Banatao Auditorium this fall. Drawing on research from the Carnegie Foundation, he emphasized that 85% of financial success stems from interpersonal skills, not just technical expertise. With his signature energy and humor, he encouraged over 150 CEE students to prioritize public speaking, human connection, and leadership as essential components of their education.

In addition to his insightful talk, Ashraf hosted the annual CEE Welcome Gala at Pauley Ballroom in October, celebrating the vibrancy and achievements of the Berkeley CEE community. Reflecting on the profound impact of civil engineering, he shared, "The profession of Civil Engineering is a profession that makes life better for all of humanity on a daily basis."

Watch CSI's highlight video of the gala. Ashraf's ongoing contributions to Berkeley CEE exemplify his belief that great engineers must also be great communicators and leaders. Thank you, Ashraf, for your lasting impact on Berkeley CEE and the world of engineering!

CEE Welcome Gala Highlight Video

On Friday, October 4th, the CEE community came together for our annual Welcome Gala at Pauley Ballroom—a spectacular evening filled with camaraderie, inspiration, and fun!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ashraf Habibullah, CEO of Computers & Structures, Inc. (CSI), and a proud Berkeley CEE alumnus for hosting this incredible event.

Welcoming New CEE Faculty Members Franco Zunino and Manxi Wu!

We are pleased to welcome new faculty members Franco Zunino in Materials and Manxi Wu in Transportation and Systems, who will join the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering as Assistant Professors next January!

Their expertise builds on our tradition of innovation through cutting-edge research on novel cementitious materials (Zunino) and the application of game theory, multi-agent learning, and optimization to urban systems (Wu).

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