Monrovia resident receives Cal State LA Outstanding Professor Award

Monrovia resident Gustavo Menezes recently received an Outstanding Professor Award for his work with students at California State University, Los Angeles, professional achievements and community service, the university announced.

Menezes, who chairs the Cal State LA Civil Engineering Department, received the award during the 2024 University Convocation last month.

“Receiving the Outstanding Professor Award at Cal State LA, the number one institution in the nation for social mobility, is an incredible honor that deeply resonates with me,” Menezes told Monrovia Weekly via email. “It represents not only a recognition of my work but also a shared commitment to empowering our students and transforming lives. I am profoundly grateful to be part of a community that prioritizes equity and opportunity, and this award inspires me to continue striving for excellence in serving our students and advancing Cal State LA’s mission.”

Menezes’ technical research has focused on ground water quality and availability, according to a university statement.

“He is interested in investigating the physicochemical processes related to water infiltration through the vadose zone using lab experiments and computer models,” the statement said. “More specifically, his research uses the steady-state centrifugation method to simulate and investigate flow conditions in unsaturated soils.”

Over the years, Menezes has developed a passion for researching and devising techniques for engineering education, university officials said. Following that field of interest, he has created an educational model that meets the demands of Cal State LA students while leveraging their skills and talents.

Most recently, Menezes has worked with other faculty members on a National Science Foundation-funded integrated curriculum for sophomores, according to Cal State LA. The project has developed a service-learning summer bridge program for rising sophomores and the First Year Experience @ ECST, which focuses on supporting students throughout their first year at Cal State LA’s College of Engineering, Computer Science and Technology.

Menezes currently leads a faculty team on an NSF-funded Eco-STEM project “Transforming STEM Education using an Asset-Based Ecosystem Model,” university officials said. The project’s goal is to create supportive, culturally responsive learning environments and working environments for everyone in the ECST community.

“The National Science Foundation-funded Eco-STEM project focuses on creating an educational space where every student’s unique strengths and cultural wealth are recognized and celebrated,” Menezes said. “By meeting students where they are and leveraging the diverse assets they bring, we hope to foster an environment that not only supports their academic success but also empowers them to thrive as leaders in STEM fields. This project reflects our commitment to equity and inclusion, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to our collective future.”

Since 2009, the professor has taught courses in environmental engineering and water resources at Cal State LA, officials said. Prestigious peer-reviewed journals have published Menezes’ research, and he has given presentations at numerous state, national and international conferences.

Menezes was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and received his doctorate in infrastructures and environmental systems from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.

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