CE Faculty Feature - Dr. Vanessa Valentin

Dr. Vanessa Valentin
Assistant Professor
Construction

Background  

Dr. Valentin was born in a small town in Puerto Rico and comes from a family of engineers. Her father and older brother, both civil engineers, incited Dr. Valentin’s interest in the field. She received her B.S. from the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez in 2005, and went on to obtain both her M.S. and Ph.D. from Purdue University. Last summer, Dr. Valentin defended her thesis, which focused on impact assessment of inter-organizational dynamics on the performance of capital-intensive projects. 

Research Interests  

Here at UNM, Dr. Valentin teaches construction courses that include Construction Methods and Equipment (CE 370) and Construction Contracting (CE 372). Her research interests include construction risk management, project network dynamics, public policy, and sustainable and resilient infrastructure systems. Dr. Valentin sees an important connection between public opinion, infrastructure projects, and policy making:

“Infrastructure projects are complex undertakings that capture public attention because of their magnitude and effect on society, the economy, and the environment. Public opinion presents a source of great uncertainty in infrastructure development projects. For this reason, the integration of the public and the affected community in these projects is essential for their efficient delivery. Involving the public at early stages of the project life cycle ensures that the objectives and expectations of the public are addressed. Usually, social aspects are left behind in the project’s planning stages. Keeping in mind that infrastructure projects are designed and constructed for the wellbeing of society and considering the global quest for developing more sustainable infrastructure developments, this has to change. Understanding the expectations and dynamics between the public and the main players in an infrastructure project network would provide insight for improved policy and decision making processes.”

Outside of the Classroom  

Dr. Valentin moved to New Mexico this past summer. The mild weather, vibrant Southwest culture, and welcoming CE community have made her feel right at home. Outside of school, she enjoys dancing, Latin music, and singing.