By Feniosky A. Peña-Mora, Sc.D., P.E., NAS, CCM, F.CIOB, NAC, Dist.M.ASCE
I grew up in the Dominican Republic in the city of Santo Domingo, a place that embodied the perfect blend of old-world charm and emerging development. Its infrastructure created a unique interwoven tapestry of history and modernity that inspired me to become a civil engineer. My dream was to learn from the past to create a better future for all. After moving to the United States, ASCE became a significant influence in my journey, helping open the door to my American Dream. Now I’d like to pay it forward by serving as a springboard for others.
The civil engineering profession encompasses a wide variety of disciplines and sectors. And I’m grateful that my experiences in my career have allowed me to understand this diversity and connect with our members. My vision for the Society is “One ASCE: Together, we build a better world for all.”
This vision for ASCE’s future and our role as civil engineering leaders starts with each of us. We are practitioners, educators, researchers, and entrepreneurs. We work in private-sector firms and in public-sector agencies. So, as I begin my term as ASCE president, I want to see this vision through by engaging you to assist each group.
For practitioners, I want to facilitate opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration. For educators, I’ll work through our committees with faculty to create the space to better integrate real-world challenges into academic programs to help students lead in a rapidly changing world. For researchers, I’ll work with our institutes to identify ways to support them in leading and addressing global challenges. For entrepreneurs, I’ll work with committees to create an environment that supports new ventures.
To help those in the private sector, I want to involve industry leaders in aligning practices with sustainable development goals, ensuring our work has long-lasting societal benefits. And I will work closely with public-sector agencies to advocate for infrastructure projects that enhance the quality of life in communities everywhere.
While working with each group, I want to emphasize four key areas: sustainability, resilience, equity, and mental health. I believe that if our organization and profession can strengthen these areas, we will build a better world.
We must design and build sustainable infrastructure that meets today’s needs while ensuring future generations will meet theirs. In doing so, we’ll minimize our environmental footprint, conserve resources, and create infrastructure that supports long-term ecological balance. Our infrastructure must also be resilient to endure and recover from adversity. We need to ensure that communities don’t just survive but thrive.
Infrastructure should also serve communities equitably, addressing disparities and providing equal opportunities for all. For our communities to thrive, everyone must have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. This includes resources for mental health. The spaces we design and build should support mental well-being.
As I step into the role of ASCE president, I am honored to serve the Society and each of you. There’s a lot of work I’m eager to get started on, and I’m confident that together, we will build a better world for all. Your contributions and engagement are crucial to this vision.
Feniosky A. Peña-Mora, Sc.D., P.E., NAS, CCM, F.CIOB, NAC, Dist.M.ASCE, is the executive president for research and dean of engineering and sciences at Tec Monterrey in Mexico. He is the 2024-25 ASCE president.
This article first appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of Civil Engineering.
