UA Engineering Professor Named Fellow by American Society of Civil Engineers

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The American Society of Civil Engineers recently honored Dr. Ken Fridley, professor and department head of civil, construction and environmental engineering at The University of Alabama, with election to the grade of fellow.

Fewer than 6 percent of ASCE members achieve fellow grade.

Fridley was recognized because of his outstanding leadership and his demonstration for engineering work of major importance. Specifically, he was recognized for his leadership, innovation and efforts in civil engineering education reform, as well as his dedication to students.

Fridley has been a member of ASCE since 1986, serving as a member of the Civil Engineering Department Heads Executive Council and the Region 5 Board of Governors representing Alabama. He is also serving on the committee on academic prerequisites for professional practice and as the vice chair for this committee’s Body of Knowledge committee.

These committees are working to define the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for the future civil engineer, as well as developing new strategies and approaches needed to educate and train the future engineer.

Fridley also serves on the structural engineers emergency response committee of the Structural Engineers Association of Alabama, and he is a technical adviser for the Governor’s Commission on the Black Belt. He is also active in numerous professional organizations, including the American National Standards Institute, the American Forest and Paper Association, the American Society for Engineering Education and the Forest Products Society.

Fridley came to UA in 2003 as the head of the civil, construction and environmental engineering department. His research focus areas include structural engineering and mechanics, structural serviceability and design, and wood engineering and design of wood structures, and natural hazard response and protection of wood-frame buildings.

Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 139,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America’s oldest national engineering society.

In 1837, The University of Alabama became one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering classes. Today, UA’s fully accredited College of Engineering has more than 2,300 students and more than 100 faculty. In the last seven years, students in the College have been named USA Today All-USA College Academic Team members, Goldwater scholars, Hollings scholars and Portz scholars.