What are your research interests?
My research sits at the intersection of engineering education and civil engineering, with a focus on preparing future engineers for a profession increasingly shaped by emerging technologies and the uncertainty inherent in engineering design—from incomplete information to changing environmental conditions and unexpected demands. I study how supportive learning environments, teaching innovation, and technology-enhanced learning support student learning and success and contribute to meaningful change in engineering education. Building on my civil engineering background, I am particularly interested in how students develop conceptual understanding and engineering thinking and ultimately learn to make informed engineering judgments in authentic engineering contexts.
What classes are you teaching at Lehigh?
First-Year Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering related and courses
What degrees do you hold and where did you earn them?
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (Universidad Militar Nueva Granada); Master of Science in Civil Engineering—Geotechnical Engineering (Universidad de los Andes); PhD in Civil Engineering—Geotechnical Engineering (University of Delaware); PhD candidate in Engineering Education (Virginia Tech); Ph.D. candidate in Engineering Education (Virginia Tech)
What was your previous institution?
Before joining Lehigh, I was at Virginia Tech, where I am completing my Ph.D. in Engineering Education and have taught first-year engineering courses. Prior to Virginia Tech, I spent about 15 years at Universidad Militar Nueva Granada in Colombia, where I taught geotechnical engineering courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including introduction to civil engineering to first-year students. I also served in several academic leadership roles, including Chair of the Civil Engineering Department. These experiences have shaped my commitment to engineering education.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
Teaching is one of my passions. What I enjoy most is seeing students grow—not only in what they know, but also in their confidence and identity as engineers—and build collaborative relationships with others. I enjoy creating learning environments where students feel encouraged and challenged while developing a sense of community. Seeing students talk, share experiences, and realize they can learn from and help each other is especially rewarding. For me, teaching is ultimately about supporting students’ success while preparing them to become thoughtful and capable engineers who contribute to society.
Why did you choose Lehigh?
I am very excited to become part of the Lehigh family because I found a strong connection between what I value as an educator and the kind of engineering education Lehigh is building. My dual appointment with Civil and Environmental Engineering and the First-Year Rossin Engineering (FYRE) program provides a unique opportunity to stay connected to my engineering discipline, particularly geotechnical engineering, while also contributing to a first-year engineering program that strongly aligns with my professional interests and experience.
I was especially drawn to FYRE’s focus on intellectual curiosity and supporting students from the beginning of their engineering journey. Guided by my motto, Leveraging empathy to foster students’ success, I see a strong connection with FYRE’s commitment to meeting students where they are while maintaining meaningful learning experiences and high academic expectations.
I also found a strong sense of community at Lehigh and see it as a place where I can contribute, continue to learn and grow as an educator, and build a long-term academic home.
