People

Susan W. Brown, Ph.D.
Pre-College Education Director

Susan Brown is a Research Associate Professor at New Mexico State University (NMSU) and currently is the Director of the STEM Outreach Center for the NMSU College of Education.  She is the Principal Investigator/Co-Investigator of a NSF grant, several foundation grants, three NASA projects (including the Southern New Mexico Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Aerospace Academy on the campus of New Mexico State University) and other state/federal grants.  Her K-12^th grade after school programs touch the lives of over 5,000 students each year as well as her work with K-12^th grade teachers in providing high quality professional development opportunities that include increasing the teachers’ content knowledge and use of brain researched teaching strategies.  Her outreach focus is increasing student participation and achievement in the STEM fields.    Her research focus is science education and the underrepresentation of minority students and females in the fields of science, math, and engineering.  She joined the University after teaching 16 years in middle and high school science classes.

Martha Mitchell, Ph.D., P.E.
Assistant Director for Diversity

Martha Mitchell is the Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering at New Mexico State University (NMSU. As Associate Dean for Research, she oversees the NMSU College of Engineering Research Center, which assists faculty and research staff in pre- and post-award sponsored projects activities. She was the principal investigator for an NSF ADVANCE PAID grant that was a collaborative effort among New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, the University of New Mexico, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. She currently serves on the ASEE Engineering Research Council Board.  Dr. Mitchell’s research interests are in computer modeling and simulation of adsorption and transport in nanoporous materials. She has used Molecular Dynamics, Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations, and Molecular Density Functional Theory to study molecular-level adsorption and transport of fluids confined to nanoporous materials. She has collaborated with researchers from NMSU, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory and NASA-White Sands Test Facility.

Nasser Hamdan, Ph.D.
CBBG Industry Collaboration and Innovation Director

Nasser Hamdan is an Assistant Research Professor in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at ASU. His expertise is in biogeotechnical engineering and biogeochemical processes for ground improvement and remediation. His research activities involve experimentation and analytical testing related to induced mineral precipitation using biological processes and macromolecules such as enzymes and biopolymers. He is currently involved in various projects directed towards the improvement of the bulk mechanical properties of soil, surficial soil stabilization, sustainable building materials, facilitated mineral precipitation and environmental remediation. Prior to pursuing his graduate degree in civil engineering, Dr. Hamdan spent nearly 10 years in the electrical and plumbing service industry. He also has experience operating retail and self-service businesses, and experience in negotiating and drafting contracts related to these businesses.

Phone: (480) 965-2277, Email: nasser.hamdan@asu.edu

Jean Larson, Ph.D.
Education Coordinator

Jean Larson has a Ph.D. in Educational Technology, postgraduate training in Computer Systems Engineering, and many years of experience teaching and developing curriculum in various learning environments. She has taught technology integration and teacher training to undergraduate and graduate students at Arizona State University, students at the K-12 level locally and abroad, and various workshops and modules in business and industry. Dr. Larson is experienced in the application of instructional design, delivery, evaluation, and specializes in eLearning technologies for training and development. Her research interests focus on efficient and effective online learning, and how instructors are prepared to teach in digital environments. She coordinates outreach events for the CBBG with local school districts and organizations, various centers on the ASU campus, and summer programs for teachers, high school students and undergraduates. She also develops CBBG curriculum for learners at the K-12, college, and professional development levels.

Regina D. Sanborn
Administrative Director

Regina Sanborn comes to CBBG with a strong background and extensive experience in fiscal management and oversight, database development and management, human resources, marketing and communications, research proposal development and grant writing, and large event coordination. Prior to joining CBBG, she was the Administrative Director at the ASU QESST ERC and served as the Assistant Director for the NSF-funded Center for Nanotechnology in Society at ASU. Her experience also includes administrative roles at the ASU Alumni Association, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Physical Therapy Association, and the American Medical Women’s Association.

Michelle R. Walker
Project Coordinator

Michelle Walker brings to CBBG a strong background in fiscal, database and records management, business operations, communications, report preparation, event coordination, and customer service. She is completing her B.S. degree in Graphic Information Technology at ASU, which has benefitted CBBG as she designs and produces all Center collateral materials (newsletters, brochures, fliers, reports), and manages the CBBG web site. Ms. Walker joined CBBG after working at the ASU QESST ERC, the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at ASU, and the ASU Alumni Association.

Alena J. Raymond
CBBG Student Leadership Council President

Alena J. Raymond is the President of the CBBG Student Leadership Council.  She is a graduate student at the University of California, Davis, seeking a Master of Science in Civil Engineering in 2017.  Her thesis topic is Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Geotechnical Engineering Practices.  Her advisors are Dr. Jason DeJong and Dr. Alissa Kendall. 

Student Research Summary:  Sustainability is an emerging concern within civil engineering. The main objective of this research is to develop a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) framework to analyze and compare the environmental, economic, and social impacts of industry practices and new technologies in geotechnical engineering.  The LCSA framework will enable documentation of the environmental flows consumed and produced by a system, as well as quantification of the costs, benefits, and environmental impacts of current practices and innovative research in the field.  It will allow designers to quantify the impacts of various designs for a given project and to select the most sustainable approach.  The framework will also act as an analytical and decision-making tool for technology development and optimization, as well as deployment of the most promising technologies in industry.  It will identify and evaluate major environmental, economic, and/or feasibility concerns of research projects.  This research will increase the importance of public health in design by encouraging consideration of sustainable engineering practices in geotechnical design.  It will identify the major environmental concerns of existing geotechnical engineering practices, and it will help broaden the range of environmental issues considered by public policymakers in developing regulations or setting policies for civil works projects.