As of October 1, 2016, the SWUTC concluded its 28 years of operation and is no longer an active center of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. The archived SWUTC website remains available here.

CETR Research Staff

Center for Evacuation and Transportation Resiliency
Primary Administrative Contact

Ms. Katie Spansel
Manager of Business and Technical Programs
Gulf Coast Center for Evacuation and Transportation Resiliency
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
Phone:  225-578-9165
Cell:  909-240-2819
[email protected]
Fields of Expertise: Civil Engineering Design; Project Management

Louisiana State University
Principal Investigators

Dr. Fereydoun Aghazadeh
Georgia Gulf Distinguished Professor
Construction Management and Industrial Engineering Dept.
3128 Patrick F. Taylor Hall
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Phone: 225-578-5367
Fax: 225-578-5109
[email protected]
Fields of Expertise: Ergonomics/Human Factors Engineering, Work Physiology, Occupational Biomechanics, Safety Engineering, Anthropometry, Work Measurements, Workplace Design, Human Computer Systems

Dr. Steve C.S. Cai
Edwin B. and Norma S. McNeil Distinguished Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
3526 Patrick F. Taylor Hall
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Phone: 225-578-8898
Fax: 225-578-4945
[email protected]
Fields of Expertise: Structural Engineering, Highway Vehicle Performance, Wind Energy

Dr. Mostafa A. Elseifi
Lloyd Guillory Distinguished Associate Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
3526C Patrick F. Taylor Hall
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Phone: 225-578-4821
[email protected]
Fields of Expertise: Pavement Evaluation and Modeling, Laboratory Characterization of Asphaltic Materials

Dr. Brian Wolshon
Edward A. and Karen Wax Schmitt Distinguished Professor
Director, Gulf Coast Research Center for Evacuation and Transportation Resiliency
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana  70803
phone:  225-578-5247
fax:  225-578-8652
[email protected]
Fields of Expertise: Traffic Engineering; Highway Design; Traffic Safety

University of New Orleans
Principal Investigators

Dr. James R Amdal
Director, Merritt C. Becker Maritime and  Intermodal Transportation Center (MITC)
University of New Orleans
372 Milneburg Hall
New Orleans, LA 70148
Phone: 504-280-6873
[email protected]
Fields of Expertise: Transportation Infrastructure Development, Urban Planning, Historic Preservation and Community Design

Dr. Billy Fields
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Department of Political Science
Texas State University
Office: UAC 332
601 University Dr.
San Marcos, TX 78666
Phone:  512-245-7726
[email protected]
Fields of Expertise: Resilient Communities; Resiliency from Transportation, Urban Planning, and Hazard Mitigation Perspectives

Dr. Kate Lowe
Visiting Assistant Professor of Planning and Urban Studies
University of New Orleans
Milneburg Hall, Room 390
New Orleans, LA 70148
Phone: 504-280-6029
[email protected]
Fields of Expertise: Transportation Policy and Planning, Multi-level Governance; Transit Infrastructure Investment; Policy and Transit Agency Finance

Dr. John L. Renne
Associate Professor, Department of Planning and Urban Studies
Director, Merritt C. Becker Jr. University of New Orleans Transportation Institute
University of New Orleans
Milneburg Hall, Room 378
New Orleans, LA 70148
Phone: 504-280-6592
[email protected]
Fields of Expertise: Transit-oriented Development and Livability, Sustainable Transportation, and Evacuation Planning

Ms. Carol S. Short
Associate Director, Merritt C. Becker, Jr. UNO Transportation Institute (UNOTI)
Administrator, Transportation Studies Program
University of New Orleans
Department of Planning and Urban Studies
388 Milneburg Hall
2000 Lakeshore Drive
New Orleans, LA 70148
Phone: 504-280-7101
Fax:    504-280-6272
Cell:   504-512-1442
[email protected]
Fields of Expertise: Maritime Industry; Education, Workforce Development and Community Outreach

Dr. Bethany Stich
Associate Professor
Planning and Urban Studies
Merritt C. Becker, Jr Maritime and Intermodal Transportation Center
388 Milneburg Hall
2000 Lakeshore Drive
New Orleans, LA 70148
Phone: 504-280-6520
Cell: 622-312-0048
[email protected]
Fields of Expertise: Transportation, Economic Development and Public Policy

Tara M. Tolford
Research Associate
Merritt C. Becker, Jr Maritime and Intermodal Transportation Center
377 Milneburg Hall
2000 Lakeshore Drive
New Orleans, LA 70148
Phone: 504-280-6516
[email protected]
Fields of Expertise: Urban Planning, Active Transportation, Smart Growth, and Complete Streets Policy