Colorado State University Engineering Dean Recognized for Contributions to Engineering in Colorado

Note to Reporters: A photo of Sandra Woods is available with the news release at http://www.news.colostate.edu/.

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado has honored Sandra Woods, dean of engineering at Colorado State University, with the 2011 General Palmer Award for her significant contributions to Colorado engineering.

Woods is one of about 40 female deans in engineering colleges across the country. The General Palmer Award is given to an engineer in the industry for significant contributions in Colorado as well as accomplishments that have advanced the engineering community and made an impact on future generations.

Woods will receive the award at the Council’s next meeting at the Lakewood Country Club on Tuesday, Jan. 25. She also will deliver the keynote address and speak about leadership.

Woods joined Colorado State in 2001 as a professor and department head of civil engineering. She also has served as interim vice provost for special projects and interim vice provost for faculty affairs. She served as interim dean for a year before being formally appointed to the position in 2006.

At Colorado State, Woods has focused on making the College of Engineering more collaborative and building interdisciplinary programs in biomedical and systems engineering. Her leadership in the college has focused on greater interdisciplinary cooperation – within the college and across campus – and created a strategic focus on research programs that have global impact and affect quality of life.

Prior to joining Colorado State, Woods was a faculty member at Oregon State University. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and her doctoral degree from the University of Washington.

Her honors and awards include the College of Engineering Loyd Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Teaching, the Beaver Champion Award from the president of Oregon State for leadership, the Association of Women in Science Fellow for the Oregon chapter and the National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator in Engineering award.

Woods has served as faculty adviser for the Society of Women Engineers collegiate section at Oregon State University and has been active in several professional societies including the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Society for Engineering Education.

Founded in 1909, the American Council of Engineering Companies, which is comprised of 51 state and regional councils, represents the breadth of America’s engineering industry. Council members are engaged in a wide range of engineering works that propel the nation’s economy and enhance and safeguard America’s quality of life.

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