Assistant Professor Kari Watkins was recently selected to receive the 2011 Charley V. Wootan Memorial Award, given annually by the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC). The award along with a stipend of $2,000.
The Wootan Award is given annually to four graduate students in transportation for the two best PhD dissertations, MS theses, and MS/ME reports. Dr. Watkins' thesis entitled "Using Technology to Revolutionize Public Transportation" was recognized in the Policy & Planning PhD category. This award-winning research investigates the reliability of public transportation and how using easy-to-access information can combat inherent unreliability as well as other barriers. She will travel to Washington, D.C. in January 2012 to formally receive the Wootan Award at CUTC's annual awards banquet.
Dr. Watkins returned to her undergraduate alma mater to become a CEE faculty member in 2011 after completing her PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington. Her teaching and research interests revolve around multi-modal transportation planning and the use of technology in transportation, especially as related to transit planning and operations and improved traveler information. To learn more about her research interests, visit her CEE Faculty Profile.
To learn more about the Charley V. Wootan Memorial Award, visit http://cutc.tamu.edu/memorial_award.html.