In this special issue, we celebrate Dr. Steven H. Kaplan and his nearly 20 years of dedicated service to the University. Unique to this issue are stories highlighting Dr. Kaplan’s visionary leadership as president and chancellor, guiding the University through its most prosperous period in our rich history.
When Jordy Eduardo Padilla-Solis ’15 was interning for a local construction company that was helping build the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge in New Haven, he saw how much of an impact a new bridge could have on a community. Padilla-Solis, who was born in Sucúa, Ecuador, came to the United States when he was seven years old and grew up in New Haven.
Many thousands of cars pass over the bridge, known locally as the “Q Bridge,” each day as they cross over the Quinnipiac River on I-95. Padilla-Solis was grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such an important project in his community.
A member of the University’s Alumni Civil Engineering Advisory Professional Board, Padilla-Solis is now being recognized by his alma mater. He is the 2022 recipient of the Tagliatela College of Engineering Outstanding Young Alumni Award, which honors the achievements of alumni who have graduated within 10 years or are under 35 years of age.
“I was very happy and surprised to have received this award,” said Padilla-Solis, a graduate of the University’s civil engineering program. “As someone who grew up in New Haven, this recognition is a reminder of the importance of community building. It is truly an honor to be recognized by the engineering faculty of the University.”
Ann Cox ’83, a project manager for Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, will receive the Distinguished Lifetime Alumni Award, which recognizes the career achievements of outstanding alumni. Cox, who has worked in the aerospace industry for more than three decades, has played a critical role in missions to the moon and Mars, as well as space shuttle missions. She is also passionate about supporting and inspiring future engineers.
“I am honored to receive this award,” said Cox. “The education I received at the University provided a solid technical foundati on that enabled me to explore and excel in a wide range of engineering areas. The University’s challenging curriculum and engaging faculty were instrumental to the accomplishments I’ve achieved throughout my career.”
The awards are being presented for the first time since the pandemic. The alumni dinner will bring together alumni and faculty to celebrate the award recipients.
For Padilla-Solis, the Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient, those connections have been particularly important. It was one of his faculty mentors with whom he is still in contact, Byungik Chang, Ph.D., P.E., MBA, who invited him to join the Alumni Civil Engineering Advisory Professional Board. He says he has had “lifelong mentors” after graduating.
“I was able to attend and graduate successfully from the University of New Haven through the support of multiple mentors,” he said. “I now have the opportunity to serve as a mentor to current students who want to know more about the industry and prospective students who are interested in majoring in civil engineering. It is a rewarding experience to talk about my career experience and how it ties back to my time as a student at the University.”