Award Winners

In 2015, Sheryl Staub-French received the School of Engineering's highest honor, the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award, honoring alumni whose accomplishments in their professions, communities, and University service have set them apart.

Since obtaining her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Santa Clara, Sheryl Staub-French went on to earn her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University. She is currently Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at University of British Columbia. An active proponent of the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM)—a digital process for modeling the spatial, functional, and contextual dimensions of a construction project—Sheryl researches and develops tools and techniques to better support multi-disciplinary decision processes in the increasingly complex field of construction coordination. Over the past 15 years she has contributed more than 50 papers in leading journals and conferences in BIM and topics related to the technological and organizational issues associated with its implementation. She is also the inaugural holder of the Goldcorp Professorship for Women in Engineering and Director of the eng•cite program, which develops and delivers a targeted recruitment strategy for UBC Engineering that aims to increase the number of women enrolled in its programs to 50% by 2020.  Eng•cite works with teachers, counselors, parents and high school students to promote engineering education, and provide mentorship and role models for young women who might not otherwise consider or pursue engineering careers. For her contribution to the field of civil engineering and her commitment to the education of the next generation of practitioners, Sheryl receives this award.