San Diego State University Professor recognized for her transformative impact on students and dedication to advancing the construction industry.
The NAWIC Education Foundation (NEF) is proud to announce Dr. Thais da Costa Lago Alves as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Carol A. Kueker Construction Education Visionary Award.
This award celebrates Dr. Alves’s profound dedication to promoting construction education and her unwavering passion for nurturing the next generation of industry leaders, embodying the core purpose and goals that the late Carol A. Kueker championed for so many years.
A Legacy of Impact in Academia and Industry
- Distinguished Educator: A Professor and Director of the J.R. Filanc Construction Engineering and Management Program at San Diego State University, Dr. Alves has shaped the minds of countless students over her 16-year tenure.
- Prolific Scholar: Her extensive research portfolio, including over 90 publications and significant grants from organizations like the Construction Industry Institute (CII), bridges the gap between theoretical research and practical application in lean construction, collaborative scheduling, and supplier quality management.
- Dedicated Mentor: As the advisor for the AGC/CMAA and Women in Construction student chapters, she provides invaluable mentorship, scholarship support, and direct connections to industry professionals, actively launching careers.
More Than a Professor: An Inspiration
The true measure of Dr. Alves’s impact is best stated by those she teaches. Parker Bell, a 2025 graduating senior, shared:
“Dr. Alves is a leader in the industry’s field and in the classroom… She teaches with an open and loving heart… I never went a day to class not excited to be there.”
This award honors an educator who doesn’t just teach construction—she inspires a lifelong passion for it, ensuring a stronger, more collaborative, and innovative future for the entire industry.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Thais Alves on this well-deserved recognition of her visionary work.
