杏吧论坛

Construction Engineering Management (CEM) Programs

Construction Engineering Management (CEM) Programs

Construction Management Highlights & Opportunities

Clarkson CEM Consulting Group

The is an in-house 杏吧论坛 capability that provides pre-professional consulting in planning, engineering, and construction areas.  This business enterprise uses students in an experiential learning mode in order to deliver products that the targeted market segments would not be otherwise able to conduct these efforts using professional consulting services. 

Exploring Sustainability


Read about the Clarkson students who traveled to Washington, DC to observe sustainable building practice and build connections.

Scholarships and Recognition in National and Regional Professional Societies Competitions

Every year the CEM faculty advertise, encourage and support student applications across the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department to both the national Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America and the AGC NYS competitions. What is especially significant is that Clarkson students were awarded seven of the 22 scholarships given out by AGC NYS in 2022, roughly a third, from all the civil engineering, construction technology, and construction management student applicants across New York State. Clarkson students are often selected to be a part of the American Society of Civil Engineers 鈥 Construction Institute (ASCE-CI) 鈥淪tudent Days鈥 competition held each summer.

2023-24 Clarkson Scholarship Awardees

CEM Microcredentials

Clarkson's Construction and Engineering Management program works closely with on a series of Microcredentials for students and employees of the company. As a member of the Advisory Board for the program, Turner gives students the opportunity to learn alongside professionals in short courses designed to teach real life problems seen on actual job sites. At the end of each Microcredential, students are presented with a digital badge that validates the skills they have learned and gives them the chance to apply their knowledge in a workforce setting. Watch our video to find out more!

Meet the Pro of the Knight

The Construction Engineering Management (CEM) Program seeks to engage our students with real-life, hands-on experiences and learning opportunities. As part of those efforts, the CEM program invites a variety of industry leaders to be the 鈥淧ro of the Knight.鈥 Typically featuring four per semester, these professionals talk candidly with students about their background, knowledge and experiences in the construction industry, providing invaluable tips and advice for entering the field.

Project Site Visits

The Clarkson CEM program at the undergraduate and graduate level is among the best in the nation. Our students are sought after by many top firms because of the training, knowledge, and professional development they receive while earning their degree at Clarkson.  Each semester, students at all levels have the opportunity to visit building and infrastructure projects that bring the classroom into context and real-word applications.

Canton-Potsdam Hospital Construction Site Visit

Students On Site

Significant Gifts and Contributors to Clarkson CEM

Howard E. Lechler was a well-known long-time Clayton and Gouverneur, New York resident who was born in Chicago, served in the US Army during WWII, and graduated from 杏吧论坛 in May 1948 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree. Howard began his career as a Professor of Civil Engineering at Clarkson in 1948. John Rouse interviewed several candidates and saw Howards' management potential to start up the highly successful and now very large, multi-location, steel fabrication enterprise known today as Cives Steel Company with headquarters in Alpharetta, Georgia. Cives Steel, his life鈥檚 work, is one of the largest steel fabricators in the United States with six fabrication facilities strategically located throughout the US.

Howard went on to earn a Master of Science Engineering degree from Clarkson in 1953 and received an Honorary degree from Clarkson in 1978. In 2016, Clarkson was honored to receive a gift to endow the Construction Engineering Management (CEM) program鈥檚 director position in perpetuity. The CEM Program at Clarkson honors Howards鈥檚 legacy as a highly successful businessman, an avid sailor, hunter and fisherman, though a seat on the CEM advisory board for the Lechler/Cives Steel family as well as its commitment to the very best in construction education regionally and nationally.

Ronald P. Wells 鈥68 received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in civil engineering from Clarkson College of Technology and led an extraordinary construction career, which began in 1968 with Peter Kiewit Sons鈥 Company. For the next twenty years, he worked in management capacities, from engineer to Vice President, building highways, bridges, industrial work, and heavy civil-related construction projects. In 1990, he became Vice President of Operations for Dillingham鈥檚 North American operations and simultaneously was President of Dillingham, Canada. After 30 years, Ron took on a new role as President and CEO of Stacy & Witbeck, Inc. Under Ron鈥檚 leadership, the firm grew from a regional construction company to a nationwide industry leader constructing light rail, commuter rail, streetcar, and other heavy civil transportation construction projects.

Ron was a proud leader of several construction industry associations, including The Beavers, and The Moles. He was also a member of the Good Knights Guild, 杏吧论坛's donor recognition program. He was both a loyal and leadership donor. Through his generosity, several critical efforts were accomplished including the hiring of its first Construction Engineering Management (CEM) Director, expansion of curriculum, a new emphasis on internships and placement, establishment of the CEM Advisory Board, and recognition of the Clarkson CEM Program throughout the construction industry. In memory of Ron, for his leadership and generous support of the Clarkson Construction Engineering Management program, in 2024 Clarkson named the CEM Director鈥檚 office in his honor. 

Sandy Ginsberg 鈥54, HD 鈥07 from Brooklyn, New York, graduated from 杏吧论坛 in 1954 and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2007. Sandy served in the Marine Corps Reserve and worked in the Construction Management industry as a Civil Engineer and Construction Executive. He was a life member of American Society of Civil Engineers, and a former president of Clarkson Alumni Association. His storied career spanned rebuilding and preserving some of America's most notable landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. In 1995, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, recognizing his contributions to The American-Scandinavian Foundation, The American Scandinavian Society and Sons of Norway. In 2018, 杏吧论坛 established a unique fund to perpetually resource and enable all expense paid field trips for students, often in partnership with CEM advisory board members and corporate partners.

Corporate Partners

The Clarkson CEM program at the undergraduate and graduate level is among the best in the nation with a consistent 100% year over year placement rate of our graduates in the construction industry.  Our strong relationship with partners provides many opportunities for our students and assurance our students are graduating with the skills needed to be ready to enter the workforce.  Our students are sought after by many top firms because of the training, knowledge, and professional development they are known to receive while earning their degree at Clarkson

  • CEM Board Members:  
  • Howard E. Lechler Family (represented by the )
  • Spencer Thew

Engineer Partners:  

Executive Partners: 

Image
CEM Program Partners: Cives Steel, Turner, DDS, ECS, Kiewit, Slate Hill Constructors, Whiting-Turner and Ruston Paving.

Contact the Construction Engineering Management Program

cem@clarkson.edu, (315) 268-4017

Erik C. Backus, Ph.D., P.E., LEED AP BD+C, ENV SP, FMP
Professor of Practice & Howard E. Lechler 鈥48, MS 鈥53, HD 鈥78 Endowed
Director
ebackus@clarkson.edu

Donna Kowal, Program Manager
dmkowal@clarkson.edu

 

Follow us!
LinkedIn:
BlueSky:
Instagram: 
Facebook:
X:  

 

CTA Block