Spotlight
Societal need
drives ATRIs Knoebel
By Laurie
Mellas Ramirez
A
two-page nomination signed by the ATR Institute (ATRI) director
as well as a dozen staff and students shine the Spotlight on
Unit Administrator Geri Knoebel.
Knoebel
is an 11-year employee of the institute, an arm of the School
of Engineering. ATRI takes an interdisciplinary approach to
transportation research projects and focuses on a guiding principle
that transportation systems must meet the needs of society as
a whole.
Both Knoebel
and the institute are strong proponents of context sensitive
design involving communities in transportation projects
that affect quality of life, cultural heritage and transportation
options. Knoebel said when undertaking transportation projects
it is important to involve the community in partnership
early on before decisions are made. Otherwise, projects not
supported by the community will require conflict mediation to
resolve.
Active
in her South Valley community, Knoebel took on additional volunteer
responsibilities during the recent Isleta Boulevard project
as a member of the citizens advisory committee. The boulevard
is part of El Camino Real, the oldest continuously used highway
in the United States. It is also part of the original alignment
of Route 66.
Isleta
Boulevard had been a two-lane highway without shoulders, bike
lanes, sidewalks or lighting. After community input and some
contention between those advocating for five-lanes versus three,
a compromise hybrid design evolved recognizing safety and traffic
needs of the area and a sense of place in the historically and
culturally rich valley.
Knoebel
provided technical assistance and analysis needed to spearhead
the compromise design.
The
South Valley community voiced its needs and I helped facilitate
the process through developing ways to look at complex engineering
information in a way that the community could understand,
Knoebel said.
This included
creating impressive albums of current and historical photographs,
concept designs, matrices and maps. A masters of public
administration student, the evolving community road project
is Knoebels professional paper topic and she hopes someday
to publish a book. A not so amateur photographer, her photographs
of the Isleta Project are displayed throughout ATRI.
Knoebel
heaps praises on her staff and said the support of institute
Director Judith Espinosa is invaluable.
I
treat others how I would like to be treated myself. I believe
in teamwork and that each person has unique talents, Knoebel
said.
Geri
not only strives for excellence in all her work, she encourages
it from all who work with her by setting a wonderful example.
Plainly put, she is an inspiring person to know, nominators
said.
Knoebel
has been with the ATR Institute almost since its inception.
She started at UNM as a temp in 1992. She worked in a variety
of management positions in the East, including for the United
Way of Central Maryland, as well as natural foods cooperative
grocery stores in the Southwest.