I deliberately use the word earn when referring to the process of getting a PhD from the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). It is a degree that comes with high expectations and intense work; and for that, it is well-respected. The Department is similarly respected for its talented faculty. They are excellent instructors, well-published and above all, genuinely invested. Their devotion to the Department's reputation, their research and their students is abundantly apparent in open door policies and conversations that begin with, "I was thinking about your work the other day..." There is also something to be said for the faculty's ability to quietly instill determination and critical thinking by example. Notably, the interdisciplinary nature of CEE extends to having fun, and like all great graduate programs, that often includes free food. I am grateful to my CEE colleagues, who kept me laughing late into the night at the office, and dragged me out for a full meal and a strong drink when I started subsisting on whatever was in the vending machines. These are among the reasons that the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering became a social and intellectual home.to me. I could have gotten a degree from many institutions, but I am honored to have earned a PhD from CEE.

Amanda Hughes (Ph.D. 2011)

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Deciding on pursuing a graduate education entails several important decisions in life.  There are many guesses and, in a sense, leaps of faith.  There are, however, things one can and should consciously have under control.  One of those things is to come to a university and a department where reality matches expectations---to the best of a mutual understanding.  The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon is a particular place where one can make this come true unlike in many other places.  A department where attractive aspects in science and education such as being interdisciplinary or seeking novelty are at its best.  A department where the faculty has and provides for a healthy environment, with a real sense of a community, where success is the consequence of a shared effort and good teamwork.  A department where there is a clear vision for innovation and growth in quality rather than quantity, in a university that provides the appropriate framework for such a program to flourish.  These may sound as rather generic aspects, but they are, at the same time, specific details that play an important role in your stability as a student and later success in life as a professional or academic.  Choosing CEE at CMU is something you can control.  In choosing to come here, however, you must know that we are not a conventional civil and environmental engineering department.  For some, this might not be ideal. To us, on the contrary, it is our greatest asset.  There is already enough people working at that what is known.  CEE people at CMU work at that what is to be known.

Ricardo Taborda (Ph.D. 2011)

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Many factors go into choosing which graduate program is right for you. Carnegie Mellon stood out due to one factor in particular; a caring environment. The CEE Department has a committed faculty that not only wishes to develop graduate students on an academic level, but to also create a nurturing bond resembling that of a family. At first, the students within the graduate program were apprehensive of opening up. The department was able to bring everyone together through various activities throughout the semesters. The experiences gathered from the departmental outings such as the annual ski trip or end of year bowling event had a profound impact on me and will always remind me of the exceptional time I had as a graduate student. Much to my surprise, the graduate professors were much more gregarious than excepted. The monthly departmental seminars were evidence to their open and relaxed mannerisms. Out of all the encounters I had at Carnegie Mellon as a graduate student, the greatest impact on me was the help granted to me by academic advisor. It astounded me how willing my academic advisor was to assist in any issues that arose. This experience dismantled my false perception of professors having no need to care about graduate students. There is no doubt in my mind that the choosing Carnegie Mellon University was the right decision for me.  

Dorian Hemming (M.S. 2011)

With commencement just around the corner, it is only natural to reflect on the experience that Carnegie Mellon has offered me this past year. Coming from four years of undergraduate engineering studies, this year has been a game changer for me. I came here thinking I wanted to be an engineer, and have realized that I want to change the world. Even though they are not mutually exclusive, CMU is a place where new ideas, new technologies and new perspectives are living among us – in our classrooms, research labs, and throughout campus – and we are constantly able to see and feel the impact they have created in our communities and throughout the world. It goes without saying that this has a lot to do with the “meeting of minds” that takes place here at CMU. The diversity of minds, cultures, and experiences, is not simply an element, but a catalyst as well, that drives the innovation that is rooted deep inside the heart of this campus for so many years now. I believe that CMU is where engineers come to be different, to be the innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders of tomorrow.

