ANGOLA, Ind. (WLKI)- Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Lyndsay Quist joined Trine University students remotely last month to help launch the university's new Transportation and Development Institute.
The student organization, known as T&DI, is part of Trine's American Society of Civil Engineers chapter. The September 15 event was held jointly with the university's Institute of Transportation Engineers and Society of Women Engineers chapters.
Quist spoke with 17 students about INDOT's vision for the future of transportation in Indiana. Her presentation included discussion about autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, major infrastructure projects and the role future engineers can play in shaping the state's transportation system.
Students submitted questions in advance and also had the opportunity to ask questions during the event.
Nicholas Wahlman, a civil engineering major from Paris Crossing, founded the institute and serves as its chair. He said the group was created to help put students in direct contact with professionals who are leading transportation policy and development.
"Indiana's transportation future depends on the next generation of civil engineers," Wahlman said. "I founded T&DI to put our students in the room with the people leading it."
T&DI is one of nine technical institutes affiliated with the American Society of Civil Engineers at the national level. The national organization supports transportation and development-related work within the civil engineering profession.
At Trine, the institute will operate as part of the ASCE student chapter and is expected to host more transportation industry professionals during the fall semester.
The organization is intended to give students opportunities to learn from working professionals, ask questions about the field and explore future career paths in transportation engineering and infrastructure development.