Marsha Anderson Bomar, president of the American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE) and a University of Georgia alumna, will present the George H. Boyd Distinguished Lecture on November 3 at 1:30 p.m. in the Coverdell Center.
The lecture, titled “Valuing Infrastructure to Avoid the Bumps in the Road: Research, Reporting, and Advocacy,” will focus on how ASCE uses data and its quadrennial Infrastructure Report Card to inform communities and guide policymakers on infrastructure investment. Bomar was elected this year to the National Academy of Engineering. She began her career in transportation planning inspired by her father’s work with the New York State Department of Transportation and later pursued a Ph.D. in environmental planning and design at the University of Georgia.
“I am so honored to be returning to UGA to deliver the Boyd Lecture,” Bomar said. “It’s something I never imagined would happen, quite frankly. I was very moved when I got the request.”
Bomar serves as a transportation strategic advisor to GHD, a global professional services company focused on sustainable solutions in water, energy, infrastructure, and communities. She is also commissioner emeritus of the City of Atlanta Department of Transportation. Her previous roles include assistant general manager for capital program delivery at the Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Transit Authority (MARTA), as well as founder of Street Smarts Inc., a planning, engineering and design firm, and Data Smarts, a data collection and management company.
Having worked in both private and public sectors, Bomar says her experience gives her insight into both the political and technical aspects of transportation, which helps in prioritizing public interests.
The ASCE Infrastructure Report Card evaluates 18 infrastructure categories including roads, bridges, airports, water systems, and dams. Its purpose is to inform the public about community infrastructure and promote investments that protect public health, safety, and welfare.
“When we look at the projects in which we invest, we want to make sure we are developing sustainable and resilient solution — that we’re building them to improve safety, and that we’re taking care of the best public interest,” Bomar said.
The George H. Boyd Distinguished Lecture Series is open to the public and honors the former dean of the UGA Graduate School for his dedication to education and research. The series is supported by the Office of Research and the William S. and Elizabeth K. Boyd Foundation. It brings national leaders in science, education, and related fields to discuss the application of research to current issues in education.
The lecture will take place at 1:30 p.m. on November 3 in Room 175 of the Paul D. Coverdell Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences, with a reception following in the Coverdell lobby.