Omar De Leon (M.S. 2011)

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The pursuit of knowledge and dreams led me almost eleven thousand miles away from home to the most liveable city in the United States of America - Pittsburgh. I first heard of Carnegie Mellon while watching a foreign movie in which a zealot dad advises his son to try and seek admission at either Carnegie Mellon or Wharton. And when you are finally here, it's certainly a tryst with destiny. Standing at 5000 Forbes Avenue, the ‘walk to the sky' welcomes you to the campus. You stand there and behold the sight of people walking to the sky. And you wonder, if this was the realisation of some sci-fi fantasy or is that where this institution takes you to - the skies and perhaps, that too may not be the limit. As you walk down the hallowed portals of the Purnell Center under the watchful eyes of massive pillars, you join the league of those extraordinary men and women whose heart truly lay in their work. By now you will have reached the ‘Fence' which is very symbolic and unique to the spirit of innovation and inspiration at Carnegie Mellon. In life, always walk straight and turn right. That's exactly what you do here. You turn right and tread along the lush green ‘Mall' which separates the traditional and the new. On the right, the massive and wonderfully odd looking School of Computer Science stands against the classical and traditional glory of the Baker-Porter Hall. By now you have come to a point where Judith A. Resnik has been immortalized by a memorial and you turn to enter into the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering. Even before entering the building, your eyes can't skip the banner which congratulates CEE for being a Top 10 program. What goes on inside CEE is remarkably visible to the rest of the world as this is your chance to cross with faculty whose research interests defy conventions and transcend across the borders of engineering. This is your chance to rub shoulders with students who are not only inspirational but also instruments of change. This is the commencement of a journey that leads to self discovery, generates intense enthusiasm and provides you with a real chance to make a difference.                            
 
Abhinav Charan (M.S. 2009)

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CEE is more than a department; it is a community. This community spirit really makes us feel at home, which is especially great if you are a foreign student like both of us are. The number of extra-curricular activities the department offers every year is a great opportunity to make new friends from all parts of the world. Also, we are very proud of our inter-disciplinary work, which leverages talents from different areas and backgrounds. For example we are both working in research projects that involve faculty and students from other departments (Architecture and Electrical & Computer Engineering). We are also able to take courses offered by any department on campus. In summary, CEE is a great place to be, for both its friendly environment and the cutting-edge research we are involved in here.
           
Fernanda Leite (Ph.D. 2009)

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Initially when I enrolled in the Master's program in CEE I was apprehensive and anxious.  I wasn't sure how graduate courses were structured or even if I could handle the amount of coursework given.  In addition I probably wouldn't have applied to Carnegie Mellon if it weren't for an email I received from the head of the department Jim Garrett.  There were so many emotions racing through my mind contemplating if I would succeed, knowing the reputation of Carnegie Mellon and the CEE department.  My nerves were eased at the CEE graduate student orientation where I met other students both foreign and domestic, who shared the same feelings and apprehensive attitudes as myself.  The faculty and staff created a welcoming and nurturing environment that provided a serene and calm atmosphere to pursue my graduate studies.
As I come to the culmination of my Masters degree I can honestly say that the thing I will miss the most are the people.  The CEE staff and professors were always cheerful, pleasant, inviting and amiable.  It made me feel at home to know that I could walk into Maxine or Cornelia's office anytime and ask a question about anything.  The staff/faculty and professors always had a smile on their face when walking through the CEE lounge or simply when attending to work at their desk.  I was introduced to many different cultures from both the international and domestic students here in CEE.  Annual events such as the ski trip, bowling night and talent show allowed me to unwind from my academic studies and connect with my fellow students on a personal level.  Moreover the learning atmosphere here was not as cutthroat and die-hard as I have experienced at many other schools. Collaboration and interdisciplinary studies are encouraged in the CEE department.   Although there were many sleepless nights and all-nighters pulled here at CEE, I don't regret coming here to pursue my graduate degree.  All of the experiences here at CEE have nurtured both my academic and personal development.
 
Lamarr Shand (M.S. 2009)

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