Engineering education and infrastructure workforce development are central to Marian Barth’s new role on Northeastern University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Industrial Advisory Board.
The board brings together public- and private-sector leaders to advise the department on academic programmes, research priorities and cooperative education. Barth will contribute her transportation industry experience to discussions about preparing engineering students for evolving professional and technical demands.
A Northeastern graduate, Barth previously participated in the university’s co-op programme, which helped establish her path to a career at STV. Her appointment creates an opportunity to contribute to the university’s connection with the infrastructure industry.
As STV’s area manager in Massachusetts, Barth oversees the transportation business across the state and directs multidisciplinary teams working with public agencies.
Her client portfolio includes the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Massachusetts Port Authority. Her experience spans major transit, bridge, rail and resiliency programmes across the region.
That background provides industry perspective for the advisory board as it considers how engineering education can respond to changing infrastructure requirements and professional practices.
Engineering advisory boards provide a channel for employers and public agencies to communicate changing workforce needs to universities. Industry participation can help academic departments keep research priorities, curricula and cooperative education opportunities relevant to professional practice.
For transportation and infrastructure organisations, stronger collaboration between universities and industry can support the development of graduates equipped for multidisciplinary project teams and complex public infrastructure programmes.
Source: STV.
