Julia P. Clarke, P.E., F.ASCE, an associate and geotechnical engineering department manager at Raba Kistner Inc., has been named a fellow by the ASCE Board of Direction.
Clarke manages the Houston Engineering Department, supervising staff members, including project managers and engineering professionals. She oversees the department’s annual budget and is responsible for meeting profit targets set by the chief operating officer of the Consultants group. She maintains client relationships with school districts, university systems, and local governments to procure geotechnical engineering services. Clarke monitors external client feedback for department projects and addresses clients’ concerns.
She also provides engineering services as principal geotechnical engineer on highway improvement projects. She provides training and mentoring opportunities for young engineering professionals by developing technical training videos and creating the Professional Development Series program. Through this program, she fosters relationships between young engineering professionals and Operational and Corporate Leaders.
Throughout her career, Clarke has been an active leader in the Houston Area and the State of Texas. She served as the 2023-24 vice president for educational affairs for ASCE Texas Section, and promoted STEM education and programs for future civil engineers, engineering students, and young engineering professionals. She served as the 2016-17 vice president technical, 2017-18 vice president administration, 2018-19 president elect, 2019-2020 president, and 2020-21 past president for the ASCE Houston Branch. During her presidency, she participated in an interview titled “Meet a Local Leader in Engineering Supporting STEM Education for Houston Girls” for the Houston Life TV Show. She expressed her passion for attracting African American girls and young women to pursue STEM careers. In 2017, Clarke received the Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award and in 2023 the Award of Honor for her dedicated service to the ASCE Houston Branch.
She is a life member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and served as the 2014-15 president of the SWE Houston Area Section, responsible for the overall direction, communication, and coordination of the section’s activities. She increased SWE’s visibility in the Greater Houston Area community by fostering joint ventures with STEM-related and women's organizations. Prior to becoming president, Clarke held numerous officer and committee chair positions at the local and regional levels within the organization. She received the 2024 SWE Distinguished Engineer Award for demonstrating professional excellence in engineering, engineering management, leadership in SWE, and professional and technical organizations.
Clarke has a Master of Science degree in civil engineering from Purdue University (2008) and a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of South Florida (2005).
