Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) Research Scientist Dr. Ipek Sener was recently appointed chair of the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB’s) Committee on Transportation and Public Health (AME70). According to trbhealth.org, this standing committee creates a space for transportation and health communities to expand knowledge about positive and negative health impacts related to transportation policies, procedures and actions.
Being appointed chair of a TRB committee is a great honor for Sener, who has a strong passion for transportation and making communities healthier and more connected. This also holds a special sentimental value for her, as the TRB Annual Meeting was the first conference she ever attended.
“TRB is very special to me and is something I care wholeheartedly about. I’m honored to be appointed chair of AME70,” Sener exclaims. “Transportation is a critical social determinant of health and I’m excited to work with members and friends of the committee to advance research and promote policies and programs that acknowledge the connection between health and transportation.”
During her career, Sener has served as a volunteer for different roles including serving on the leadership team of the TRB’s Subcommittee on Health and Transportation and then as the paper review coordinator when AME70 was approved to be a full committee in Jan. 2020.
Sener mentions, “As the chair of the Transportation and Public Health Committee, I am committed to ensuring that our work reflects the needs and perspectives of the community. By bringing together diverse voices and experiences, we can build a more inclusive and equitable transportation system that serves everyone. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives and well-being of the people we serve.”