INDOT commissioner kicks off Trine student institute

The head of the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) joined Trine University students remotely to help launch its new Transportation & Development Institute (T&DI), part of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Lyndsay Quist, INDOT commissioner, spoke to 17 students about the agency’s vision for the future, including autonomous vehicles and AI, major infrastructure projects and how the next generation of engineers can help impact INDOT.

She then answered questions submitted by students in advance as well as questions from those in attendance.

The event, held Sept. 15, was held jointly with Trine’s chapters of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).

"Indiana's transportation future depends on the next generation of civil engineers. I founded T&DI to put our students in the room with the people leading it, starting with the INDOT commissioner, and to bring ASCE and ITE together in the process," said Nicholas Wahlman, a civil engineering major from Paris Crossing, Indiana, who is founder and chair of T&DI.

Wahlman said T&DI has more events planned this fall that will host transportation industry professionals.

At the national level, T&DI is one of ASCE's nine technical institutes, which represent specific areas of civil engineering. The national institute serves as the home for all transportation and development-related activities within ASCE.

At Trine, T&DI serves as part of the university's ASCE student chapter.

 

Photo: Trine University students listen to Lyndsay Quist, commissioner for the Indiana Department of Transportation, at the launch event for the Transportation & Development Institute (T&DI) on Sept. 15. (Photo by Nicholas A. Wahlman)