Jon Epps, executive associate director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) — with 45 years of combined experience as an educator, researcher, academic administrator and industry executive — was honored with the 2015 S. S. Steinberg Award during the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Jan. 12.
The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Steinberg Award is presented annually to an individual who has made remarkable contributions to transportation education. The Award is named after the founding president of the association’s Research and Education Division.
“I have been very fortunate to work with great people, especially students, during my career,” Epps says of the Steinberg Award. “Being an educator has been one of the most rewarding parts of my job. I’ve always tried to bring research into practice, and I thank ARTBA for this great honor.”
Epps is considered a pioneer in the field of asphalt pavement because of his innovations related to recycling and testing. He is also responsible for improving the materials and processes used by the pavement construction industry. Epps was the engineering services manager for Granite Construction, Inc., one of the nation’s largest construction companies.
Epps graduated from the University of California, Berkley and served in academic leadership positions for 32 years at Texas A&M University and the University of Nevada, Reno. At TTI, Epps manages the Institute’s Materials, Pavements and Constructed Facilities Division, as well as TTI’s Roadside Safety and Physical Security Division. He is also a visiting professor in Texas A&M’s Civil Engineering Department.
“I have come to rely on Jon for his wisdom and experience, and consider him to be a tremendous asset to TTI and the profession,” says TTI Agency Director Dennis Christiansen. “He is unique in that he is effective in academia, professional organizations and the private sector, and has impacted the careers and personal development of many, many students, academics and colleagues in the research community.”