By Ines Aviles-Spadoni, M.S., M.A., Research/Communications Coordinator
Five students graduated on Monday, May 5, from UF’s online master’s degree in civil engineering with a concentration in transportation leadership. To celebrate this very important moment in their lives, the graduates were honored with a reception at the I-STREET Living Lab, the location for UF’s real-world testbed for connected and automated vehicle technologies and advanced mobility solutions, making it the perfect venue to celebrate our future transportation leaders.
The reception was hosted by Siva Srinivasan, Ph.D., professor and associated director for the UFTI, and Kyle Riding, Ph.D., professor and chair of the UF Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, who is serving as the institute’s interim director. The graduates were Kevin Jones, Tatiana Mitchell, Robyn Wilson, Shanae Whitfield, and Ralph Yoder, all Florida Department of Transportation state employees. Wilson reflects on her journey throughout the program and how it has shaped her understanding of transportation and leadership.
“Through coursework focused on transportation policy, infrastructure planning, and systems thinking, I gained a broader appreciation of how technical, regulatory, and operational elements intersect,” Wilson said. “The leadership training embedded in the curriculum emphasized strategic decision-making and stakeholder engagement, skills that are essential in my role overseeing property management for a statewide transportation agency. The program gave me the tools to think more holistically and lead with both technical competence and a people-first mindset.”
A total of 22 people attended the intimate event, which included the families of the graduates. The reception featured a graduation cake, photos, and a thoughtful goodie bag filled with UF-themed swag, thanks to Nancy McIlrath, the graduate academic coordinator and director of international outreach for UF’s Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and the Environment (ESSIE). Along with Srinivasan, McIlrath plays an important role in this program by supporting the online graduate students through their academic journey, ensuring they stay on track to graduate.
The event was equally important to Srinivasan, who is the director of the online program. Srinivasan maintains regular contact with each student, providing guidance, instruction, and support as they work toward their professional development goals.
“The hard work and the discipline demonstrated by the students balancing life, work, and studies is truly amazing,” Srinivasan said. “It was great to have them all in the graduate program, and I look forward to their contributions to the profession and future personal accomplishments.”
Although not present due to her doctoral dissertation writing duties, Myra Monreal, Srinivasan’s graduate assistant, has also played an important role in supporting the program and connecting with the students. Thanks to funding from the Florida Department of Transportation, the program is expected to grow in the coming years with increasing interest from prospective students and employers from consulting firms and other state departments of transportation across the United States.
The online master’s degree in civil engineering with a concentration in transportation leadership is designed for working professionals who are interested in advancing their careers and taking on leadership roles to address today’s transportation challenges. The program’s fully online format was designed with a working professional in mind, allowing students to balance work, family, and their educational/career aspirations. Students take classes in engineering leadership, fundamentals of the engineering profession, project management, and engineering innovation. Wilson found that the flexibility of the online format led to her successful completion of the program.
“As a full-time professional with a family, I needed a program that respected those responsibilities while still offering a rigorous educational experience,” she said. “The flexibility to complete coursework on evenings and weekends, without sacrificing academic quality, allowed me to stay present both at work and at home.
The transportation field isn’t just for engineers or transportation planners. Most of these students are already working in the transportation industry and come from a diverse range of academic backgrounds, including business, finance, public administration, communications, economics, and information technology, among others. The common theme that unites these students is their interest in creating safer, efficient, and sustainable transportation systems. Mitchell, a Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSM&O) project coordinator, reflects on how non-engineers benefit from this program.
“As a non-engineer working as a TSM&O Project Coordinator in the Arterial Section of TSM&O, this program allowed me to dive deeper into the technologies associated with traffic signals and related systems,” she said. “This gave me a better understanding of the technologies we deploy, and the emerging technologies that will allow drivers to move more safely through our corridors.”
Upskilling and earning a degree while working full-time and raising a family is an endeavor that must be respected and admired. For most of these students, it also signals a turning point in their careers. Not only have they gained top-notch technical and leadership skills, but this degree will also open doors to new possibilities, whether that means a promotion or playing a vital role in effecting transportation policy.
“The program helped me to gain, not one, but two promotions over my time in the program,” Mitchell said. “Now that I have earned this degree, I hope to make an impact on future Transportation Systems Management and Operations, by incorporating the leadership skills I have learned to empower future leaders to make lasting changes that will continue to improve our transportation network.”
As the UF online master’s degree in civil engineering with a concentration in transportation leadership continues its mission to help shape the future of transportation, these graduates are more than ready to make a difference in our communities.