By Ines Aviles-Spadoni, M.S., M.A., UFTI Research/Communications Coordinator
Amanda Carpenter, Stacy Hill, and Daniel Soto each came to the Transportation Leadership program from very different careers within the transportation industry, representing areas such as construction, policy, and consulting. In December 2025, the students graduated with a master’s degree in transportation engineering, demonstrating that no single path directly leads to becoming a transportation leader.
The UFTI celebrated the graduates’ accomplishments with a pre-graduation reception at the I-STREET Lab on December 13, where their families were also invited to celebrate this very important moment together, along with Siva Srinivasan, Ph.D., professor and UFTI associate director, Kyle Riding, Ph.D., professor and head of the Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering. Representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) joined the celebration, both in person and remotely.
The interdisciplinary nature and experience of the students accepted into this program are exactly what define the Transportation Leadership program. It was created for working professionals who already have a career in the transportation industry; people who are shaping policy, improving safety, managing growth, or working in the funding and communications sphere. These roles require much more than technical skills alone; they require professionals to think like a leader and learn how to make important transportation decisions that affect communities.
Carpenter is the executive director of the Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council. She works with 27 metropolitan planning organizations in the state to align local priorities with those of the state. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Florida State University and says she found much value in the program’s leadership approach.
“One of the most valuable experiences I had was taking the Engineering Leadership courses (EGS6039/EGS6681), where I learned to apply leadership principles to technical and organizational challenges,” Carpenter said. “The courses emphasized concepts such as emotional intelligence, ethical decision-making, systems thinking, and effective communication. These courses provided me with the tools to go beyond technical knowledge and become a more effective leader, capable of building consensus and driving results in complex transportation planning environments.”
Hill is a senior construction project manager for FDOT District 1, where she oversees major infrastructure projects in the Heartland Operations region. She has a bachelor’s degree from Northwood University. She said that she became interested in the program because of its unique focus on leadership within the transportation sector.
“As someone already working in construction management, I wanted to deepen my technical knowledge while also developing the strategic and leadership skills necessary to take on more complex projects and mentor emerging professionals,” Hill said. “ The online format was a game-changer—it allowed me to balance a demanding career with graduate studies. The faculty were not only experts in their fields but also deeply invested in student success. Courses were designed to be immediately applicable, blending theory with real-world case studies that mirrored challenges I faced on the job.”
Soto is a civil engineer with a degree from Auburn University. He’s into data and design and works as a project professional at Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) in Auburn, Alabama. Soto passed the Fundamental of Engineering (FE) exam and secured his Engineer-in-Training status through the State of Alabama. He is scheduled to take the Professional Engineer (PE) exam in early 2026. At GMC, he works across multiple areas of civil engineering, including land development, site and civil design, utilities, transportation and drainage.
“I chose this program to strengthen my leadership and management skills and to position myself for future project management and firm leadership roles,” Soto said. “I was especially motivated by the program’s focus on multimodal safety, transportation policy, and planning, all of which align with the type of work I hope to lead throughout my career. The program’s national reputation, combined with the flexibility of an online format that allowed me to continue working full-time, made UF the perfect fit.”
The trio of graduates has indeed captured the essence of what UF’s Transportation Leadership program is all about – the interdisciplinary approach, anchored in real-world transportation experiences, and the shared desire to lead and build a better transportation system for all.